I've always wondered how Pinoy audiences would warm up to movies like 'About Us But Not About Us'. The way this movie is presented reminds me of the 'Before Sunset' trilogy where the two main characters also talk in the whole movie while meandering in the streets of their chosen European city. I'm happy that FINALLY, we have our own version of that talkie movie but don't be fooled. This movie has more landmines than the 'Before Sunset' trilogy, which was basically a love story.
I thought this was a love story but it's not. I don't want to delve too much into the dialogue since I really want people to watch this movie and go through the same rollercoaster ride that I did. What I can say is that the script by Jun Lana starts off innocently enough but he deftly shows the true nature of each of the characters as the movie or the conversation unfolds. By just using their conversation as the storytelling tool, it actually makes people like me who want to imagine stuff, picture the scenario in our own heads, much like what reading a fiction book does to our minds. Since there is no action filmed, everyone is free to conjure the scenes in their minds in the way each of the character describes it. It was actually a lot of fun to do - but I'm not sure if this is everyone's cup of tea.
The script is topnotch because there were many things I did not expect. As I said, I thought this was just a love story LOL
What is even more rewarding is seeing these two actors from two different generations do justice to the roles given them. I think, just for award purposes, the producer has to decide who is lead and who is supporting because it would be too bad if both Sarmenta and Canlas cancel each other out if both are seen as the lead.
This has been done many times in the Oscar competition in Hollywood although they say it's category cheating. I see it more as giving rewards to great performances and I think Canlas would be the lead here - since his character is more exciting - and Sarmenta would be the supporting since his character is the one reacting more to what Canlas is saying. Just a thought. Both of them should win acting awards for this tale of three queens and I'm sure they won't mind if one wins the lead award and the other, the supporting award.
I have seen Canlas in Kalel, 15 and as I said in the review of that movie, he reminds of me of the young Christopher de Leon. This young man can really act and he should be given challenging work everytime, much like what Leo de Caprio has been doing in his career. Sarmenta, you'd want to hug and he kind of reminds me of me - a bit naive, a bit trusting, although my moral compass is grayer than his character LOL Tamang tama lang ang timpla nya sa role as a closeted gay person. Are the two believable as gay men? Yeah, they are usually called paminta in my world so it was fun to see them portrayed in a very big screen.
Will you be bored watching a movie which is all just talk? Depends if you have the attention span to listen to the dialogue because everything is there. It is a timebomb just ticking as there is a manipulator here and there is a bit of naivete in the other. I was actually shocked by the audacity that I felt in the end. Some people are indeed wolves in sheep's clothing.
Btw, the main characters in the movie are both gay but this should not detract straight people from jumping into the fray. It's a movie about relationships and anybody, regardless of gender can relate to it. And I'm quite sure everyone can relate to a thing or two in this menage-a-trois, maybe either to a bigger or lesser degree.
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