100 TULA PARA KAY STELLA (2017): A FILM REVIEW
2:05:00 PM
Some people online are condemning the director of 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, Jason Paul Laxamana, because of his staunch and relentless support for this admin's War On Drugs. People say his movie should be boycotted. While it's undisputable that Laxamana's Indie works have been extremely brilliant, unfortunately the boycott isn't necessary. People will realize 100 Tula Para Kay Stella isn't outstanding. You may love the main characters but apart from them, nothing else in the movie is redeeming.
This is the first Bella Padilla film I watched so I don't have a baseline (lol). But she was natural and amazing in this film. She embodied a tired female lead effortlessly. Kitang kita mo sa kanya na pagod na pagod na sya sa life and that's what her character was all about. JC Santos on the other hand is a hard-working actor. I think he's brilliant. I can feel how he prepared for the role and his character, Fidel, is probably the most valuable asset for this movie. He is convincing and his tears (especially at the final scene) gave off too many rushing emotions.
You can't help but compare how a film about a "feels" love story should fare when you have 'I'm Drunk, I Love You' and 'Kita Kita' coming before this. Add to that pressure the fact that 'Mercury Is Mine', '2 Cool 2 Be 4Gotten', & 'Babagwa' - all critics' Indie faves are under Laxamana's belt. These films have remarkable storytelling and weren't convoluted. I'd like to believe that 100 Tula Para Kay Stella had technical or timing problems when they filmed it but there's a part of me that also thinks the plot wasn't stable enough for a full-length movie. Many movies go on a roller-coaster ride and are still enjoyable but for 100 Tula's case, only the beginning and end were entertaining.
The rest of the movie was either cringe-worthy (push nyo pa singing career ni Fidel, ugh haha), too rehearsed (e.g. Yung Ulan scene nina Von and Stella) or unnecessary. I know I should feel bad because there was a point in the movie just before the end that I wanted to go out of the cinema and just go home. HAHAHAHA. It was that bad. Good thing, the ending came to redeem the whole mess. Still it wasn't enough.
If you guys are running out of time to watch #PistaNgPelikulangPilipino2017, I suggest not to prioritize this. I've seen better. We've seen better.
Xoxo,
@callmenorby
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