Sunday, January 06, 2008

Banal (2008)



Banal (Cesar Apolinario, 2008)
English Title: Holy

Had it been better funded, better directed and better acted, Cesar Apolinario's Banal (Holy) could have been more than a mere passable thriller. As it is, Banal is an utterly inconsistent thus disappointing film, one that attempts to tell a capably conceived story about two cops sitting on opposite ends of the moral spectrum coming to terms with their respective moralities, but failing miserably plainly because of its less-than-competent execution. Cris (Paolo Contis) and Jayson (Alfred Vargas) were classmates in SWAT training under Major Sagala (Christopher de Leon), infamous for his odd drinking habits (pouring liquor into cans of Coca Cola) and his unsavory methods in training his cadets. Cris is the incorruptible cop, often earning the ire of crooked powerful politicians. Jayson on the other hand is ambitious to the point of sacrificing his ideals for the sake of a few thousands of pesos pilfered during one of his raids. Despite their differences, the two cops form a friendship, bound to be tested when a plot to assassinate the visiting pope is discovered.

Banal is the first feature film for director Apolinario. His training as news reporter and documentarian for a local television network is both boon and bane. Not counting the several narrative liberalities made, it is quite noticeable that the film is aptly researched. There is a genuine effort in portraying the particular risks and hardships members of the SWAT go through especially in their difficult training sessions. Much more intriguing is that there are no pretenses of uprightness or nobility in the local police force in the film, unlike most other local films or shows that would always strive to put the government in a good light lest they incur the wrath of the politically-motivated censors board (Banal was actually given an X-rating before the censors changed its mind). There is always that swelling atmosphere of sickening bureaucracy and media hogging that overwhelms the quiet sacrifices of the cops in the field. Apolinario also has an eye for detail and knows where to place his camera for maximum effect, especially during key scenes. Journalism is a job that requires the keenest of attention and a good grasp of honesty. These virtues he probably learned from fervently gathering information on a certain lead or being on the field and catching sensational news as they happen. Unfortunately, these journalistic virtues aren't enough to make a good film.

It's quite obvious that Apolinario relies a lot from his actors and to give them due credit, leads Contis and Vargas render serviceable jobs. On the other hand, veteran actor De Leon, while the obvious scene stealer with his unmitigated blend of method acting and histrionics, falls short in terms of both subtlety and sincerity. Other than that one scene where his alcohol-addicted major defeatedly salutes his former cadets, De Leon's antics never really rise above plain play-acting. Supporting cast members like Paolo Paraiso as wooden comic relief and Cassandra Ponti as woodenly sobful wife fare much worse. It's a good thing that Pen Medina, who plays corrupt provincial Congressman Manalo, is allowed to liven up things a bit by converting an underwritten role into something else, a representation of everything that's gone wrong in the Philippines.

Sadly, none of Apolinario's actors are adept action stars. Contis is a child actor turned all-around thespian. Vargas started out doing sexy roles in movies before being given a break doing various roles in television. De Leon is predominantly a dramatic actor. It bears stressing that Apolinario cannot direct a decent action scene and I believe he knows this. For example, in what was supposed to be a precursor for an all-out brawl, Apolinario opts to forgo of the rumble and instead, cheatingly inserts a shot of an ambulance siren (to signify that the brawlers were probably hospitalized) before showing the aftermath of the affray. In a climactic sequence which further proves Apolinario's incompetence in directing action scenes, Major Sagala and Jayson are trying to diffuse a bomb before it reaches the pope's vehicle. Everything turns into an incomprehensible mess when Apolinario, with the help of horrendous editing, mixes archived footage of Pope John Paul's last visit to Manila (and all the while I thought this was a fictional future pope, especially since the production design hints of the present as the setting of the film), and a horribly directed and acted scene of Sagala hanging while shooting from the passenger's seat of a rapidly moving car. To add insult to injury, the action sequence ends in a computer generated explosion that is just unintentionally hilarious.

