Category: Review
‘Triple Frontier’ review: Ben Affleck leads an all-star jungle heist
‘Triple Frontier’ adds flare to the masculine genre by incorporating moral and psychological underpinnings on brotherhood vs. greed. In a time where gender inclusivity is a must, it might seem that the testosterone-driven Triple Frontier is a step back for the action genre. But really, who would complain with this macho powerhouse casting? In here, ...
‘Us’ review: Terrifying dissection of duality
Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’ is one of those rare gems that feels like an instant classic right after seeing it. The theme of duality permeates all over Jordan Peele’s sophomore film Us that even its title serves a double purpose – a noun and an abbreviation for United States (you’ll get it once you’ve seen the ...
‘Homestay’ review: Supernatural drama of second chances
Thai fantasy thriller ‘Homestay’ is a wonderful adaptation made amusing by Parkpoom Wongpoom’s artistic vision. Homestay is a Thai adaptation of Japanese fantasy novel Colourful by Eto Mori which was written in 1999 and translated into Thai in 2003 as “Mua Sawan Hai Rangwan Phom.”. From the trailer, it looks like the typical cross of ...
‘Billie & Emma’ review: Earnest throwback to adolescence
Samantha Lee’s ‘Billie & Emma’ neatly meshes different adolescent struggles into something nuanced yet deeply affecting coming-of-age tale. The beauty of Billie & Emma goes beyond being a mere vehicle for lesbian representation. By having teenagers as its leads, the film’s coming-of-age elements stand out, ultimately making the lesbian relationship a valuable supporting player to ...
‘Neomanila’ review: Mikhail Red blurs the lines of innocence and guilt
If you’re brave enough to be left on a bleak and desolate state, Mikhail Red’s ‘Neomanila’ might just be your form of awakening. I’ve been meaning to see Neomanila since it first debuted in QCinema back in 2017 – the year when President Duterte’s “tokhang”/war on drugs operations are at a peak heat of discussion. ...
‘Ulan’ review: Nadine Lustre’s best performance yet
In a world filled with hopeless romantics, Irene Villamor’s Ulan encapsulates the meaning of ‘finding yourself before finding love.’ Ulan tells the story of Maya (Nadine Lustre) who grew up believing her Lola’s myths of finding true love against all odds, so much that it came to an extent that she shaped her life and ...
‘Captain Marvel’ review [2 of 2]: Unconventional, dismantled origins
Captain Marvel creatively spins an origin story by reversing the wheels of the classic MCU Phase 1 formula. Fresh off from the monumental showdown of Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel carries a ton of expectations for fronting the ‘strongest superhero’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not to mention that this stand-alone/Phase 1-ish material competes with ...