Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me -- Movie Review

by: Uel Ceballos

The title itself quite explained already what to expect from this film, but "Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me" was more than just a sexy movie that starred two college students who got into a complicated set-up of relationship. The film was based from the bestselling novel of Eros Atalia with the same title "Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me". Many have loved the book because of the effortless wits that were incorporated with Eros’ unique language in romance style of writing. Moreover, the story was richly nourished with issues that concerned the various areas of societies – all looked upon through the perspective of Karl Vladimir Lennon J. Villalobos, a young blossoming lad who possessed an exceptional character and intellect that often ignited the sparks of argument between him and his college professors. 

Also known as Intoy, Karl had this unrestrained curiosity about things that happened and existed around him. He never really disapproved but the frank questions he asked (for his desire to fully understand) often challenged the concreteness of the majority’s beliefs particularly in the areas of religion, norms, feminism, sanity, and human perception of right and wrong.

The story as a book was a real page-turner; as a movie, well I’d dare say it was intellectually comical, sexily rousing and competitively satirical. Intoy and Jen’s ups and downs were not really set apart from what was happening in today’s generation. The youth’s playful exploration as they intersected with one another’s life, the equivalent consequences of their actions, their responses on such consequences – all of it demonstrated the youths' adventure in a bigger picture; that they are often driven to certain actions (out of several stimuli), and the environment (inclusive of all the elements therein) reacted to their actions with the equal level of intensity and their first initiative then is to react back to it -- more of being subjective and less of being objective and then so on. The action-reaction process would soon tired them out ‘til they ended drop-dead confused and wondering on what they have done wrong to earn such a painstaking process of growing up.  

It was shown through Intoy and Jen, wherein they were trapped in this overpowering emotion which they were both trying to win over, but then in the end the swell of emotion would get unstoppable like a storm surge that is likely to wash away what has been started. For certain, "Ligo Na U Lapit Na Me" will make you laugh, stirred and sympathize with the main characters of the story, also, it would leave a hole opening on your consciousness wherein some wisps of wondering would surely seep through your senses like the sun’s finger lights entering through the roof’s cracks.

The movie casting was absolutely perfect. Mercedes Cabral was well-fitted for Jen’s playful and seducing character,and Edgar Allan Guzman while too good-looking for the description of Intoy’s physique had perfectly justified the nature of Intoy’s soul character. The treatment with its series of voice over that spoke for what Intoy had in mind in the particular moment, the witty musical scoring that spiced up the temperament of each scene, the certain instances that Intoy was breaking the fourth wall and directly facing the camera to talk to the audiences, the fast-pace sequences all complemented with one another to deliver a fully entertaining and mind-boggling film.

For this movie that never lacks the wit, the wisdom and the sumptuous offerings of life … I’ll give it 8 Espresso Shots! Cheers!

KUBRADOR : MAKE YOUR BET ~ by: Uel Ceballos

The Pinoy Indie movie Kubrador was the embodiment of a crudely conspicuous film that was both courageous and shamelessly frank on its portrayal of the Jueteng issue in the country. Extremely firm on its conviction, Kubrador had brazenly explored the anomalies of those persons in rank positions who should be helping out to eradicate the illegal betting but were taking part instead in the entire scheme. 

The film covered all the aspects of the social and economic borders that were reached by this gambling activity. The movie showed as well the impoverished condition in the country that was pushing the majority of the poor to rely their luck on making a bet to the illegal number games while the rich people were even more lured to bet on the game for the promised of greater and quicker gain of riches.

Kubrador centered to the story of Amy, an old woman (Gina Pareño) who provided for her family from the small earnings that she was getting as bet collector. Her life was set in a monotonous reality – roaming around their place from early morn to late evening encouraging her neighbors to place their bet – until certain events came up (concerning her livelihood as bet collector and the unforeseen experiences which involved the mystical presence of her late son’s spirit) that eventually transformed her life.

The authority then had become stricter in their operation to get rid of the illegal number games due to the jueteng issue involved by the two consecutive Philippine presidents. The first one was on the year 2000, wherein President Estrada was impeached after being proven guilty of receiving millions on illegal pay offs. The next one was President Macapagal wherein there were allegations that her relatives were receiving payouts from the jueteng operators.

Kubrador had clearly depicted how the crippled society had fallen to the pit of Jueteng world just to survive their daily needs. The setting in the film was all too crystal-clear, showing the poverty-stricken squatter that actually defined the Philippine society in a larger picture. As Amy was shown walking around the area, all the details that characterized the destitute state of the poor were given away in this film – slum, unemployment, overpopulation, subsistence living, barely making ends meet – Kubrador had also shown here some ways of the Filipinos to escape poverty such as finding a foreigner husband and working overseas for a greater source of income.

But what really made this film aggressively daring was its presentation of the corrupted system which in one way or another had quite illustrated the involvement of political, military and police branches. The film had also showed the Church’s connection on this Jueteng matter though it was demonstrated here in a subdued manner.  

The effect of the film to me was quiet heartbreaking to the sense that it was trying to

impress the hopelessness of the Philippine system due to the despoiled persons who are in the positions. And what extremely highlighted to the movie were the sad facts that while the poor keep on struggling in their lives to the point that they are involving their selves to illegal jobs, the rich ones also keep on gaining benefits from the schemes where the poors were set in the frontiers like the pawns in a board game.  

Many subordinate issues also were presented in this film, all chained from the main header of the subject – poverty. I noticed that there were several times that Amy was shown buying a bottled mineral water from a sari-sari store and there was an instance where she expressed her dismay over the expensiveness of the distilled water. It dawned on me then how the poor are so deprived of clean water to drink, which in turn, causing them several water-related diseases and other sorts of malady.

However, the presence of unnatural element here had somehow balanced the movie between the desperate conditions and the optimism that each new day brings. The spirit of Amy’s late son Eric, was seen at numerous parts of the film watching and guarding his mother. There were highlighted parts that emphasized the significance of Eric’s spirit, subtly pacifying the mood and bringing lights not only to Amy and her family but to the audiences as well.

Technicality-wise, there were lacks of lighting in the movie which gave it the most appropriate effect – the dimness of setting and the rawness of shots were next to the perfect depiction of the lower class society. The texture was so perfect that its effects will really include and immerse you to the film’s setting and depressing situation.

For this Pinoy Indie that received numbers of awards and nominations from both local and abroad, I will give it a rate of 10 Espresso Shots!