Why Vilma Santos is a shoo-in for best actress at MMFF Awards

I’ve never seen a Vilma Santos starrer on the big screen.

The first time was during a special screening of Uninvited on Christmas Day at Cinema 3 of Gateway Mall in Cubao. No, it’s not because I don’t like her nor her films.

Neither is it because I’m a dyed-in-the wool Noranian.

So, why?

It’s because I’m not really a film buff. It’s because I am a sucker for Hollywood action movies that star Jason Statham, Jackie Chan, Cynthia Rothrock and Jet Li.

I like slam-bang action more and drama less.  That’s how it is and always been for me.

The only time I get to watch Santos’ movies is when they’re shown on TV or when I browse the Internet.

Clearly, Santos gave a nuanced performance in Uninvited.  She perfectly foiled any attempt to make herself look glamorous. Her age is clearly defined in her role as Eva Candelaria.

Santos has a clear and better grip of her character as a mother who vows to avenge her daughter’s traumatic death.

While she’s done this before in Tagos ng Dugo, this time, Santos is not the victim herself and she goes to great lengths to clearly define the two roles apart.

What’s highly palpable in this obra maestra by Dan Villegas is the way Santos’ character is presented and the way it is navigated in the course of less than 24 hours.

Santos flips through her role with characteristic panache and clearly she’s a shoo-in for the best actress plum.

Actually, it’s the ensemble acting that sets Uninvited apart from other festival-quality films.

Aga Muhlach is unforgettable in the entire acting exercise.  He is presented in a never-before-seen scenario that he convincingly portrays with aplomb.

Muhlach plays his character with characteristic chutzpah, the kind that will jolt you in your seat.  

Nadine Lustre may have just a few scenes but she gallops in these with natural flair.  

Overall, Uninvited is a very dark movie that naturally seeps through the crisp-as-linen dialogues, nuanced personifications and a no-holds-barred narrative that is darker than dark.

Anthony Jennings recalls days as family breadwinner

Incognito star Anthony Jennings recalled in hindsight how it was to be a breadwinner.

He did this on his Instagram account to probably inspire people.

“Tulad ng karamihan, maaga din po ako naging breadwinner kaya ramdam ko ang hirap at saya na bitbit nila araw araw (Just like many people, I became a breadwinner early that’s why I feel the hardship and happiness that they bring every day),” he said as caption to his recent Instagram post. 

Being a breadwinner, just like Vice Ganda’s character in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, Jennings takes pride in having his family and friends while sailing through life’s ups and downs.

“May mga araw diyan na mahirap kaya mahalaga sakin ang pamilya at ang mga kaibigan ko na pamilya ko na din kasi sa bawat problema na pinagdadaanan ko sila lang ang nagsisilbing sandalan ko na kahit anong mangyare palagi silang may paraan para mapasaya ako (There are days that are hard so it’s important for me to have family and friends who have become family to me because whatever I go through they are there to support me, and they find a way to help me through whatever happens).”

Jennings was recently seen having the time of his life dancing during the Incognito Christmas party. This was a week after he apologized publicly for having dragged his leading lady Maris Racal into his controversial breakup with his non-showbiz ex-girlfriend.