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For the past 21 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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(Ted Reyes is a musician, composer, record producer and journalist based in NYC. If you have any comments you can visit his website at www.tedreyes.com or email him at tedreyes@mac.com)
THIS past weekend, I have seen four great films. On Friday morning, it was Definitely, Maybe– a well-written love story that is miles away from your garden variety sugar-coated Hollywood date film. The movie is a mature take on love lost and love regained. I love how it is set in an interesting historical backdrop, the early 1990’s– the Clinton years, the Internet boom, and grunge. I also love the fact that the film happens in NYC.
On Friday night, Brian, Mariko, Sheryl and I all went to see what is perhaps the best super hero movie in recent memory– The Dark Knight. The late Heath Ledger as The Joker It is one of the very rare comic book-based films that has more substance than CGI, but still works big time. Perhaps it’s because of the superb writing and award-worthy performances, especially of the late Heath Ledger, who played Batman’s enemy, the Joker.
Ledger’s Joker is real. It is scary, pathetic, and tragically funny. His Joker is not the pastel-hued comic book creature type. Ledger’s take is alive and present. I always felt something inside whenever the Joker came up on screen– I could not describe what it was, perhaps that’s how one feels in the presence of genius.
The Dark Knight is one of those movies that would make you stare at the vast realm of the void and contemplate the validity of our choices– simply put, a cinematic masterpiece. I will see it again– on IMAX.
On Saturday, still staring at the void because of Nolan’s Dark Knight, we saw another NYC-set film, this time a family-police drama, We Own The Night. The film, with a powerhouse cast of Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendez, and the great Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen himself) has the grit and intensity of Scorsese’s master work, The Departed, minus the roller coaster twists and gory ending. It is still powerful, though.
On Sunday, after Paul’s birthday party, Sheryl and I watched The French film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le Scaphandre et le papillon). This movie is another work of genius. It is based on the true story of French writer/editor Jean-Dominique Bauby and his struggles with paralysis after a stroke. It is a deeply touching movie that mesmerized us until the credits rolled.
The direction is amazing given that the movie is on many perspectives, but mostly in the point of view of the paralyzed writer himself– first person perspective. It is so effective. I felt all his pains, especially when his left eye was being repaired. I thought his thoughts and felt his feelings. Bauby was completely paralyzed except for his right eye, which he used to communicate with the outside world through a system of blinks. His system of blinks led him to dictate his novel on which the movie was based. Absolutely brilliant!
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a celebration of the human spirit and the power of imagination.
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MANILA – Controversial comeback actress Gretchen Barretto, also known as La Greta, said that she has no plan to do a full-length television series.
Barretto explained that she cannot do a series for the simple reason that she now lives a healthy life, something that would be difficult to do when working on a teleserye.
She said part of healthy living involves sleeping early. She said that doing a series would require long work hours, and very little sleep.
"Hindi ko yata kakayanin ang schedule na three times a week, na 24 hours a day ang taping, parang wala na akong buhay. Kasi the next day natutulog ka na lang tapos taping ulit. Parang gusto kong maging maganda pa din, may career pero dapat maganda," said Barretto.
The actress said she would prefer to do month-long specials rather than a full-blown television series. Barretto also said that she agreed to do a movie under Star Cinema after she talked to ABS-CBN executive Malou Santos.
Gretchen's MMK special Barretto, who launched the new time slot of ABSCBN's longest running drama anthology program "Maalaala Mo Kaya" (MMK), received praises for her performance in the program.
"Noong umaga [I received] text and calls ngayon ko lang na-experience," Barretto said.
Barretto said that she was happy with her work but admitted that she encountered some problems.
"Taping kasi na 24 hours a day, hindi ko kaya lalo na kapag sunod-sunod. Kung nahahalata niyo in the middle of the show parang nawawalan na ako ng boses 'yun ang nagiging problema ko," explained Barretto.
In a previous interview, she said that no actor would be complete without being part of "MMK".
"Margarita" is Barretto's second appearance in "MMK". The first time she starred in the show was 15 years ago. Barretto played the character of Margarita, a mother and wife married to a poor man played by Tonton Gutierrez. Due to poverty Margarita was forced to seek help from their town's mayor, portrayed by actor Philip Salvador.
MMK's move to a new timeslot is part of its 17th year anniversary celebration. MMK now has a Saturday time slot, airing right after Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2. (MNS)
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MANILA -- MARIAN Rivera was a big hit in the Eat Bulaga show at the LA Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles last Saturday.
People were roaring with excitement when she went up the stage to dance with the Kambayoka Dance Troup. It’s good she’s able to get there on time since on Thursday night, she was still busy making a personal appearance at the FHM Underground show at the World Trade Center, where she’s honored as the topnotcher in their search for the country’s Sexiest 100 Women.
At the FHM affair, she came in a body hugging outfit with bare midriff and did her popular Marimar dance making the male viewers in the crowd swoon as she gyrated on stage.
