Armie Hammer is surely one delicious human being. I’d gladly have his babies. If for some bizarre reason his name suddenly appears in our barangay drug list, I would give my life for him, exchange my freedom for his so he’d still continue doing movies and giving the world his beauty.
What’s there not to love about Arnie? He is good-looking and, boy, has he got the pedigree. His great grandfather was an oil tycoon, while his great great grandfather was a tsarist general from Russia. His father owns several businesses, including a publishing company and even a film and television production company. Perfect for my social-climbing ambitions.
But more than his gorgeous looks and family heritage, Armie is one good actor. He’s consistent in giving utterly believable performances. He makes acting a noble profession.
Armie is one brave actor, too. He is one of the cast members of coming-of-age film Call Me By Your Name. The film is a drama that tells the romantic story between a 17-year-old Italian boy who falls in love with Oliver, played by Armie. It was the talk of the recent Sundance Film Festival, where it received a 10-minute standing ovation. Ten whole minutes. Critics love the direction, the writing and the performances, especially of the leads and, of course, my Armie baby.
That’s why I’m so glad that it is part of the 13 films in this year’s Cinema One Originals’s World Cinema highlights. The others are Beats Per Minute, Let the Sun Shine In, L Amant Doble, On Body and Soul, Thelma, The Third Murder, Before We Vanish, A Fantastic Woman, Newton, Zama, Good Time, Sweet Country and the 4K restoration of Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Speaking of restorations, Pinoy classics, such as Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Moral, Jeffrey Sonora’s Asedillo, Celso Ad Castillo’s Tag-Ulan Tag-Araw and Danny Zialcita’s Langis at Tubig will also be screened. Restored versions of Karma (also by Danny Zialcita), Karnal (by Marilou Diaz-Abaya) and Lino Brocka’s Cain at Abel will also be unreeled.
But I’m also equally excited with the local films in competition. “Walang Takot” is the tagline of this year’s Cinema One Originals and it is, indeed, an apt description of the films in competition. Starting with the documentary section that features Bundok Banahaw, Sacred and Profane, which is an exploration of the mysteries surrounding the eponymous mountain; and Haunted: A Visit to the Red House, which features the horrors experienced by the so-called comfort women of World War II.
Meanwhile, the full-length narrative section also features fearless entries. There’s Paki, which features Dexter Doria as a woman who does everything to stop her husband from leaving her; and Nervous Translation, about a young girl who discovers a magical pen that can translate the thoughts and feelings of people when they get nervous.
Histographika Errata is another exciting film that features a suicidal Jose Rizal, a cross-dressing Andres Bonifacio and more. There’s also Changing Partners, a bittersweet exploration of various genders that is also a musicale. Nay is also in competition and tells of a man suffering a terminal disease who uncovers a dark family secret, along with Si Chedeng at Si Apple, a dark comedy about two old girlfriends who become accidental criminals.
Finally, there’s Throwback Today, in which a disgruntled young man at the end of his rope stumbles upon a way to rewrite his own history.
This year marks the 13th year of the Cinema One Originals film festival and it runs from November 13 to 21 at TriNoma, Glorietta, Gateway Mall, UP Cine Adarna, Cinema 76 and Cinematheque, with an extended run from November 22 to 28 at The Power Plant Mall. So be like me and spend the nonworking holidays wisely and watch all the films of Cinema One Originals.