JR Late Night Blogs: JR Late Night Blogs: Filipino Movies of the Year 2018

There's no failure on experiencing quality films that invested so much on story, direction and acting. In fact, the more should you be proud of spending time and money on one when it was made and produced by your own countrymen. Filipino films has never died down. It is presently bustling with imagination and aesthetics that are just amazing.

This list may have just started last year but Filipino films are on a roll especially independent ones that I just have it be continued and already be part as yearly tradition with my Movies of the Year and Music Videos of the Year lists. It's rare for me to list dramas and romance on the top of the list as usually I place those that are commercially successful and critically acclaimed at the same time at the top. But for the first time ever in my yearly movies list, drama would dominate my list and a romance film would notch the highest spot. Never Not Love You is for me, the best film of the year, as it seems to be the movie needed right now for this millenial generation of toxic and speedy relationships. Both Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino and the Metro Manila Film Festival would each have two entries this year, down from three each last year which only gave room for two non-festival movies. Now, we have half the list be with non-festival films where one is accessible online through Netflix. Now, I end my introduction. Here are my picks for the 10 Filipino movies that defined 2018:

Summary of the List:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Intro | Methodology | Records | Data Sources | Photo Credits

JR's FILIPINO MOVIES OF THE YEAR - 2018 METHODOLOGY:

Films included in the list must be directed, produced, written and starred majorly by Filipinos.
The list took into consideration those Filipinos movies premiered or released between 25 December 2017 to 24 December 2018 through a wide domestic release.
Movies that are screened for a limited audience or movies that lack accessibility for a regular Filipino movie viewer even outside of Metro Manila are excluded from the list. Movies released through online streaming platforms (except those released on Netflix) were also excluded from the list.
Movies from the Metro Manila Film Festival of 2017 were taken into consideration since majority of their release frame took place in the year of 2018. Movies, however, from the Metro Manila Film Festival of 2018 are yet to be included for next year's list.
No movie remasters in HD or IMAX were included in the list (such movies had already been premiered in the past).

JR's Filipino Movies of the Year - 2018

Rank	Movies of the Year	Movie Genre	Month of Release	JR's Score

1	Never Not Love You	Romance	Mar 2018	10.0
2	Signal Rock	Drama	Aug 2018 (PPP)	10.0
3	Siargao	Drama	Dec 2017 (MMFF)	10.0
4	Ang Babaeng Allergic Sa Wifi	Comedy	Aug 2018 (PPP)	10.0
5	BuyBust	Action	Aug 2018	9.8
6	Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral	Biography	Sept 2018	9.5
7	Ang Larawan	Musical	Dec 2017 (MMFF)	9.4
8	Mr. and Mrs. Cruz	Drama	Jan 2018	9.4

NEVER NOT LOVE YOU
(March 2018)

JR's Score:

(10/10)

"OUTSTANDING"

Movie Genre:	Romance
Director/s:	Antoinette Jadaone
Writer/s:	Antoinette Jadaone
Producers / Distributors:	Viva Films, Project 8 Corner San Joaquin Projects
MTRCB Rating:	PG
Total Running Time:	1 hour, 40 minutes
Cast Overview:	James Reid, Nadine Lustre

"A Glimpse At Young Millenial Love"
I just have to place this film on top. Never have I seen a too much relatable Filipino film targeted at the millenial generation until now. "Never Not Love You" exemplifies the realities of toxic and speedy relationships currently existent in today's society. Long-distance relationships and pursuance of own individual careers are just a few issues that this film handled with care and diligence. James Reid and Nadine Lustre may have made their best film with this one and I hope they make more like this. Better yet, Philippine cinema makes use of real life scenarios than cheesy ones. Antoinette Jadaone's use of environment and colorful lighting are also worth the commendation.

*watched on 29 November 2018

Read JR's Full Review of Never Not Love You:
...review coming out soon...