Second placer Katrina Halili also showed up but third places Angel Locsin was a no show. Maybe she only comes when she’s number one and she definitely won’t appear in an event where her rival Marian will be the center of attraction.
Other stars who graced the occasion are Cristine Reyes (many noticed that the male crowd no longer applauded wildy when she appeared on stage, unlike last year when she got deafening applause), Alessandra de Rossi, Asia Agcaoili (always a scene stealer in her very revealing getups), Jenny Miller, Starstruck girls LJ Reyes, Ryza Cenon, Iwa Moto, Rich Asuncion, Kris Bernal, and Jackie Rice, Alyssa Alano, Renee Summer, Krista Ranillo, Luningning, Gwen Garci, Jennifer Lee, PBB’s Niña Jose, Jamilla Obispo, Wendy Valdez, EB Babes and Kitty Girls.
The FHM people are very grateful to Marian for showing up. “I promised I’d go and so I did,” says Marian.
“Nakakahiya naman sa FHM readers kundi ko sila sisiputin when they voted for me to be number one. I don’t want to disappoint them kaya kahit sobrang hectic ang sked with my taping for ‘Dyesebel’ and my trip to the U.S. pa, sumipot pa rin ako.”
So when is she going to have her sexy pictorial for FHM?
“Inihahanda na nila. Tutuparin ko rin yan kasi I promised them that I’ll do it. Basta pinangako ko, gagawin ko. Pero siempre, I’m so nervous dahil first time kong gagawin yun. They have prepared three different concepts for me but I have yet to decide kung alin dun ang gagawin ko.”
“Walang magiging problema sa amin as we’re willing to give Marian anything she’d ask of us matuloy lang ang pictorial niya as our new cover girl,” says FHM editor Allan Madridejos. (MNS)
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MANILA – JOLINA Magdangal and Marvin Agustin are together again in GMA- 7’s “Dear Friend” that will replace “Tasya Fantasya” on Sundays starting July 20. Their previous shows on GMA, “I Luv NY” and “Hoo U” both rated well so the management is confident that “Dear Friend” will also be well received by home viewers.
Marvin is really so lucky as he’s also seen Monday to Friday in “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan,” which is rating high.
“I’m really thankful to GMA-7 for all the good projects they’re giving me,” says Marvin who just returned from the U.S. where he promoted GMA Pinoy TV with Katrina Halili.
“Straight from the airport nga, dumiretso na ako sa taping ng first episode namin ni Jolens for ‘Dear Friend.’ Ganyan ako ka-excited talaga na makatrabaho uli si Jolens.”
How does Jolina feel about their new show? “Siyempre natutuwa ako kasi up to now, tanggap pa rin ng tao ang team up namin. It’s been quite a long time na rin since we last got to work with each other, although nagkikita namin kami sa SOP when he’s promoting a new show, pero siyempre, iba yung magkatrabaho kami talaga in one show like ‘Dear Friend.”
“Talagang hindi kami pinaghihiwalay ng tadhana,” Marvin jokes. “Di ba she left me behind sa ABS pero sinundan ko siya rito sa GMA-7? We’re sure the fans of our love team na loyal sa amin will be glad na makita uli kaming magkasama.”
“When I was told na si Marvin ang makakasama ko sa ‘Dear Friend,’ siyempre, natuwa ako kasi it’s fun to work with him. Also, maganda yung concept, hindi mabigat ang tema at bagay for light and easy Sunday afternoon viewing. Bagay sa amin. Makaka-relate ang viewers, lalo na ang mga kabataan, kasi we will read letters sent by viewers, then this will be dramatized and Marvin and I will be giving our opinion on matters of love and relationships.”
“Parang new version ito ng ‘He Said, She Said.’ Kami ang magbibigay ng advice doon sa letter sender about his problem. Puedeng pareho ang advice namin at puede ring magkasalungat. ‘Yun nga ang maganda roon, the letter sender will be able to hear different views at siya na ang bahalang mag-assess which one will be of better help para sa kanya.”
“Dear Friend” will surely make your Sunday afternoon viewing much more meaningful. (MNS)
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Ricky Davao bagged the Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his indie film Signos at the International Filmmaker Film Festival in England on June 27. The filmfest aims to provide filmmakers a venue to tap the U.K. market.
The TV star-theater actor played the father of Luis Alandy in this indie film directed by Aloy Adlawan.
According to the official website of the U.K. filmfest, Ricky bested international actors John Lansch (Portrait in Sepia Tone), Neil Newbon (The Run), Peter Elliott (Hallo Panda), and John Wimmer (The Years in the Desert) for the said award.
Two Filipino films were nominated for the category Best Foreign Language Film: Signos (international title: The Sign) and Haw-ang (international title: Before Harvest), which is directed by Bong Ramos.
The lead character of Haw-ang is a former nun played by theater actress Kalila Aguilos. She was nominated for the category Best Actress in a Leading Role but she lost to Alexandra Weaver for the movie The Run.
Ricky is currently part of the GMA-7 show Dyesebel while Kalila is part of the comedy TV series Camera Café also airing on the Kapuso Network.
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