Close To You Review II
By collective team On May 22, 2007 At 4:19 PM
by: nice_girl
originally posted in pinoyexchange, Feb. 2006
No, this is not the movie that will change the course of Philippine history. No, it is not socially relevant but I am sure that in the future, perhaps, near future, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo will act in a film that will move the world. This is not like Sister Stella L, Himala, Batch 81, Dekada 70 or Bagong Buwan. This is not that kind of film. But just wait a while...just wait a while. Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz will do those kind of movies soon (and I don't mean a half-baked, barely researched biopic of a still living, breathing fighter who hasn't even lived half his life - sorry, sorry, can't help myself.) The time will come that John Lloyd Cruz AND Bea Alonzo will be in a film that will win awards and will make a headlines in film festivals abroad. I just can see it happening.
This is just a feel good film, make that a feel great film, like An Affair to Remember, Casablanca , Roman Holiday, Titanic. Is it sacrilegious to compare this one to those mentioned? I think not. They are all about a man and a woman falling in love. And, man and woman crying buckets of tears over this love. Sounds like real life? So, let me rephrase, this is not just a feel great film. This is a film that spliced that part of life that makes the world go round. It doesn't make promises to heal the world's ills, it doesn't make a statement to change government policies. It just is. Real. Matter-of-fact. True.
John Lloyd Cruz plays Manuel (the end credits say Nuel), bestfriend to Marian, a talented photographer who belongs to a family of artists who hasn't quite have gotten the courage to put himself out there and be judged...whether in his work or in his love for Marian. He's just there...contented to be co-owner of a photography studio, driving a Pajero, being with Marian. He hasn't heard what Kierkegaard said, "To risk is to lose one's foothold for a while. Not to risk is to lose oneself forever." This is his basic character flaw. It is a credit to the screenwriter Mel del Rosario that she made Manuel so consistent. So consistent that you want to bop his head each time he doesn't grab a great opportunity.
Bea Alonzo plays Marian, bestfriend to Manuel, an entrepreneur who has her own flower business. She is a go-getter, quite strict and determined. She knows what she wants and she goes and gets it. She never forgets. She often would remind Manuel how she saved him from being drowned and how he is missing all these opportunities. She also remembered a childhood promise. She's also a nag.
You see Lloydy and Bea on screen and you expect chemistry.
You see Bea and Lloydy on screen and you expect good acting.
And, in this movie, they didn't fail. It takes effort to make everything look effortless. Unless, of course, there's really no acting involved here (No, no, just kidding.) The first time they appeared on screen as Manuel and Marian felt as if they have been there forever. It didn't feel like its the first time. It's as if they have lives before this and they only allowed a camera to follow them at this certain period. They appeared for the first time yet it felt there's already a history.
Can there be more expressive eyes than John Lloyd Cruz's? He doesn't have to say a word. His eyes say it all. How can he have all those feelings in his eyes in a space of a second? Magaling si John Lloyd Cruz. Ang galing ni John Lloyd Cruz. And it's not only his eyes. It seems all his facial muscles act too. In the scene where Lance kissed Marian, his eyes were closed, but why do you feel him so hurt? There's a shade of Oliver in this character but just a shade.
The shots were of course beautiful but all its beauty pale in comparison with Bea Alonzo's. She glows on screen. So beautiful in EVERY shot. If you are her father, your heart will be filled with pride and with fear. How could you keep men away from this creature? If you are her mother, you would want to plan her wedding.
If you are John Lloyd Cruz, well...you will also have difficulty keeping your hands to yourself too. The girl in Bea Alonzo is surely leaving and being replaced by a totally desirable woman. And she can act. Marian is so different from all the other characters she played.
I love three scenes in the movie more than the others. The first was when they were "breaking up" as friends. Manuel told Marian, Kung ako ba magkaka girlfriend, hindi ka ba magseselos? And Marian answered, Hindi ka pa nagkakaka girlfriend, dudukutin ko na ang mga mata nila. I just love the way she said this. That conversation felt like a conversation between two old friends just like they were in the movie. Honest. Just the barest facts. Straight to the point. And Manuel hugged her. You will love this Tita Elise. No kiss, just a hug.
The second is the confrontation scene. They were in a car. Small confined space and they were strapped to their seats but why is this scene so touching? I won't elaborate further but suffice it to say, this scene will stay with you. Good. Good. Good.
And the ending, as Ron said, what could be cuter than the ending? I love the fact that there was just that one kiss in the end. Just one very nice, very nice kiss. I think first kisses should be that way, playful, hesitant yet deliberate, just a dash of passion yet so loving. So cute and so right. It's not an "I-finally-found-you" kiss, it's more like "we've-been-married-40-years-and-my-heart-still-palpitates-each-time-I-see-you"
Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina did a fine job and Mel del Rosario wrote a fine script. Congratulations to all cast and crew.
