JR's Movie Reviews - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

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BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Year of Release: 2018

JR's Rating:  (9.7 out of 10, Impressive)
⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"Ecstatic, Born To Be A Performer"

Note: In doing this review, I neglected the historical accuracy of the events occuring on the film. So everything in this movie was solely judged on the movie's story, production set, direction and acting. Everything was treated as if it were a work of art with liberty in story-making.

It was too late I have to do this review as I had my exams way back November but lo and behold I had it made just in time before the Oscars. I had this film to blame for earworming (if such a word exist) to "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Another One Bites The Dust", "I Want To Break Free", and "Don't Stop Me Now" a few days before my board exams (and I thank Queen for helping me pass, by the way). Bohemian Rhapsody, both the film and the titular song, made me fell in love with Queen, Freddie Mercury and their most certainly immortal music. Rami Malek's performance as Freddie Mercury is one for the books; like Freddie, he's ecstatic and born to be a performer in this movie. I'm betting on him for the Best Actor nod for the Oscars. Each performance in this movie are to die for but due credit is to be made for the LiveAID performance which the crew done it's best to replicate even in it's tiniest detail. I felt teary eyed watching the entire scene most especially that events preceeding this already imposed an impending death to Freddie (in reality, however, it was after LiveAID when Freddie was diagnosed with HIV and AIDS). Bohemian Rhapsody remains one of the best musicals in recent memory. It's a treat to a generation who never got to see and hear Freddie Mercury's music. It was sad that his life was a shortlived one but admiration is to be placed for, despite his seemingly legendary status, he is all but a human being who craves for love and family.

JR's Movie Reviews - ROMA

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ROMA

Year of Release: 2018

JR's Rating:  (9.9 out of 10, Impressive)
⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"An Artistic Look At A Housemaid's Life"

Alfonso Cuarón delivers yet another living masterpiece reflecting his childhood. If I may describe it, it's as if you are in an art museum but seeing paintings that are very much vibrant and alive thankfully accessible on your household TVs through Netflix. Set in a very much conflicted Mexican landscape, the movie follows a housemaid's day-to-day life while serving a slowly falling apart middle-class family in Roma, Mexico. It follows her life before and after being left alone with pregnancy. There's something about Cuarón's direction in this film that makes such a movie unique. His use of continuous shots and horizontal panning is so beautifully done that it makes such an experience immersive. Yalitza Aparicio's debut doesn't prove to be a failure but rather a surprise that is astounding and recognition worthy. There are many social issues and tragedies to discuss after the film and such makes the movie perfect for reviews and analyses. I highly suggest this film for seeing especially by students of literature and film studies. My only warning is if you're an average cinema viewer easily bored by black and white movies and more if it's done in a foreign language then this movie might not really interest you. But I have to say, never have I seen a film like Roma. I wouldn't be surprised if it will win in this year's Academy Awards, Roma deserves it.

JR's Movie Reviews - BORN BEAUTIFUL

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BORN BEAUTIFUL

Year of Release: 2019

JR's Rating:  (5.2 out of 10, Slightly Bad)

"Too Much Absurdity, Born To Disappoint"

I have high expectations for this film yet it's disappointingly far from the grandeur of it's Die Beautiful predecessor. While the first attempted to legitimize the gay culture scene in the household, school and pageant setting, this spin-off attempts to create an absurd and so much unidealistic love story. Who taught that having a three-way / four-way relationship was a good idea, because for me, it was a really an unlikeable one. Hell, it downgrades gay love and culture to playing with emotions, avoiding responsibility and collecting boys for happiness which is undignifying and offensive. It contests ideas which are blatantly unacceptable. Other than that, the artistry of this film is far from it's predecessor. But I won't judge, if you're just for the comedy that uses heavy gay lingo like the first film, then this is for you. It doesn't really have a story to root for so basically it lacks the empathy I was hoping for that the first film gave me with Trisha. It even tried to replicate the first film's highly intense and pitiful rape scene but failed to really resonate. I have to say Martin del Rosario really had high shoes to fill so I have to give him credit for managing to embrace the character of Barbs just right (but I still prefer Christian Bables). Also, Lou Veloso's one-liners and Chai Fonacier's appearance are a few to look out for in this film. Both are really awards-deserving for acting. Die Beautiful is a movie I really have high regard for, it's one of the best movies spawned in modern Filipino cinema, but it's Born Beautiful spin-off is an underwhelming one. It wishes to convey there is no cure for being gay but definitely a no, no for being gay equated to obsession with dominant men.

JR's Movie Reviews - RAINBOW'S SUNSET

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RAINBOW'S SUNSET

Year of Release: 2018

JR's Rating:  (9.8 out of 10, Impressive)
⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"Condescension and Acceptance"

It's 2018. We should already have accepted many changes that weren't really accepted before. Rainbow's Sunset transgresses a love existent and very much forbidden in the past but is at present slowly being welcomed by a more contemporary mindset. With astounding performances by Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia and Tony Mabesa, we engage ourselves in an unlikely triangle that is full of love and hope yet so much bigoted by the people around them. It won Best Picture at the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival for a reason. It is more than astounding. The use of a single saturated color for the backstory is one I give too much praise as it was well done and thought. Rainbow's Sunset is an eye-opener towards today's generation presented in the most artistic and empathetic sense. The movie is an ode to people who struggle for acceptance in the past but is now brave enough to brace themselves for more challenging problems that are in need of more attention - such as corruption, scandal and women's rights - which are heavily exemplified by three other mains. As a character concedes to what is accepted through one of the film's powerful monologues, I felt all of that. Time would tell when the people who craves for our acceptance and understanding would bid farewell in this confused world. Prepare for a tearjerking yet feel good story ahead.

JR's Movie Reviews - ALONE / TOGETHER

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ALONE / TOGETHER

Year of Release: 2019

JR's Rating:  (8.7 out of 10, Satisfactory)

"Chasing Dreams and Accepting the Past"

There's a saying I crossed many days ago and it says "bad decisions make for good stories." This movie created the most out of that by making a so relatable story towards the two leads and eventually punching us with gut-wrenching realities we can't sometimes accept. Before judging the trailer for how cheating may be portrayed, it doesn't do that but instead choose to go how real the human emotions can be at it's most undeniably complex and crucial. That's basically what I loved about the movie. It's not about fixing mistakes but rather pushing forth through those dreams and also facing the past how it should be. Alone / Together shows the realistic nature of the modern-day relationships that are brushed with hopeful futures but in fact are doomed with unexpected failures. It's a feel good movie with monologues so heavy that once you leave the cinema you'll realize the importance of making decisions every day of our lives. While there may be a few flaws, Antoinette Jadaone presents yet another great movie that highlights how natural love can be as portrayed amazingly by Liza Soberano and also somewhat by Enrique Gil.