SIGNAL ROCK
(Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018)

JR's Score:

(10/10)

"OUTSTANDING"

Movie Genre:	Drama
Director/s:	Chito S. Roño
Writer/s:	Rody Vera
Producers / Distributors:	-
MTRCB Rating:	R-13
Total Running Time:	2 hours, 10 minutes
Cast Overview:	Christian Bables

"Doing The Unthinkable"
Who said superheroes can only exist in comic books and Hollywood movies. Intoy proves that no matter where we come from, we can be heroes on our own right. With a sister suffering from an abusive husband abroad, Intoy would have to use his wits and guts to help her sister be saved from an eventual separation with her child and also possible contempt. While Intoy would also suffer from his own personal romance and community relations, he would sacrifice his pride, time and effort just to save his family instead. We would be faced with a sad ending though but "Signal Rock" did enough feel good stuff for me that I just feel happy after watching this film. Who knew phoning someone on a rock with the only source of cellular signal would prove to be worthy for the Philippines' Best Foreign Film entry.

*watched on 21 August 2018 at SM Cinemas (SM Manila)

Read JR's Full Review of Signal Rock:
https://jrlatenight.blogspot.com/2018/08/moviereviews-SignalRock.html

SIARGAO
(Metro Manila Film Festival 2017)

JR's Score:

(10/10)

"OUTSTANDING"

Movie Genre:	Drama
Director/s:	Paul Soriano
Writer/s:	Anj Pessumal
Producers / Distributors:	TEN17, Solar Pictures
MTRCB Rating:	PG
Total Running Time:	1 hour, 44 minutes
Cast Overview:	Jericho Rosales, Erich Gonzales, Jasmine Curtis-Smith

"Falling In Love With The Majestic Island of Siargao"
There are too many places worthy of a visit in our country. But, none did it better than this film right here. "Siargao" brings us to the humble and festive surfing island of Siargao with a complicated love story waiting for you to handle. We may root on either woman to be Jericho's love interest but it's the island that you would definitely root for in this film. The stunning cinematography and set are just enough for me to say this film is art. It's definitely because of this film I'm planning a trip to Siargao soon but first I have to settle with the nearby beaches of San Juan and Pangasinan.

*watched on 04 January 2018 at SM Cinemas (SM Baguio)

Read JR's Full Review of Siargao:
https://jrlatenight.blogspot.com/2018/01/MMFFmoviereviews-Siargao.html

ANG BABAENG ALLERGIC SA WIFI
(Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018)

JR's Score:

(10/10)

"OUTSTANDING"

Movie Genre:	Comedy
Director/s:	Jun Robles Lana
Writer/s:	Jun Robles Lana
Producers / Distributors:	The IdeaFirst Company
MTRCB Rating:	PG
Total Running Time:	1 hour, 50 minutes
Cast Overview:	Sue Ramirez, Jameson Blake, Markus Peters

"A More Traditional Sense of Love"
Believe me when I say there is no Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (or simply, an allergy caused by the excessive use of wifi or any form of mobile or cellular signal). But, case being, what if it did exist? Then this, my friend, is the movie you should watch. Starred by Sue Ramirez (the one who has the EHS syndome), Jameson Blake and Markus Peters, we would experience a love triangle that is too much dear and also relatable. I liked how modern the film was but also traditional in a sense. The contrast and take on contemporary and conservative love are what needs to be reflected upon after watching this film. Prepare to shed some tears from an ending so unexpected.

*watched on 18 August 2018 at Robinsons Movieworld (Robinsons Place Manila)

Read JR's Full Review of Ang Babaeng Allergic Sa Wifi:
https://jrlatenight.blogspot.com/2018/08/moviereviews-AngBabaengAllergicSaWifi.html

BUYBUST
(August 2018)

JR's Score:

(9.8/10)

"IMPRESSIVE"

Movie Genre:	Action
Director/s:	Erik Matti
Writer/s:	Erik Matti, Anton Santamaria
Producers / Distributors:	Viva Films, Reality Entertainment
MTRCB Rating:	R-16
Total Running Time:	2 hours, 7 minutes
Cast Overview:	Anne Curtis, Brandon Vera

"A Woman That Has The Brawns And Balls"
Anne Curtis did great the past year with movies like "Sid and Aya" and the MMFF entry "Aurora". "Buybust" would be, however, her defining moment. It's a movie that takes on a typical buybust operation but would end being botched by an internal traitor waiting yet to be discovered. Set in the slums of Manila, "Buybust" utilizes it's environment as another character of itself sprucing a life of its own. There's one scene in particular that I would feel to much awe with, and that would be the one shot take that involves Anne fighting through hordes of people defending what seems to be an autocratic drug lord.

