‘A Love Story’ Tops 26th Luna Awards

The “local academy awards”, Luna of the Film Academy of the Philippines, released their winners for movies shown in 2007.

Here is the complete list of winners in the 26th Luna Awards:

Best Picture:
A Love Story (Star Cinema)

Best Director:
Maryo J. de los Reyes (A Love Story)

Best Actor:
Paolo Contis (Banal)

Best Actress:
Maricel Soriano (Bahay Kubo)

Best Supporting Actor:
Dante Rivero (A Love Story)

Best Supporting Actress:
Angelica Panganiban (A Love Story)

Best Screenplay:
Vanessa R. Valdez (A Love Story)

Best Cinematography:
Renato de Vera (Ataul for Rent)

Best Editing:
Jess Navarro (Silip)

Best Production Design:
Rodell Cruz (Resiklo)

Best Sound:
Ditoy Aguila (Ouija)

Best Musical Score:
Carmina Reyes Cuya (Ouija)

Golden Reel Award:
Former President Joseph Estrada

The Manuel de Leon Award:
Cirio Santiago (producer-director)

FPJ Lifetime Achievement Award:
Ms. Boots Anson-Roa (actress)

Lamberto Avellana Award (posthumous):
Juanito Clemente (sound engineer)

The Film Academy of the Philippines will hand out the awards on January 26, 2009.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/11/a-love-story-tops-26th-luna-awards/

You Change My Life - A Very Special Love Sequel

Due to the success of the Viva Films and Star Cinema co-production “A Very Special Love” which is the no. 1 movie in the country for 2008, they are filming the sequel entitled “You Change My Life.”

“You Change My Life” is the title of Miggy’s (John Lloyd Cruz) love song for Laida (Sarah Geronimo) in A Very Special Love. Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, they are now half-way through the filming of “You Change My Life.”

The original movie - A Very Special Love - earned a whopping P179.23 million at the box-office making it the no. 1 film in the Philippines for the whole year of 2008, even trumping Hollywood films like Iron Man and Twilight. Can they do it again this 2009?

“Wish ko lang po na hindi man nito ma-surpass ang A Very Special Love, mapantayan man lang nito ang kinita ng una naming movie ni John Lloyd,” Sarah’s reaction about the pressure of making the sequel.

A different angle is expected in the story of “You Change My Life”. The couple will be facing their individual problems and a third party will challenge their romantic affair. Playing the third wheel is young actor/dancer Rayver Cruz.

It will be recalled that Rayver is currently being linked to the pop princess. Rayver even guested in Sarah’s ‘The Next One’ concert in Araneta Coliseum last November 8, 2008.

In reaction to this news, Rayver simply said, “Di pa ako nag-i-start pero nakakatuwa naman kung kasali nga. Ang tambalan nila [Sarah and John Lloyd], sobrang lupit. Isang malaking karangalan na mapasama ka dun sa mismong movie nila.”

You Change My Life is set to premiere on February 25, 2009 in theaters nationwide.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/12/you-change-my-life-a-very-special-love-sequel/

‘Serbis’ to be Shown in the US

International award-winning movie “Serbis” (Service) by Brillante Mendoza (Slingshot, The Masseur, Summer Heat, Foster Child) is showing in selected theaters in the US on January 16, 2009. Check out the US poster and trailer of Serbis after the jump.

Rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America, Serbis is being distributed in the US by Regent Releasing.

Synopsis
Filipino director Brillante Mendoza brings a frank, gritty immediacy to SERBIS, a multi-character, day-in-the-life portrait of a family-run movie house in the Philippines. Only this isn’t your… Filipino director Brillante Mendoza brings a frank, gritty immediacy to SERBIS, a multi-character, day-in-the-life portrait of a family-run movie house in the Philippines. Only this isn’t your typical movie house. It’s actually a downtrodden venue that shows graphic double features and allows the clientele to make their own sexual connections in the dark shadows. Today is a very important day, for Nanay Flor, the family matriarch, is going to discover if she won a years-in-the-making bigamy case against her husband. Meanwhile, her children are involved in dramatic situations of their own. Alan has just learned troubling news about his girlfriend, and Nayda is married but attracted to her cousin Ronald. As the day develops and the verdict comes down, the Pinedas struggle to focus on the daily tasks associated with the theater, even as their own personal conflicts threaten to overwhelm them. Shot on video, SERBIS recalls films from the Dogme 95 movement. Mendoza and screenwriter Armando Lao have clearly constructed these dramatic situations, yet they are shot on consumer video with such energy that the film often feels like a documentary. Mendoza pulls no punches, showing multiple scenes of behind-the-scenes sexuality that are even more graphic than the X-rated behavior unfolding on the cavernous theater’s silver screen. SERBIS provides a realistic, unflinching glimpse into this hyper-sexualized world.

