'Ready Player One' is a visual smorgasbord

Not a long time ago, Steven Spielberg directed one of the best movies of 2017 with Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in The Post. Just a few month after, he's still proven and tested as one of the busiest yet most enthusiastic director of our time. Still with so much energy and creativity in his sleeves, Steven Spielberg directs the action adventure Ready Player One based on Ernest Cline's bestseller of the same name, and let me be direct, it's an absolute epic.

It's about the future in year 2045, when most of mankind spend their lives in a virtual reality called OASIS, created and designed by the eccentric genius James Halliday (Mark Rylance), who will grant his creation to whoever gets the three keys to a Golden Egg hidden inside the OASIS universe. Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) is obsessed with Halliday and his game and along with his friends, they help each other to fulfill this quest.

Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

In his almost 40 years of film-making, Spielberg has never been this dynamic with his direction. He's still the best storyteller of our time, and his Ready Player One proves that he's still got the chops that made him celebrated. The CGI used here is extraordinary, that wows and whoas can be heard throughout the film. People can't help it. The liveliness of this film is the same as his old blockbusters. This crowdpleaser is just an addition to his amazing filmography. It doesn't hurt that it's raining easter eggs throughout the film that we might as well call it a visual smorgasbord of pop culture. Genuinely, it feels like an ode to pop culture, video games and video game lovers for that matter--particularly, every scene with Mark Rylance in it. Rylance makes everything tender and light. His humor and natural charm is one of the film's power, and he's not even on screen most of the time and yet he is the heart that makes this more than a visional treat.

On the other hand, Rylance's James Halliday may be the heart, but Ready Player One works as a film with the ensemble's natural magnetism. Tye Sheridan, who I consider as the male JLaw (I know, lol), delivers a firm sense of soul to Cline's beloved lead character Wade Watts. Olivia Cooke, who is a young Rose Byrne (that's defnitely a compliment) in my mind, is undeniably likable as Art3mis. She's come a long way from her Bates Motel stint, to 'Dying Girl' to here, and she has Thoroughbreds under her belt, which is supposed to be good based on the buzz from the movie grapevines. Ben Mendelsohn, on the other hand, is becoming every directors' dream villain, may it be indie or a blockbuster. Other cast includes a likable Lena Waithe as Wade Watts' best friend, Simon Pegg as the curator, Phillip Zhao as Sho and Win Morisako as Daito. Overall, a vivacious bunch of actors and characters.

I watched this film with friends who read the book, and they might be a bit disappointed as Spielberg made it very distinct from the novel. But it's still a highly enjoyable film overall. It might not be as sentimental as Spielberg's other crowd-pleaser but its use of nostalgia will make your viewing experience a memorable one. Watch out for the awesome soundtrack!

'A Wrinkle in Time' Brims with Colors, Creatures and Lessons

Ava DuVernay, visionary director of Selma and 13th adapts Madeleine L'Engle's classic 'A Wrinkle in Time'. It's a colorful adventure that transports viewers across different dimensions, good and bad.

Meg Murry (Storm Reid) along with her family, is struggling to move on after her father Dr. Alex Murry (Chris Pine) vanished while doing his experiment in discovering other dimensions. One day, her brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) introduced otherworldly creatures to bring news about their father's whereabouts. Twist? He's lightyears away from Earth.

Photo Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

A Wrinkle in Time brims with spectacular colors, mythical personalities and moral lessons. An out-of-this-world visual feast, 'youngings' (and young-at-heart) would certainly enjoy the variety of colors displayed in DuVernay's dimensions. The otherworldly creatures bring the wisdom and most definitely the fun needed in this film. Oprah's 'Mrs. Which', Reese Witherspoon's 'Mrs. Whatsit' and Mindy Kaling's 'Mrs. Who' are definitely the MVPs of this children's film. Oprah is even more regal than her real life persona, Witherspoon delivers the wits and snarks as she reminds the viewers of other Helena Bonham-Carter's character portrayals, and Mindy Kaling is as pleasant as ever.  The film would suffer without them as the leads are not the most exciting element of the film. Save for Deric McCabe who's a promising young actor whose character is so complex, we don't often see it being portrayed by kids.