I love Now That I Have You more than My First Romance. But Close To You, I really, really love. It could only get better for John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo
originally posted in pinoyexchange, Feb. 2006
No, this is not the movie that will change the course of Philippine history. No, it is not socially relevant but I am sure that in the future, perhaps, near future, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo will act in a film that will move the world. This is not like Sister Stella L, Himala, Batch 81, Dekada 70 or Bagong Buwan. This is not that kind of film. But just wait a while...just wait a while. Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz will do those kind of movies soon (and I don't mean a half-baked, barely researched biopic of a still living, breathing fighter who hasn't even lived half his life - sorry, sorry, can't help myself.) The time will come that John Lloyd Cruz AND Bea Alonzo will be in a film that will win awards and will make a headlines in film festivals abroad. I just can see it happening.
This is just a feel good film, make that a feel great film, like An Affair to Remember, Casablanca , Roman Holiday, Titanic. Is it sacrilegious to compare this one to those mentioned? I think not. They are all about a man and a woman falling in love. And, man and woman crying buckets of tears over this love. Sounds like real life? So, let me rephrase, this is not just a feel great film. This is a film that spliced that part of life that makes the world go round. It doesn't make promises to heal the world's ills, it doesn't make a statement to change government policies. It just is. Real. Matter-of-fact. True.
John Lloyd Cruz plays Manuel (the end credits say Nuel), bestfriend to Marian, a talented photographer who belongs to a family of artists who hasn't quite have gotten the courage to put himself out there and be judged...whether in his work or in his love for Marian. He's just there...contented to be co-owner of a photography studio, driving a Pajero, being with Marian. He hasn't heard what Kierkegaard said, "To risk is to lose one's foothold for a while. Not to risk is to lose oneself forever." This is his basic character flaw. It is a credit to the screenwriter Mel del Rosario that she made Manuel so consistent. So consistent that you want to bop his head each time he doesn't grab a great opportunity.
Bea Alonzo plays Marian, bestfriend to Manuel, an entrepreneur who has her own flower business. She is a go-getter, quite strict and determined. She knows what she wants and she goes and gets it. She never forgets. She often would remind Manuel how she saved him from being drowned and how he is missing all these opportunities. She also remembered a childhood promise. She's also a nag.
You see Lloydy and Bea on screen and you expect chemistry.
You see Bea and Lloydy on screen and you expect good acting.
And, in this movie, they didn't fail. It takes effort to make everything look effortless. Unless, of course, there's really no acting involved here (No, no, just kidding.) The first time they appeared on screen as Manuel and Marian felt as if they have been there forever. It didn't feel like its the first time. It's as if they have lives before this and they only allowed a camera to follow them at this certain period. They appeared for the first time yet it felt there's already a history.
Can there be more expressive eyes than John Lloyd Cruz's? He doesn't have to say a word. His eyes say it all. How can he have all those feelings in his eyes in a space of a second? Magaling si John Lloyd Cruz. Ang galing ni John Lloyd Cruz. And it's not only his eyes. It seems all his facial muscles act too. In the scene where Lance kissed Marian, his eyes were closed, but why do you feel him so hurt? There's a shade of Oliver in this character but just a shade.
The shots were of course beautiful but all its beauty pale in comparison with Bea Alonzo's. She glows on screen. So beautiful in EVERY shot. If you are her father, your heart will be filled with pride and with fear. How could you keep men away from this creature? If you are her mother, you would want to plan her wedding.
If you are John Lloyd Cruz, well...you will also have difficulty keeping your hands to yourself too. The girl in Bea Alonzo is surely leaving and being replaced by a totally desirable woman. And she can act. Marian is so different from all the other characters she played.
I love three scenes in the movie more than the others. The first was when they were "breaking up" as friends. Manuel told Marian, Kung ako ba magkaka girlfriend, hindi ka ba magseselos? And Marian answered, Hindi ka pa nagkakaka girlfriend, dudukutin ko na ang mga mata nila. I just love the way she said this. That conversation felt like a conversation between two old friends just like they were in the movie. Honest. Just the barest facts. Straight to the point. And Manuel hugged her. You will love this Tita Elise. No kiss, just a hug.
The second is the confrontation scene. They were in a car. Small confined space and they were strapped to their seats but why is this scene so touching? I won't elaborate further but suffice it to say, this scene will stay with you. Good. Good. Good.
And the ending, as Ron said, what could be cuter than the ending? I love the fact that there was just that one kiss in the end. Just one very nice, very nice kiss. I think first kisses should be that way, playful, hesitant yet deliberate, just a dash of passion yet so loving. So cute and so right. It's not an "I-finally-found-you" kiss, it's more like "we've-been-married-40-years-and-my-heart-still-palpitates-each-time-I-see-you"
Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina did a fine job and Mel del Rosario wrote a fine script. Congratulations to all cast and crew.
I love Now That I Have You more than My First Romance. But Close To You, I really, really love. It could only get better for John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo
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