Now Showing Part 2 (Movie Reviews)

You Got Me (Star Cinema, 2007)
Toni Gonzaga, Sam Milby, Zanjoe Marudo
Cathy Garcia-Molina

Something unexpected happened while Biboy and I were watching You Got Me. Kinilig ang lolo mo!

Of course, it isn't new if Biboy gets kilig over watching romantic movies. However, he is more inclined to do so over foreign films rather than Pinoy ones. Yes, he has such snob quality that I really don't like. That was why I was apprehensive when I brought him to see YGM. Pero grabe! Gulat ako nang kiligin talaga siya. I swear na mas kinilig pa siya sa 'kin!

I like YGM more than You Are the One. Para sa 'kin, mas buo ang kwento nito at ang mga karakter. Malinaw ang gusto niyang mangyari: pakiligin ang manonood. Judging from how Biboy reacted, tagumpay siya sa kanyang goal. It is direct to the point, and has not much pretentions. Andun pa rin 'yung typical formulaic style of doing romantic movies, especially towards the end which seemed unrealistic. However, it's forgivable since it isn't overly done.

The kilig factor lies more on the two male leads of the film: Sam Milby and Zanjoe Marudo. Definitely, it's already a given that Sam's good looks greatly contribute to how the audience would feel towards the scenes of the film, especially that he plays an insecure, geeky guy with a torpe attitude written all over him. There's something captivating about guys who are unsure of themselves even if it's too obvious that they shouldn't have to. It'd be such an overwhelming feeling if you could be the one to bring him out of his shell.

Compared to YATO, acting-wise, YGM doesn't do much for Sam. However, it clearly shows that he could transform himself into playing an overly confident guy to a geeky one effectively.

Zanjoe, on the other hand, has an innate charm in him that could be described as "maginoo pero bastos." He exudes confidence without being arrogant. I have seen him play an almost the same role several times on TV and he isn't bad at all. Time could only tell if could venture into different roles that wouldn't require him to be himself. For the mean time, hangga't di pa pinagsasawaan, go lang!

What I like about the two characters, Kevin (Sam) and Caloy (Zanjoe), are their differences. There is a definite distinction between them. Kevin is timid while Caloy is bold, in life and their relations to other people. Kevin is the bookworm while Caloy is street-smart. Kevin is afraid to show his emotions while Caloy does anything possible to express himself. Despite the differences, both has the charms that could easily capture anyone's hearts.

Amor (Toni) found it difficult to choose between them but, like in life, she has to make a choice, and live by it. I just wish, though, that the writers didn't allow Caloy to have a huge flaw para naman hindi naging ganun'g kalinaw kung sino ang dapat piliin sa dalawa.

Watching Kevin and Caloy reminds me of Ben and Noel (of Felicity). While masarap sa pakiramdam ang maipit sa dalawa, sobrang hirap din naman. Good luck na lang sa girl (o sa guy)!

One of the most memorable characters in the film is Amor's dad played by Johnny Delgado. Maikli pero markado. Johnny is Gina Pareño in another kilig, funny movie: Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. Riot siguro if they could put the two together in one movie.


Notes on a Scandal (Fox Searchlight and DNA Films, 2006)
Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy
Richard Eyre

From two award-winning actresses comes this powerful drama that would set boundaries on friendship and obsession.

Notes on a Scandal stars two generation of women bounded by their desires and needs.

Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett) only wants appreciation and love from the people around her. Barbara Covett (Dame Judi Dench) desires to belong and be one with somebody all her life. She has befriended Sheba that leads her to think that what they have could end into an everlasting friendship. When she learns that Sheba is having an affair with one of her students, she is thrown into the fit of obsession and desperation. Feeling threatened by the affair, she tells Sheba what she knows. Feeling bad about herself, Sheba promises to end the affair. Together they find ways to deal with the passion and desires that surround them, that would either strengthen or destroy their friendship.

Notes on a Scandal will take you for an emotional ride from beginning to end. The characters are flawed, hence, totoong tao sila: nakakainis sa mga pinaggagagawa nila pero nakakaawa at the same time. They're two of the most unforgettable characters on screen.

Aside from that, Notes has one of the most ingenious dialogues you could hear on screen. Barbara Covette is Miranda Priestly's counterpart from The Devil Wears Prada. I wonder what could happen if these two ever meet...

Brilliant script and excellent acting about two of man's favorite sins: love and sex, what more could you ask for in a film?


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