Balota (Cinemalaya 2024)
Written & Directed by: Kip Oebanda
Marian Rivera in her first Cinemalaya film brought a lot of high expectations. You can’t blame anyone about it because she is afterall one of, if not the biggest star in the Philippines.
You might anticipate for an indie subtle different kind of acting but sadly, we won’t see that. It’s a missed opportunity to see her on that angle.
In this movie, her acting is still the same but she’s not at fault. The character requires that kind of performance and she actually did great. Teacher Emmy is Marian Rivera’s peak in acting excellence as she embraced the character as her own.
You can expect Will Ashley to deliver a moving performance especially on moments when it matters the most. Actually, all the cast members did their part. Even though some of them appeared briefly, each one of them was still memorable. You recognize their individual contribution.
The film is about votebuying and the danger it brings to our country. It’s the future that we’re talking about here and it’s something that we should be alarmed of. Unfortunately, the movie’s chosen treatment struggles to give the necessary impact and urgency into our current situation.
The mix of comedy and thriller is not smooth. The insertion of some jokes is either unnecessary or corny. When the characters inject humor on a life-threatening scenario, it abruptly becomes a sitcom.
Mas maaalala mo yung mga patawa kaysa dun sa naging panganib. Minsan, hindi na rin makatotohanan ang batuhan ng mga linya.
Merong pagkakataon na sana mas nakilala mo pa ang mga karakter. May isang eksena kung saan ang isang nanay ay umiyak dahil sa kanyang anak. Bagamat may emosyon kang mararamdaman sa oras na yun, hindi ito nagkaroon ng malalim na hugot dahil ang kaunti ng eksena na ipinakita na magkasama ang nanay at ang anak. Kinulang sila sa pagbuo ng matibay na pundasyon para sa kanilang relasyon.
Sa kabila ng mga kakulangan, hindi nawala ang hangarin ng pelikulang ito na maghatid ng mensahe. Kahit lubak ang kanilang naging daan, nakarating pa rin sila sa dulo nang hindi nawawalan ng boses.
Sa pagtatapos ng pelikulang ito, mapapamura ka talaga kapag hindi mo pa rin ginagamit ang boses mo sa tamang paraan. Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi lang nagsalita si Marian Rivera… sumigaw siya.
Lahat ng artista na nandito ay may ambag. Lahat sila ay may kanya-kanyang plataporma at malawak ang kanilang impluwensiya. Pinili nila ang proyektong ito upang maghatid ng pagbabago. Huwag sana natin itong sayangin.
Gaya ng pag-protekta ni Teacher Emmy sa Balota,
protektahan din natin ang ating kinabukasan. Huwag nating hayaan na ito’y makandado sa kasinungalingan at katiwalian.
𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗔
Rating: 3/5
Cast: Marian Rivera, Will Ashley, Royce Cabrera, Nico Antonio, Raheel Bhyria, Esnyr, Sassa Gurl, Donna Cariaga, Sue Prado, Joel Saracho, Gardo Versoza, Mae Paner
Presented by: GMA Pictures, Cinemalaya
Release Date: August 3-11, 2024 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Greenbelt, Trinoma, U.P. Town Center, and Market! Market! for the 20th Year of Cinemalaya
A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews
Napanuod mo na ba ang BALOTA?
Yes!!! Ang gandaaaa!!!!
Oo. Saks lang.
Napanuod ko na. Hindi ko nagustuhan.
Puro sold out naman ang screenings...
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