My fearless MMFF forecast

The results of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) awards night are always unpredictable. And it doesn’t help that the rules keep changing every year (sometimes it’s the public that’s made to choose the winner).

As I type this (am submitting this piece early), the venue of the awards night is still a guessing game. But it’s supposed to be on Dec. 28 and it had to fall on Niños Inocentes Day so I hope the public takes this event seriously and doesn’t dismiss the outcome as a joke.

I don’t have any idea who the judges are this year, but here is my fearless MMFF forecast anyway:

Best Visual Effects: Ang Panday — It’s a sure win. This may not be an Avatar, but the special effects are world class — and that is the strength of this fantasy/adventure movie.

Best Screenplay: Roy Iglesias (Mano Po 6) — The film may be a complex melodrama, but this award-winning scriptwriter is able to tie everything together and elevates what could have been a cheap soap opera into a more intelligent type of entertainment.

Best Director: Joel Lamangan (Mano Po 6) — Under his direction (he is one of the best now in his generation), this mushy material becomes very sensible and decent viewing. Mano Po 6 is among his best commercial works.

Best Supporting Actor: Derek Ramsay (I Love You, Goodbye) — It is a very even-tempered performance. There is no overacting, but doesn’t under-act too much either. But I won’t be surprised (in fact, I’ll be very happy) if the award goes to Dennis Trillo, whose role as a con artist in Mano Po 6 wins him another acting award. It’s a more demanding part, but he delivers and viewers will love hating him and his villainous screen character.

Best Supporting Actress: A toss-up between Heart Evangelista and Ciara Sotto (both for Mano Po 6). On the surface, Heart’s role is meatier and is supposed to be more important and significant. After all, she is the estranged daughter that her mother (Sharon Cuneta) so badly wants back. Heart’s screen presence is longer and that allows her to have more acting flaws (although very minimal). In contrast, Ciara’s part may be shorter, but it is the more solid performance. She is most impressive in that entire scene where she breaks down after telling Sharon how it feels to be unwanted. It’s one of the most difficult scenes in the film, but Ciara carries on bravely and doesn’t blink even if pitted against the more accomplished Sharon (they’re actually cousins).

Best Actor:  Dolphy (Nobody, Nobody But Juan) — It would be wonderful if Zsa Zsa Padilla were to win Best Supporting Actress and posing with partner and predicted co-victor Dolphy in the photo-ops (the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino had already done that when Zsa Zsa won Urian Best Actress for Batang PX the same year Dolphy was given a lifetime achievement award). It’s just too bad that Zsa Zsa’s Mano Po villainous role is mean all the way and becomes a caricature. But you can never tell. 

However, it is Dolphy I feel who will win Best Actor. In his film entry, he doesn’t only do comedy, but effective drama as well. Your heart goes out to him as a Filipino living in Chicago yearning for the affection of his children and wanting to return to his own country.

But Dolphy may also face competition given Gabby Concepcion’s very mature performance in I Love You, Goodbye. If Gabby wins, that would be a media feast — what with the possibility of Sharon sharing the same stage with him.

Best Actress: Sharon Cuneta (Mano Po 6) — Sharon better be prepared on how she would handle such delicate and awkward situation if Gabby wins and they have to be in pictures together because it’s a sure victory for her. Yes, it’s Sharon for Best Actress and so she better get a nice dress, write an acceptance speech in her head and be ready for what may happen on the evening of the MMFF awards presentation. It’s just too bad that Yaya Loring (Loreta Benitez) will no longer be there to cheer her on and that is going to be so sad.

Best Picture: Mano Po 6 — This Regal Film project is truly the finest film among the Metro Manila Filmfest entries this year and those who wept through it (bring your hankies, it’s a tearjerker) will be happy to see this movie crowned Best Picture.