Hitting it big
by Arkeofilms 24 January 2006.
Rianne Hill Soriano YEHEY! Contributors
Starring: Michael de Mesa, Jamie Wilson, Winston Elizalde, Nor Domingo, Joanne Miller
Directed by: Mario Cornejo
Big Time hits it really big during its press screening at Podium last Jan. 16, 2005. The excited crowd composed of press people, artists, staff, cast and friends of Big Time and Arkeofilms started pouring in by 7:00 p. m. for a dose of non-slapstick absurdity and comedy.
This Cinemalaya film is about two petty crooks trying to hit it big time. And their misadventures reflect a fast-paced story backed up with an effective pop-culture treatment from the two young filmmakers Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez. Its edgy, ‘Tarantinoesque’ camerawork, stylistically action-packed, comedic, and at some point cynical scenes, witty dialogues and creative story keep a sincerely effective tale of well-established proportion. The entire film seems to reflect the kind of lifestyle and background of the two filmmakers who come from considerably well-off families. But unlike the trying hard to be artsy-fartsy films of some filmmakers who have some money to spend, this film reaches a certain appeal for the critics, the artists, the film buffs and even the mainstream audience. It delivers big time as it breaks from the overused action-comedy formula.
The film’s dark humor greatly supports the well-made script and the characterization. The characters developed in the story are considerably clichés but they are utilized creatively: Jonas and Danny as a tandem of small-time criminals dreaming of hitting the easy score; Melody as a small town’s wannabe actress trying to use her simple charm to climb the ladder; Don Manolo as a local crime lord aiming for more and more power and preparing his son to become the future president of the country; and Wilson as the ambitious psychopath wanting to have fun in making his own name in the underworld business without his father by his side. The common denominator: they all want to hit it big time.
The antic and forceful performances provided by the cast draws the audience into a world of risks and thwarted ambitions. The criminal duo of Nor Domingo (Jonas) and Winston Elizalde (Danny) delivers a good combination of comedy and action and create good and meaningful punchlines for the comic side and the right tension for the suspense part of the story. Jamie Wilson (Wilson) builds up the film’s conflict with his ‘bad guy slash coño-next-door’ nature. The fresh face of Joanne Miller (Melody) – coming back after some few good years from the long-running soap opera Annaluna – as a small town’s pretty girl becoming trapped in a criminals’ world draws a certain kind of empathy from the audience. Michael de Mesa (Don Manolo) gives such a menacing presence, and yet, he still manages to effectively yield to the comic side of the story. Tony Roma (Desi) and Carme Sanchez (Teresa) as Melody’s parents remain on the supporting side and don’t give room for upstaging. A number of cameos from big and established names – including Mayor Lito Atienza, Jon Santos, Soxy Topacio and Ryan Eigenmann (as the younger Manolo) – add to the fun, comedy and action. A number of theater actors and actresses and artists from behind the scenes are seen throughout the film.
For three days of fun, games, love, violence, felony and death, the intricacies of life and hitting the big time are carefully exposed in this film. In a series of metaphors (carefully, figuratively planted ideas as discerned in the cinematography and production design), punchlines, subtexts, and conflicting and complementing needs and wants, the story reflects the point of view of the filmmakers who have been brought up by the modern-day Filipino pop culture. From the music to the composition of the shots to the treatment for this slick, daring, hilarious and fast-paced story, the film ruminates the visions of young filmmakers of our times as they pay homage to the stories and filmmakers they look up to but not in a copycat/rip-off way.
This film tackles a serious issue presented in a light but poignant manner. The story engages in the reality of that Filipino dream as winning the jueteng, bingo or lotto jackpot, drawing one’s name in a big time raffle draw and any other promos, topping huge bets in boxing, horse races and cockfights, becoming a famous actress/actor/celebrity, getting the highest paying job in a renowned company, marrying a rich man/woman, and winning the election. From all these, greed, hunger for money and power, widespread gambling, corruption and pyramid schemes perpetuate in our society. The story gives us time to ponder on how these things affect our everyday lives.
In this crazy world, everybody wants to hit it big time. But there’s always the risk at stake and the price to pay. Watching this film is like eating Chocnuts. It’s very Pinoy…
by Arkeofilms 24 January 2006.