I'm afraid this movie adaptation wouldn't be as timeless as the novel. There are certain plot holes, and DuVernay's vision doesn't mesh well with the usual Disney tropes. Brighter side is, it definitely carries the good message and the emotional pulse it wants to evoke.

'Game Night' is a One Big, Fun Murder Mystery Night

Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

What a fun time at the movies! Game Night has everything a game night fan would ask for in a game night movie. Jenga is present, charades, trivia night, a Donald Trump roast, an awesome one-take egg chase hunt in a mansion, a breakout room, a fight club, gore, running jokes, a Denzel Washingtom cameo, and a stunt inspired by a Liam Neeson action scene involving a car and an airplane. As expected, they kicked it up the notch.

It started with a montage of Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie's (Rachel McAdams) love story and how they met, which of course, involved a game night. Along came Kyle Chandler as Jason Bateman’s brother, who prepared a one of a kind murder mystery which ended in a punch line after a series of punch lines.

One could call it a bit predictable but nevertheless, it’s loads of fun. Rachel McAdams makes everything adorable, and Jason Bateman is always a dependable nice guy lead. They make a cute couple and in here, they’re also extra competitive which makes them even more fun to watch. A great ensemble to boot. Jesse Plemons and Billy Magnussen are hilarious. It also has a solid soundtrack which includes Quando, Quando, Quando, We are the Champions, and Third Eye Blind's Semi Charmed Life delightfully lip-sync'd by McAdams in a terrific bar scene.

Game Night is a one big, fun murder mystery night, filled with back and forth punch lines and elevated by McAdams and Bateman’s charm. It’s thoroughly likable and guaranteed to bring the fun.

Ranking Sinag Maynila 2018 feature films

1. Bomba (Ralston Jover)
Allen Dizon portrays a deaf-mute man named Pipo, living in the slums of Metro Manila with a young girl named, Cyril played by Angellie Sanoy. Life is difficult for them as they do the toughest jobs in the midst of danger and the situation they put themselves in. Since Duterte's presidency, there's a rise in the number of films about 'tokhang' (knead and plead), corruption, and war on drugs. Bomba is just one of the many, but it stands out a bit more for it goes beyond the topic and explored darker territories of our current state. It's a film that devastates for its material about poverty, shocks for its unbelievable plight, and electrifies with its dark themes.  Dizon's performance is harrowing as a man living on the edge and Sanoy is brave enough to portray a character we rarely see on film but is very real. Ralston Jover's Bomba is nothing short of aptness especially in the ending when we realize, a man as innocent, or so it seems, as Pipo can be like a ticking time bomb when provoked, or rather, detonated.

2. Melodrama/Random/Melbourne! (Matthew Victor Pastor)
This film is so meta, so self-aware, artsy and so fun. We learned about Aries who's making a film about 'Tru Male Dynamics', a group of men teaching other men to seduce women. It seems silly at first with all the "cinema-oke" in between scenes and silly banters by TMD, and then as the film unravels we realize Aries is making a social commentary about Asian women in Australia. We don't see a lot of this kind of movie in the Philippines (or I don't watch enough Pinoy films) that's why it's quirkiness and originality is a breath of fresh air. It took me until the third act to fully understand what this is about and when everything comes into fruition, we grasp something substantial and deep. Innovative screenplay from Matthew Victor Pastor and Celina Yuen.

3. Tale of the Lost Boys (Jay Altarejos)
It's hard not to notice the influence of Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation in this movie--credits' font style is the same, the opening sequence where the lead is in the car looking at the cityscape, and the never-ending stroll in Taiwan streets trying anything touristy like Charlotte and Bob Harris. Not to mention, the two leads also met by chance. One is Alex, played by Oliver Aquino, a Filipino mechanic, and the other is Jerry, a Taiwan aborigine working in the city. Like Bob and Charlotte, they formed an unusual friendship. Good thing is the film took a deeper route in fleshing out the characters. As they get to know each other, they found themselves drawn with each others' families. Touching at times, but could have been amplified if we saw something special between their bonds. It's pleasant to look at and the story is okay, but lacks chemistry between the leads.

4. El Peste (Richard V. Somes)
'Bomba' films are now considered epic and are badly missed. 'Bold stars' are now considered washed up yet legendary. We don't see this notorious genre of sex in the Philippine cinema anymore but El Peste is here to the rescue. No, seriously. El Peste brings 'bomba' films back with a twist. A twist most viewers would not be able to fathom, a twist so unexpected, so unthinkable, and so dirty. The twist involves RATS, yes, rodents and it's up to the viewers how they'll be able to sit through the whole thing without being disgusted. At the end of it, one would seriously feel the need to take a shower and I suppose the PRODUCTION DESIGNERS (all caps kasi emphasized sila sa credits) worked hard to evoke such kind of need. Mon Confiado is iconic in this role. He's always the supporting character and often the villain, but here he's the lead and he's committed to all the insanity this film has to offer. Make no mistake, as bad as it sounds on paper, this has terrific characteristic on its own, thoroughly entertaining, and is aware that it is a hoot. If only more people would see this, this would have a cult following in the future.

5. Abomination (Yam Laranas)
There is always an issue of trust and feeling of anxiety when we talk about most of Yam Laranas films. In Abomination, not everything we see is real. Like most of his films, it involves a twist and it’s up to the narrative and the story if it’s going to work. As a whole, it feels insecure as it constantly gives reminders about the past and present, as if it’s aware that it’s too convoluted with weird ideas that may or may not confuse its viewers. It doesn’t help that the performances are not entirely convincing and the setting just doesn't work. For what it’s worth, it’s impressive to look at and Yam Laranas doesn't shy away in making twisted stories. Just so happen that it didn't work this time.

'Tomb Raider' humanizes Lara Croft

Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander is back on the big screen as the iconic video game character, Lara Croft, who travels to one of the most dangerous remote islands in Japan, 'Yamatai', to find out what happened to her father after disappearing seven years ago.

Action-packed, fast-paced and plot-oriented, Tomb Raider switches back and forth in showcasing a father-daughter story and exhilarating stunts. It’s like watching a disaster movie as Lara Croft tries to survive big waves, falling rocks, and other forces of nature while outsmarting men in expedition to locate a mythical tomb hidden in the caves of the island.

Alicia Vikander held her own as Lara Croft. She’s cute and sexy even without showing a lot of skin. She thrives from a screenplay that doesn’t require using Lara Croft’s sexuality to fulfill her mission. That didn’t achieve much in general, however, because the film overly sentimentalized her relationship with her father. Humane, but a bit cheesy for my liking.

Tomb Raider humanizes Lara Croft, while making her absolutely invincible. Doesn't work all the time but the exciting action scenes make up for it.

I predict this won’t be the last time we’ll see Vikander as the puzzle-obsessed, lady crusader, Lara Croft, and maybe next time, she’ll be with her famous guns from the video game. We badly missed it here.

90th Academy Awards Winner Predictions

Best Picture: Three Billboards Outsing Ebbing, Missouri

Best Director: Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water

Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Actor: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, Lady Bird

Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Original Screenplay: Get Out

Best Adapted Screenplay: Call Me By Your Name

Best Animated Feature: Coco

Best Foreign Language Film: The Insult (Lebanon)

Best Documentary: Faces Places

Best Film Editing: Dunkirk

Best Cinematography: Blade Runner 2049

Best Original Score: Phantom Thread

Best Original Song: ‘This is Me’ from The Greatest Showman

Best Sound Editing: Baby Driver

Best Sound Mixing: Blade Runner 2049

Best Visual Effects: Blade Runner 2049

Best Costume Design: Phantom Thread

Best Makeup & Hairstyling: Darkest Hour

Best Production Design: The Shape of Water

My Ballot for the 90th Academy Awards

Best Picture: Lady Bird

Best Director: Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird

Best Actress: Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name

Best Supporting Actress: Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Original Screenplay: Lady Bird

Best Adapted Screenplay: Call Me By Your Name

Best Animated Feature: Coco

Best Foreign Language Film: On Body and Soul (Hungary)

Best Documentary: Faces Places

Best Film Editing: Dunkirk

Best Cinematography: Dunkirk

Best Original Score: Phantom Thread

Best Original Song: "Mystery of Love" from Call Me By Your Name

Best Sound Editing: Baby Driver

Best Sound Mixing: Blade Runner 2049

Best Visual Effects: Blade Runner 2049

Best Costume Design: Phantom Thread

Best Makeup & Hairstyling: Darkest Hour

Best Production Design: The Shape of Water

'Lady Bird' is a wondrous work of ART

Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) and Marion McPherson (Laurie Metcalf), Photo credit: Universal Pictures

Lady Bird is a mother-daughter love story of Christine and her mom Marion whose love-hate relationship mirrors anyone who spent their teenage years at their home with their meticulous mother.

Christine McPherson is a feisty teenager who is spending her last high school year in a Catholic school in Sacramento. She likes to call herself 'Lady Bird', a name given to her by her. She’s doing her best to stay out of her mom’s will of studying in city college as she instead aspires to go to one of New York City’s universities. Saoirse Ronan plays the titular role.

Lady Bird’s mom, played by the brilliant Laurie Metcalf, is a disciplined but loving mother whose language of affection to her daughter is not the most “affectionate”. Despite her simple “we missed you, Lady Bird” when Lady Bird did not spend her last Thanksgiving with them, and when Lady Bird was broken hearted and she insisted they do their “favorite” thing to do of going to rich and expensive houses at the right side of the tracks, she makes sure that Lady Bird stays disciplined and grounded as they have financial problems, thus, the city college. Lady Bird sees this as nitpicking and like any other child, she rants and answers back to her mom like an entitled brat. Still, we see them speak good about each other to other people even shortly after their fight. As Danny, one of Lady Bird’s boyfriend and eventual friend, said, her mom is scary and warm at the same time, and as Lady Bird’s father also explained, they both have such strong personalities, that they’re perfect to each other and imperfect at the same time.

This is a great achievement by Greta Gerwig—creating a simple and straightforward film that shoots several birds (Sacramento, Catholic school, mother-daughter, etc.) in one stone and yet its one that hits closest to home. It’s hilarious but its most lovable quality is its ability to tug one’s heartstrings. Gerwig, a great actress herself and the cowriter of Frances Ha, used nostalgia as her best tool in recreating the early years of 2000s where phones are bigger, buddha beads and chokers are in, and songs like Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me a River and Dave Matthews’ Band’s Crash Into Me are great hits. Who predicted that a song about stalking can be an anthem for best friends?

This is also driven by one epic ensemble—Tracy Letts, Beanie Feldstein, Odeya Rush, Timothee Chalamét and Lucas Hedges who both are having a banner year, and of course, Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. Ronan’s Lady Bird is another iconic character already encrypted as one of her best iconic characters even after fifty years in her career. I never thought she could outshine her unforgettable breakout as Briony in Atonement, and then Brooklyn happened in which she had an amazing turn as a mature actress, then here comes Lady Bird making her truly one of the most exciting actresses of her generation. Meanwhile, it’s Metcalf’s dramatics that pulled me so deep into the film. Her nuanced comedic expressions are great but her strict and motherly visage is what makes her the heart of the film. The airport scene when she’s driving away and starts to break down as Lady Bird is about to depart to New York is one of my favorites in a film filled with comedic and heartwarming scenes. It’s so touching and I felt the grief of a mother who’s trying to be strong for herself and for her daughter. It is very reminiscent of Patricia Arquette in Boyhood.

Lady Bird a wondrous work of art, and I fell in love with it. One of my favorite films ever.