Hold Me Close (MMFF 2024)
Written & Directed by: Jason Paul Laxamana
The movie is about touch and senses,
yet it fails to be touching.
Maraming beses na nagdrama si Carlo Aquino, ngunit hindi ito nakakadala. Nakakalungkot dahil hindi lumabas ang kanyang husay bilang aktor dito sa palabas na ito.
May eksena rito kung saan umiyak si Julia Barretto dahil may nangyari sa kanyang karakter. Sa pagkakataong iyon, ramdam ang kanyang galing bilang isang aktres. Nakakalungkot lang dahil imbes na umangat ang kanyang naging pagganap ay mas nangibabaw ang katamlayan ng eksena.
Hindi maganda ang build-up sa samahan ng dalawang bida. Patay na patay sila sa isa’t isa, pero patay rin ang mga eksena. Hindi mo alam kung anong trip nila sa isa't isa at kung paano nangyari ang pag-iibigan. Hindi umabot sa puntong kikiligin ka para sa kanila. Mahina ang kanilang chemistry.
Maganda sana ang mga kanta, pero wala itong naging epekto dahil walang timbang ang mga ipinapakita nila. Maayos sana ang cinematography, pero hindi nasulit at hindi ramdam ang Japan setting.
Matino sana ang mensahe, pero hindi ito ang umangat sa huli. Ang tamad ng pagkakasulat sa ginawa nilang ending.
Hindi makatotohanan ang ilang pangyayari. Hindi nakaka-enganyong pakinggan ang mga usapan. May mga impormasyon na halatang hindi nila tinatanong sa simula para may mapag-usapan pa sila mamaya. Ramdam ang katagalan ng pelikula dahil nakakainip siyang panuorin.
The longer it gets, the more distant you’ve become.
Instead of bringing us closer to the characters, the movie succeeded in letting us go. Hold me close no more.
𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗠𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘
Rating: 1/5
Cast: Julia Barretto, Carlo Aquino, Jairus Aquino, Migo Valid
Presented by: Viva Films, Ninuno Media, Polaris
Release Date: December 25, 2024 in Philippine cinemas nationwide
A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews
POSSIBLE NOMINATIONS:
Best Actress (Julia Barretto)
Best Cinematography
Best Themesong
Wala ng bago.
It was a fresh movie to watch. I don't know what are the rubrics of this page to grade it as 1/5. I do believe that we have standards to meet in making a film but to give one out of five seemed to be fishy.
I must agree, Julia Barretto really stood out in this film. I've believed in her talent for a long time, and if only she received the proper promotions and marketing, I know she would go BIG! She's one of the best actresses of her generation. Honestly, if it weren’t for the negative issues surrounding her, I’m sure people would love her even more. Julia is not just beautiful; she's also humble in person. There’s no insecurity in her, and you can feel that in her words and actions. As Gerald said, she’s a secure woman. Unfortunately, she’s been misunderstood by many. But Julia is incredibly talented, and her acting is proof of that. It’s been clear for a long time…
Well, this kind of review is totally acceptable; at least you're being honest. We all have our own opinions and perspectives. But one thing I can say is this film is definitely underrated, and you should see it for yourself. For me, I'd rate it 4/5. As Filipinos, we’re often drawn to Cinderella stories, breadwinner narratives, and comedy films. *Hold Me Close*, however, offers something different—something beyond what we’re used to in Filipino films, which might be why it doesn’t immediately resonate with everyone. But hey, it’s all about personal taste. I’m already accustomed to the Jdrama/Kdrama vibes, and for me, the story concept works. It has its sweet, kilig moments, and I agree—Julia Barretto here is exceptional. She truly…
Actually, we all have different opinions about *Hold Me Close*—it’s inevitable that there will be varied reactions from those who’ve watched it. We can't really blame Goldwin for his review; it’s his personal opinion. But for me, I’d rate it 3.5/5. I really liked the story concept—it gives off strong anime/J-drama vibes, which I’m a fan of. I agree with what you said about Julia Barretto. She’s not just a pretty face in showbiz; she really held her own here and can definitely keep up with the veterans. I’d love to see her nominated for Best Actress for this performance. Regardless of whether it’s a blockbuster hit, this movie is still a lowkey and underrated gem in MMFF, and I…