Serbis (Service) stars Coco Martin (The Masseur), Jacklyn Jose (Consol), Kristoffer King, Julio Diaz, Dan Alvaro and Gina Pareño (The Collector).

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT SERBIS:

“Slightly more evolved from a narrative perspective than his previous feature Tirador (Slingshot), Serbis (Service) is another overwhelmingly tactile experience that should further cement the prolific filmmaker’s reputation.” - John P. McCarthy (Boxoffice Magazine)

“Raw and Uncompromising.” - New York Film Festival

“Bristling Sexuality, both gay and straight.” - The Hollywood Reported

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/11/serbis-to-be-shown-in-the-us/

2008 MMFF Final Box-Office Rankings

Star Cinema’s Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat sets a new box-office record at the conclusion of the 2-week run of the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Here are the final box-office ranking of the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival:

Week 1, December 25 - 31, 2008:
1. Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat - P102.5M
2. Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After - P72.6M
3. Shake, Rattle & Roll X - P45.7M
4. Desperadas 2 - P27.3M
5. Baler - P24.5M
6. One Night Only - P5.7M
7. Dayo - P4.1M
8. Magkaibigan- P1.6M

Week 2, January 01 - 07, 2009:
1. Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat - P68.5M
2. Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After - P34.4M
3. Shake, Rattle & Roll X - P22.3M
4. Desperadas 2 - P22.0M
5. Baler - P11.3M
6. One Night Only - P4.8M
7. Dayo - P1.5M
8. Magkaibigan- P0.5M

Over-All Gross Receipt
December 25, 2008 - January 07, 2009:

1. Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat - P171.0M *
2. Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After - P107.0M *
3. Shake, Rattle & Roll X - P68.0M
4. Desperadas 2 - P49.3M
5. Baler - P35.8M
6. One Night Only - P10.5M
7. Dayo - P5.6M
8. Magkaibigan- P2.1M

* Now showing on its 3rd week

As of January 7, 2009, MMFF overall earnings is P449.3 million, surpassing the 2007 and 2006 final earnings of 380.3M and 414.5M respectively.

Source: National Cinema Association of the Philippines
http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/10/2008-mmff-final-box-office-rankings/

Love Me Again (Land Down Under) Movie Poster

Here’s the official movie poster of the Star Cinema film “Love Me Again” (Land Down Under) starring Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin:



Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/09/love-me-again-land-down-under-movie-poster/

6th Gawad Tanglaw for Movies - 2008 Winners

Gawad TANGLAW (Gawad Tagapuring mga Akademisyan ng Aninong Gumagalaw) announced this year's winners in the movie category.

Here is the partial list of winners of 6th Gawad TANGLAW:

Best Actresses:
Anita Linda for Adela
Judy Ann Santos for Ploning

Best Actors:
John Estrada for Caregiver
Baron Geisler for Jay

Best Supporting Actress:
Boots Anson-Roa for Lovebirds

Best Supporting Actor:
Emilio Garcia for Walang Kawala

Best Directors:
Dante Nico Garcia
Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil
Chris Martinez

Best Pictures:
Ploning
Boses
100

Presidential Jury Award for Film Excellence:
Brillante Mendoza

Gawad Tanglaw ng Pelikulang Pilipino:
Robbie Tan of Seiko Films

Gawad TANGLAW is composed of film critics, scholars, historians, and professors of humanities. The awards night is happening in March 2009.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/08/6th-gawad-tanglaw-for-movies-2008-winners/

‘A Very Special Love’, ‘Twilight’ Dominate Our 2008 People’s Choice for Movies

Check out the complete results of our 2008 People’s Choice Poll for Movies.

Please take note that the purpose of this poll is to pulse the most POPULAR movies and movie actors/director for 2008. It does not represent the BEST of 2008 as the title of each category starts with the word “FAVORITE.”

With more than 1,000 respondents for each category, i think we got the right results for each category as the box-office gross of these movies co-relates with the choices.

“A Very Special Love” was the no. 1 pinoy movie for 2008 while “Twilight”, on the other hand, was the no. 1 Hollywood film for the same year.

FAVORITE MOVIE OF THE YEAR
1. A Very Special Love - 60%
2. My Bestfriend’s Girlfriend - 18%
3. Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat - 14%
4. For the First Time - 4%
5. Caregiver - 4%

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTOR OF THE YEAR
1. John Lloyd Cruz (A Very Special Love) - 72%
2. Dingdong Dantes (One True Love) - 16%
3. Richard Gutierrez (For the First Time) - 6%
4. Sam Milby (My Big Love) - 6%

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
1. Sarah Geronimo (A Very Special Love) - 63%
2. Marian Rivera (One True Love) - 21%
3. KC Concepcion (For the First Time) - 8%
4. Toni Gonzaga (My Big Love) - 8%

FAVORITE INDIE FILM OF THE YEAR
1. Ploning - 66%
2. 100 - 17%
3. Serbis - 12%
4. Jay - 5%

FAVORITE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
1. Cathy Garcia-Molina (A Very Special Love) - 65%
2. Joyce Bernal (For the First Time) - 17%
3. Wenn Deramas (Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat) - 12%
4. Chris Martinez (100) - 3%

FAVORITE HOLLYWOOD MOVIE OF THE YEAR
1. Twilight - 66%
2. The Dark Knight - 14%
3. Kung Fu Panda - 13%
4. Iron Man - 7%

FAVORITE HOLLWOOD ACTOR OF THE YEAR
1. Robert Pattison (Twilight) - 46%
2. Zac Efron (High School Musical 3) - 29%
3. Keanu Reeves (The Day the Earth Stood Still) - 14%
4. Shia LaBeouf (Indiana Jones 4, Eagle Eye) - 11%

FAVORITE HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
1. Kristen Stewart (Twilight) - 35%
2. Angelina Jolie (Wanted) - 32%
3. Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical 3) - 24%
4. Cameron Diaz (What Happens in Vegas) - 8%

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/08/a-very-special-love-twilight-dominate-our-2008-peoples-choice-for-movies/

Cinemalaya 2009 Finalists Bared

The Top 10 finalists for the 2009 Cinemalaya Film Festival are the following:

24K by Ana Agabin

Ang Nerseri (The Nursery) by Vic Acedillo, Jr.

Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe by Alvin Yapan

Astig (Mga Batang Kalye) by GB Sampedro

Colorum by Jon Steffan Ballesteros

Dinig Sana Kita by Mike Sandejas

Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno

Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel

Mangatyanan (The Blood Trail) by Jerrold Tarog

Sanglaan by Milo Sogueco

Each finalists will receive P500,000.00 as seed investments. The 10 films will be screened on July 17-26, 2009 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The winning entry will be announced on July 26, 2009 and will receive an additional P200,000.00 cash incentive.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/09/cinemalaya-2009-finalists-bared/

Rufa Mae Quinto stars in Status: Single

Sexy comedienne Rufa Mae Quino stars in Viva Film’s pre-Valentine comedy movie, “Status: Single.”

In this upcoming comedy flick, Rufa Mae plays a conservative woman who dresses provocatively and is actively looking for her lifelong partner. “Status: Single is about a woman with a never-ending quest to find true love. Virgin ang role ko dun at naka-date ako ng iba’t ibang klase ng lalaki.” said Rufa Mae.

Its cast includes Mylene Dizon, Desiree del Valle, Angelu de Leon, Paolo Contis, Alfred Vargas, Rafael Rosell, Mark Bautista, and Jon Avila. Opens in theaters on January 28 and is directed by Jose Javier Reyes.

Source: http://www.mukamo.com/rufa-mae-quinto-status-single/