*watched on 28 November 2018 through Netflix

Read JR's Full Review of BuyBust:
...review coming out soon...

GOYO: ANG BATANG HENERAL
(September 2018)

JR's Score:

(9.5/10)

"IMPRESSIVE"

Movie Genre:	Biography
Director/s:	Jerrold Tarog
Writer/s:	Jerrold Tarog, Rody Vera
Producers / Distributors:	Artikulo Uno Productions, Globe Studios
MTRCB Rating:	PG
Total Running Time:	2 hours, 40 minutes
Cast Overview:	Paulo Avelino

"Retelling of Philippine History: A Question of What Really Makes A Hero"
While "Heneral Luna" would still, for me, remain the better film of the two, "Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral" is a film still worthy of your time. It's an on-the-spot take on the life of Gregorio del Pilar that may or may not be tackled on our history classes back then. The question of whether we should consider specific individuals as heroes, patriots, traitors or cowards still lingers to people who have watched Jerrold Tarrog's film series. I'm proud of his films, however, because untalked moments in the history of our country like this are making a life of their own on today's popular culture with some mindsets and opinions being changed for the better.

*watched on 05 September 2018 at SM Cinemas (SM Manila)

Read JR's Full Review of Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral:
https://jrlatenight.blogspot.com/2018/09/moviereviews-GoyoAngBatangHeneral.html

ANG LARAWAN
(Metro Manila Film Festival 2017)

JR's Score:

(9,4/10)

"IMPRESSIVE"

Movie Genre:	Musical
Director/s:	Loy Arcenas
Writer/s:	Rolando Tinio
Producers / Distributors:	Solar Pictures
MTRCB Rating:	PG
Total Running Time:	2 hours, 4 minutes
Cast Overview:	Rachel Alejandro, Paulo Avelino, Joanna Ampil

"A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino"
This film would win 2017's Best Picture of the Metro Manila Film Festival. It won generally because of how artistic and true to Filipino culture the film was. It handled music in Filipino film that is definitely unlike no other. It's a bummer, though, not seeing the portrait, the one referred to as "Ang Larawan" in its full (unblurred) form.

*watched on 01 February 2018 at Cinema '76 (San Juan)

Read JR's Full Review of Ang Larawan:
https://jrlatenight.blogspot.com/2018/02/MMFFmoviereviews-AngLarawan.html

MR. AND MRS. CRUZ
(January 2018)

JR's Score:

(9,4/10)

"IMPRESSIVE"

Movie Genre:	Drama
Director/s:	Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Writer/s:	Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Producers / Distributors:	Viva Films, The IdeaFirst Company
MTRCB Rating:	R-13
Total Running Time:	1 hour, 56 minutes
Cast Overview:	Ryza Cenon, JC Santos

"Not Married, Just The Same Last Name"
Many films would have taken this spot but I settled with selecting this movie due to how the dialogue makes an interesting piece while watching this film. Every conversation between the titular Mr. Cruz and Mrs. Cruz are worthy of attention because they are reflections of how relationships at present are working. There are times they might disagree with each other's opinion but that's what makes for good debate for each and every cinemagoer leaving the cinema. How I wish they have another movie together continuing this story but I guess that's how it should end.

*watched on 25 January 2018 at SM Cinemas (SM Baguio)

Read JR's Full Review of Mr. and Mrs. Cruz:
https://jrlatenight.blogspot.com/2018/01/moviereviews-MrAndMrsCruz.html

This has been my second Filipino Movies of the Year list. 2019 is up for a strong line-up of movies waiting to be seen. Which movies are up for next year's is the question we shall prepare ourselves while experiencing each and every Filipino craft. Let's continue to support our Metro Manila Film Festival and Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino especially films are truly worthy of your time, money and effort.

This has been the 2018 Edition of JR Late Night Blogs' Filipino Movies of the Year.

- - - END OF JR LATE NIGHT FILIPINO MOVIES OF THE YEAR 2018 - - -

DATA SOURCES

All data used in the details of each film used in this blog are from the following sites: