Tit for Tat’s 37th Metro Manila Film Festival Personal Picks

The 37th Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal already happened last night at Resorts World Manila, and I must say that despite all the hullabaloos and late controversies, this is one of the best batch of winners ever. The Manila King Pin: Untold Story of Asiong Salonga won Best Picture together with ten other awards last night. However, this post is dedicated to my own personal nominees and winners for this year’s MMFF.  So let the recognition begin:

BEST CHILD PERFORMER:

Bugoy Carino, “Shake Rattle and Roll: Tamawo”
Xyriel Manabat, “Enteng ng Ina Mo”
Sofia Millares, “Segunda Mano”

Sofia Millares was decent enough to outshine supposed to be stepmother Kris Aquino in Segunda Mano, Xyriel Manabat was better in last year’s Tanging Ina movie, so without a doubt, my winner is…

Winner: Bugoy Carino, “Shake Rattle and Roll: Tamawo”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Baron Geisler, “Manila Kingpin: Untold Story of Asiong Salonga”
Ronnie Lazaro, “Manila Kingpin: Untold Story of Asiong Salonga”
John Regala, “Manila Kingpin: Untold Story of Asiong Salonga”
Jericho Rosales, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
Philip Salvador, “Manila Kingpin: Untold Story of Asiong Salonga”

Jericho Rosales has his own shining moments in the film, but his overacting moments can’t save his decent ones. As for the four Asiong supporting cast, each of them has their own moments in the film, and all would have been deserving winners, but since I only get to choose one, I’d go with the flat out leader of the pack.

 

Winner: John Regala, “Manila Kingpin: Untold Story of Asiong Salonga”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Carla Abellana, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
Eugene Domingo, “My Househusband Ikaw Na”
Bangs Garcia, “Segunda Mano”
Agot Isidro, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
Lovi Poe, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”

Both Carla Abellana and Love Poe proved they have the chops to level up and stand out in an ensemble drama. Bangs Garcia is the clear standout and the only bright acting spot in her film, and Agot Isidro proves that she can play any role given to her with so much finesse and class. Still, this is an easy choice, and my pick for the win is someone who easily played a character with so much depth and provides a flawed human character without bordering on being caricature. My Supporting Actress winner is…

Winner: Eugene Domingo, “My Househusband”

BEST ACTOR

Ryan Agoncillo, “My Househusband Ikaw Na”
Dingdong Dantes, “Segunda Mano”
Zanjoe Marudo, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Tamawo”

Definitely the weakest acting category this year, it’s very difficult to come up with decent nominees for this year’s batch. Dingdong Dantes gave his career best performance and showed that he is capable given a good material. Zanjoe Marudo is one of the underrated young actors we have, and he definitely led the good ensemble cast of the Tamawo episode. In the end, I still think that Best Actor, hands down, should have gone to a performance that is so natural, he really deserves the win.

Winner: Ryan Agoncillo, “My Househusband”

BEST ACTRESS

Kathryn Bernardo, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Parola”
Eugene Domingo, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Rain Rain Go Away”
Maricar Reyes, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Tamawo”
Judy Ann Santos, “My Househusband”
Maricel Soriano, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”

Maricar Reyes continues her streak of good performances with the Tamawo episode; however, her material isn’t meaty enough for the win. Eugene Domingo aces her role well showing her versatility in the Rain, Rain Go Away episode. Kathryn Bernardo’s performance instantly joins the  best SR&R performances ever in Parola. I’m confused with whom to give this award as both Judy Ann Santos, who flairs her comedic and dramatic skills in My Househusband, and Maricel Soriano, as the cold-hearted confused mother who was affected by a tragedy in her personal life. Both excellent performances, and by a hair I’m choosing…

Winner: Maricel Soriano, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”

BEST DIRECTOR

Chris Martinez, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Rain Rain Go Away”
Jose Javier Reyes, “My Househusband”
Jerrold Tarog, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Parola”

Both Martinez and Reyes wrote very good screenplays of their film, but because he was able to capture the old Shake, Rattle, and Roll feel, my hands down choice for Directing is…

Winner: Jerrold Tarog, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Parola”

BEST PICTURE

This batch of movies is a mixed bag, but I must be thankful that there are still movies worthy of seeing here in this year’s film fest. Here are my three choices for Best Picture:

 

Winner: “Manila Kingpin: Untold Story of Asiong Salonga”
2nd Place: “My House Husband”
3rd Place: “Shake, Rattle, and Roll 13”

OTHER CATEGORIES

Best Screenplay – Jose Javier Reyes (My House Husband)

Best Story – Chris Martinez and Marlon Rivera (“Rain Rain Go Away,” Shake Rattle and Roll 13)

Best Cinematography – Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story

Best Theme Song – “La Paloma” by Ely Buendia (Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story)

Best Musical Score – Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story

Best Sound Editing/Mixing – Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story

Best Editing – “Parola,” Shake Rattle and Roll 13

Best Production Design – Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story

Best Visual Effects – Ang Panday 2 

Best Make-Up – “Tamawo,” Shake Rattle and Roll 13

Of course, the MMFF will not be complete without the following:

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Best Actor in a Cameo Role: Ronnie Lazaro, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Tamawo”
Best Actress in a Cameo Role: Malou Crisologo, “My House Husband”
Worst Actor in a Cameo Role: Ervic Vijandre, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Tamawo”
Worst Actress in a Cameo Role: Yayo Aguila, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
Best Product Placement: Fundador, “Manila Kingpin”
Worst Product Placement: Magnolia Cheeze Squeeze, “Enteng ng Ina Mo”
Best Acting by a Non-living Thing: Red bag, “Segunda Mano”
Worst Acting by a Non-living Thing: Kris Aquino’s forehead, “Segunda Mano”
Best Accent: Maricar Reyes’s fluent Tagalog, “”Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Tamawo”
Worst Accent: Ara Mina’s English, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Parola”: Parola”
Most Confused Film: Segunda Mano a.k.a one of the best comedies of the year

How about you? What are your picks? 🙂