Rianne Hill Soriano YEHEY! Contributors
Starring: Michael de Mesa, Jamie Wilson, Winston Elizalde, Nor Domingo, Joanne Miller
Directed by: Mario Cornejo
Big Time hits it really big during its press screening at Podium last Jan. 16, 2005. The excited crowd composed of press people, artists, staff, cast and friends of Big Time and Arkeofilms started pouring in by 7:00 p. m. for a dose of non-slapstick absurdity and comedy.
This Cinemalaya film is about two petty crooks trying to hit it big time. And their misadventures reflect a fast-paced story backed up with an effective pop-culture treatment from the two young filmmakers Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez. Its edgy, ‘Tarantinoesque’ camerawork, stylistically action-packed, comedic, and at some point cynical scenes, witty dialogues and creative story keep a sincerely effective tale of well-established proportion. The entire film seems to reflect the kind of lifestyle and background of the two filmmakers who come from considerably well-off families. But unlike the trying hard to be artsy-fartsy films of some filmmakers who have some money to spend, this film reaches a certain appeal for the critics, the artists, the film buffs and even the mainstream audience. It delivers big time as it breaks from the overused action-comedy formula.
The film’s dark humor greatly supports the well-made script and the characterization. The characters developed in the story are considerably clichés but they are utilized creatively: Jonas and Danny as a tandem of small-time criminals dreaming of hitting the easy score; Melody as a small town’s wannabe actress trying to use her simple charm to climb the ladder; Don Manolo as a local crime lord aiming for more and more power and preparing his son to become the future president of the country; and Wilson as the ambitious psychopath wanting to have fun in making his own name in the underworld business without his father by his side. The common denominator: they all want to hit it big time.
The antic and forceful performances provided by the cast draws the audience into a world of risks and thwarted ambitions. The criminal duo of Nor Domingo (Jonas) and Winston Elizalde (Danny) delivers a good combination of comedy and action and create good and meaningful punchlines for the comic side and the right tension for the suspense part of the story. Jamie Wilson (Wilson) builds up the film’s conflict with his ‘bad guy slash coño-next-door’ nature. The fresh face of Joanne Miller (Melody) – coming back after some few good years from the long-running soap opera Annaluna – as a small town’s pretty girl becoming trapped in a criminals’ world draws a certain kind of empathy from the audience. Michael de Mesa (Don Manolo) gives such a menacing presence, and yet, he still manages to effectively yield to the comic side of the story. Tony Roma (Desi) and Carme Sanchez (Teresa) as Melody’s parents remain on the supporting side and don’t give room for upstaging. A number of cameos from big and established names – including Mayor Lito Atienza, Jon Santos, Soxy Topacio and Ryan Eigenmann (as the younger Manolo) – add to the fun, comedy and action. A number of theater actors and actresses and artists from behind the scenes are seen throughout the film.
For three days of fun, games, love, violence, felony and death, the intricacies of life and hitting the big time are carefully exposed in this film. In a series of metaphors (carefully, figuratively planted ideas as discerned in the cinematography and production design), punchlines, subtexts, and conflicting and complementing needs and wants, the story reflects the point of view of the filmmakers who have been brought up by the modern-day Filipino pop culture. From the music to the composition of the shots to the treatment for this slick, daring, hilarious and fast-paced story, the film ruminates the visions of young filmmakers of our times as they pay homage to the stories and filmmakers they look up to but not in a copycat/rip-off way.
This film tackles a serious issue presented in a light but poignant manner. The story engages in the reality of that Filipino dream as winning the jueteng, bingo or lotto jackpot, drawing one’s name in a big time raffle draw and any other promos, topping huge bets in boxing, horse races and cockfights, becoming a famous actress/actor/celebrity, getting the highest paying job in a renowned company, marrying a rich man/woman, and winning the election. From all these, greed, hunger for money and power, widespread gambling, corruption and pyramid schemes perpetuate in our society. The story gives us time to ponder on how these things affect our everyday lives.
In this crazy world, everybody wants to hit it big time. But there’s always the risk at stake and the price to pay. Watching this film is like eating Chocnuts. It’s very Pinoy…
http://www.arkeofilms.com/bigtime/news/
