Some people would choose the FIGHT. No matter how evil or no matter how good, some people simply never had a CHOICE. Because TO FIGHT, is all they've GOT.
When some people ultimately and inevitably chose to run AMOK, with all their physical strength and "Incredible Hulk"-kind-of transformation, it only meant they really got FED-UP already with all the labels and tags, with all the monopolies, the stepping, and the kicks.
You would never really know who's really the BAD one these days. But in the movie BUY BUST by director Erik Matti, there was, for sure, two squads of PDEA agents who acted as ANGELS, and the bad ones were not that bad, after all. Except for the MASTER EVIL planner, wonderfully portrayed by character actor Nonie Buencamino, who was the main source of all the violence that transpired all-throughout the film.
But sometimes, no matter how hard you fight, you will still surely die. The forces of good were much stronger from the forces of evil. If you're on the bad side, maybe, just maybe, you didn't have to fight anymore. You just have to walk by and move on.
The many massacre scenes in the film BUY BUST, simply showed that many Filipinos still ceased to LIVE amidst the many killings and harm inflicted on them. A blogger, by the name of Orly Agawin, got so affected in those many massacre scenes and published online saying that he felt more for those who were killed, rather than the PDEA warriors who were also got massacred (and the lone survivor was the character of Anne Curtis) in the film, too.
But we guessed by now, it's the director's vision that mattered. Showing the poor, ordinary people from the tight, hidden and dark alleys of Metro Manila slums, being killed and all, you would know, that these human beings are HUMAN BEINGS STILL, after all. If they fought it out with the authorities, maybe because it's the only thing left they've got. And it's all they have. And they never thought, REBELLION was such a delicate thing.
Philippines is a land of DEATH, we said so. After watching BUY BUST, a few months ago at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, this blogger remembered some friends. Because they may be drug addicts, they may have been victims of Tokhang, they may have been poor and underground characters, but they were still 'HUMAN' beings. A boyfriend may have loved them, a mom may have waited for them to come home, a son or a daughter may have asked if they could bring them some food on the table- and yet, they all DIED. It's because they fought and they used drugs.
We so loved director's Erik Matti's vision of this film. He simply showed and asked: How many more Filipinos will die because of the unlimited EGOS of the rich and the powerful? How many more will die protecting people from the harms inflicted by drugs, guns, and shady deals?
When you never see the LIGHT of DAY, maybe, you could only dream. Maybe you could show it via a cinematic wonder, too.
This was the hidden life of many Filipinos. They struggle to survive, day-to-day, they embrace and hold-on to the KNIFE. JUST TO SURVIVE.
****** ****** ******
With a humble but powerful cast, a director will only fully achieve his DREAM because of them. Ms. Anne Curtis, who acted-out with subdued manners and great nuances was PERFECT in this dream. Her under-acting style in this film was one of those thirst-quenching moments- long-awaited, though, but surely saving the last.
Mara Isabella Yokohama's death scene in the film was the most tragic. But it's worth-remembering because of her fine acting skills and action movements.
Ian Taylor Ignacio, the Tondo boy in this movie, acted it out in great character- which was so 'out-of-the-box' of his real personality. And he's so good.
Nafa Hilario Cruz, the young girl in the movie who held a big knife and wanted to fight, too, was outstanding in this film, although her role was so brief.
Victor Neri also delivered his role with great angst and artistic performance, as the leader of the two PDEA dead squads.
Joross Gamboa, was also a standout. How we loved to see him act in a different way this time. In full characterization and funny looks, Joross added more glow in this film.
And yes, how could we ever forget Mr. Arjo Atayde in this film, who played the central and magnificent character of the one being hunted down by the PDEA squad. It's one of the greatest acting performances we've ever seen so far.
********** ************ **********
Real film artists never compromises. And we're glad that we have one by the name of ERIK MATTI. No matter how ABS-CBN channel 2 explained their side on why they decided to shy-away with this great director because of some artistic differences, and no matter how he cursed actress Lovi Poe on the viral world because of the actress' bad professionalism ways, we still loved this director's stand.
Film artists needed to stress the POINT.
And in a film like BUY BUST, which was chosen by SWORDSHINES10.BLOGSPOT.COM's as the best movie of 2018, darkness never faded away.
Because the LIGHT seemingly, was too long to wait.
And in the dark alleys of dead people who fought in their own little ways,
DARKNESS won.
but, there's still ONE left.
AND IT WAS THE 'DIGNITY' LEFT OF THE MANY FILIPINOS WHO DIED
AND LIVED.
FOREVER.
"BUY BUST", SWORDSHINES10.BLOGSPOT.COM's BEST MOVIE FOR THE YEAR 2018.
(as the words were written by robert manuguid silverio)
 |
| erik matti: uncompromising film maker |