Had Apolinario the vision to get veteran action stars instead of former and present matinée idols, stars who are trained in daring stunts and could've mustered enough pulsating excitement to salvage these pitifully choreographed and visualized sequences, he could have successfully cloaked his inadequacies as director. Had Apolinario the discipline to hone his journalistic tendencies into his filmmaking without sacrificing narrative logic and had the producers the common sense not to rely on cheap computer graphics especially given their budgetary limitations and gone the traditional way of blowing up junk vehicles and using real fire or just refrain from spoon feeding their audience (like in one scene atop a building, wherein we hear the sounds of a helicopter engine. It could have stopped there but instead a badly rendered computer-generated helicopter embarrassingly emerges from nowhere, sending chills down my spine, not in a good way), Banal could have been the Filipino mainstream movie all of us have been waiting for, a fresh yet still very commercial police story that actually has something relevant and interesting to say. As it is, Banal is one overpraised blunder.

******
This review is also published in The Oblation.

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:04 PM

    Haven't seen it yet. But if there is anything I hate most in local movies is the use of really cheap visual effects. I mean, who are they joking? It's like the styrofoam used in those old high school plays. We all know it's fake, and eventually, all of them breaks apart sometime in the middle.

    I'm thinking it's rooted in mainstream cinema's obsession with being Hollywood, thinking that it would please the masses and impress the 'cultured' middle class.

    One extreme example I could think of was in Lamangan's Blue Moon. He had to use ill-designed CG fighter planes. That ruined the movie for me.

    Thanks Mister Oggs.

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  2. Thanks,

    I understand why Lamangan had to make use of CG planes (although Blue Moon could have done better without them) since there is no possibility of reproducing real flying planes for local period pieces. However, in this case, the CG effects are simply outrageous. You blow up the back of a truck, or a car, and you need to use computer effects for that? That's ludicrous. If anything, Philippine cinema has mastered the art of blowing up vehicles, and don't they dare defend it for budgetary constraints, budget has never been a problem of those studios for blowing up unused cars and trucks. It's plainly called laziness and lack of imagination.

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  3. I guess the problem is some of our filmmakers are aiming for 'too much realism' by sacrificing subtlety and creativity. And if it's true that necessity is the mother of invention then how come they still strive for incredulous not-so-special effects, 'special' being dictated by Hollywood, while in fact, as you said, they can utilise their minimal resources and turn a scene into something that will let us think, think further, and think again? I don't mind Bong Revilla boasting the effects of Resiklo but if he continues to speak of the same thing, that we can match what Hollywood can do -- then that's bullshit. When some of his actors were interviewed in a talk show and were asked, What is Resiklo all about?, they answered, Resiklo is about recycling, and they couldn't say anything more than that. That's depressing. If the actors don't understand what their film is about, then how in heavens could we understand it too? In the end, it all boils down to the story and how it is told --- never mind the intention. And I think I'm contradicting myself because I still can't finish my own work, haha. Anyway great writing Oggs. You're gifted.

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  4. Thanks Chard for the nice words and your valuable thoughts on why our mainstream cinema sucks.

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  5. Cesar Apolinario was judged Best Director in the recent MMFF, right?

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  6. Yes, I was actually there in SMX with my friend (who also won an award). His win convinced me to watch the film. But in all sincerity, good for him. If there's one thing I can give Apolinario credit with, it is integrity. He did make this film against all odds and I'm glad he's reaping benefits and accolades from his risk, although not from me (like that will ever have some value).

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  7. Anonymous1:32 PM

    Haven't seen the film, but that is a pity about how all these badly-executed bits ruined a good story.

    As a film student, I don't get why professional filmmakers, who are supposed to be anal, would settle for something that looks silly, that's obviously painful to watch. Or perhaps, would even WRITE scenes they know would look plain silly given their budget/ability/experience.

    I'm convinced that there's still hope in turning out, as you mention in the end, something good and fresh that's also mainstream - I want to try and make one someday, at any rate - but that stuff like this keeps coming out year after year is both discouraging and baffling.

    Anyway, thanks for another insightful and well-written review, bro. :)

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  8. Thanks armth,

    I hope that when you do make that mainstream studio pic, you won't have to sell your heart and soul to the producers. I've seen that happen to the best of us. Good luck and hopefully next time, you'll provide me with a name. Cheers!

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  9. Anonymous7:23 PM

    cesar apolinario won best story and best director, he is also nominted in film academy of the philppines..his actors recieved awards and nominations too.

    maybe you are right with your review, but you are just one...talk to the marines.

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