#Kiligfeels: What to watch starting Valentine’s Day

MANILA, Philippines — Get your chocolates, flowers and popcorn ready for the following programs that could pull your heartstrings or rekindle your #kiligfeels.

Valentine’s weekend performances

City of Dreams Manila celebrates love and romance with Valentine’s weekend performances of Original Pinoy Music acoustic artist Nyoy Volante at the main gaming floor’s CenterPlay bar on February 16 and Korean DJ “Rushin’ Justin” a.k.a. Dong Ho on February 17 at Chaos Night Club.

A Lolita Carbon Valentine special

Carbon and her band

Coming  from  the big success of her Fullblast! Pinoy Superbands concert last October 20, 2017,  Lolita is  once again  set to excite and entertain her loyal fans on Valentine’s Day.  First ever will they see their Folk  Rock idol (aka “Voice of the Earth”) onstage  of the most prestigious Manila Hotel singing their most coveted, beloved hits of all time.

This being the “first ever” big valentine concert of Lolita, she promise  to offer her fans all her greatest hits from  Asin, her own signature hits and “never been heard” cover rock love songs.

Together with the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra, come and be mesmerize by Lolita Carbon  and the boys on February 14 at the Grand Ballroom of The Manila Hotel. Dinner buffet starts at 6 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m.

OPM icons in concert

As a special treat, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is hosting a Valentine’s concert featuring the best of OPM on February 17 (Saturday) at 7 p.m. Happening at the Globe Iconic BHS Amphitheater, “Ensemble: A Valentine Concert” will showcase a powerhouse line up with some of today’s hottest indie and mainstream music artists. 

Catch Ebe Dancel, Bullet Dumas, Clara Benin, Johnoy Danao, and Reese Lansangan along with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra Quartet as they serenade with timeless OPM hits. To get tickets, go to the BHS Concierge and just present single or accumulated receipts.

Spanish conductor leads PPO's concert this February

CCP/Released

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra continues its 35th concert season, dubbed “Romancing the Classics,” with its sixth concert slated on February 16, 8 p.m., at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)'s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).

The resident orchestra company of the CCP will perform Bedrich Smetana’s Die Moldau (Vltava) No. 2 from “Má vlast (My Country)” and Manuel De Falla’s Interlude and Spanish Dance from “La Vida Breve,” and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. Op. 47.

Smetana celebrated the history and legends of his people in Má vlast, a six-symphonic-poem orchestral masterpiece composed between 1874 and 1879. The Die Moldau (Vltava) is the second and best known of the symphonic poems.

“La Vida Breve” is a two-act opera created by Manuel de Falla. Interlude and Spanish Dance, which are featured in Act 2, have been popular at concerts of Spanish music.

Composer Shostakovich created Symphony No. 5 in 1937 after Joseph Stalin reacted negatively to his Lady Macbeth opera, condemning his music to be banned from the stage throughout Soviet Union. Composed for the 20th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution, it premiered on November 21, 1937 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg, Russia).

The PPO will perform these masterpieces under the baton of guest conductor David Gómez Ramírez. Born in Seville (Spain) in 1977, Ramírez is one of the most promising young conductors and composers in Spain. He studied Piano, Trumpet, Musicology, Composition and Orchestra & Chorus Conducting at Superior Music Conservatory in Seville and Valencia. He studied conducting with maestro Enrique Garcia Asensio, Pedro Morales, George Pehlivanian, among others.

He debuted with the Russian Symphony Orchestra Young Virtuosos of Moscow State Conservatory Tckaikowsky. Since 2007, he has been the director of the Lira Saguntina Symphony Orchestra in Valencia, as well as the director of the Conservatory of Music “Joaquin Rodrigo” in Sagunto, Valencia. He is also the resident conductor in Seville and Coutances (France) Orchestre.

As a composer, Gomez has a wide musical compositions from chamber music to large orchestral formations. His accolades include first prize awards in National Composition Competitions in Alicante, Cordoba and Murcia, the "First Music Award" from the Excellency in Cultural Arts and Sciences Association, and the “Giraldillo de Oro," the highest award given by the Excellency in Cultural Arts and Sciences Association “Popular Ateneo de Sevilla,” an institution recognized by UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture of Spain.

For inquires and subscription, call the CCP Marketing Department or the Ticketworld at National Bookstore.

‘Valentimes 2’ concert

Agsunta

Rising band Agsunta and “ASAP” Jambayan artist Migz Haleco celebrate love through a night of soulful songs in “Valentimes 2,” a concert happening at the Teatrino Promenade on February 15 (Thursday).

The two new additions to the Star Music family are taking center stage for a joint musical show where they will get to perform their new songs live as well as complement it with their most popular collaborations and covers.  

Composed of Jireh Singson, Mikel Arevalo, Josh Planas, and Stephen Arevalo, the Agsunta group is popular especially to millennials for their jam collabs with other artists such as Emmanuelle Vera, Clara Benin, and Moira dela Torre in their Agsunta Jam Sessions; and their senti and quirky cover videos for songs such as Daniel Padilla’s “Simpleng Tulad Mo,” Jericho Rosales’s “Pusong Ligaw,” and even Ex Battalion and OC Dawg’s viral “Hayaan Mo Sila” in their Agsunta Song Request webisodes on Youtube and Facebook.

With a large fanbase at their back, the boys of Agsunta are about to make more noise in the music scene as they recently introduced their self-made songs such as “Patawad Na” and “Liwanag,” through their much-awaited, self-titled debut album with acoustic and soft melodic rock tunes led by its carrier single “Di Ba Halata.”

Also serenading the night is acoustic artist Migz who officially launched the track “’Pag Ika’y Nagmahal” two weeks ago. From only a Soundcloud account to a duo record deal, Migz now enters the next phase of his career as a solo artist.

The charming young lad who was formerly part of the duo Migz and Maya, was the interpreter of “Bes,” one of the song finalists in Himig Handog 2017.

Migz has also previously collaborated with Agsunta for a cover of Inigo Pascual’s Billboard chart topper “Dahil Sa’yo.” Incidentally, Inigo will also participate in the said concert as a musical guest.

Aside from Inigo, “ASAP” BFF5 member Ylona Garcia will also be joining the eventful night.

Jamie Dornan liberates Christian Grey in ‘Fifty Shades Freed’

Kojie San recently launched its new whitening deodorant line during a 'Fifty Shades Freed' screening.

BAFTA-nominated Irish actor Jamie Dornan portrays the tormented billionaire Christian Grey in Universal Pictures' explosive erotic thriller “Fifty Shades Freed” (now playing in Philippine cinemas).

The climactic chapter based on the worldwide bestselling “Fifty Shades: phenomenon, “Freed” brings to a shocking conclusion events set in motion in 2015 and 2017’s blockbuster films that grossed almost $950 million globally.

In “Fifty Shades Freed,” believing they have left behind shadowy figures from their past, newlyweds Christian (Dornan) and Anastasia (Dakota Johnson) fully embrace an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. But just as she steps into her role as Mrs. Grey and he relaxes into an unfamiliar stability, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins.

It was crucial for author EL James to start “Freed” where Christian and Ana have to face up to the realities of what it is like to be married and how, when you marry someone so quickly, things don’t always go according to plan. 

“I knew the only thing I could do was to have Ana pregnant and to see Christian’s reaction, which is not great,” E L James said. “I knew that’s where I wanted the story to go. That’s why I started writing the third book—to see him absolutely terrified, furious, when she announces that she’s pregnant. He goes completely ballistic, because he’s a scared child himself.”

Dornan was fascinated by the swirl of personal challenges and dark intrigue facing the couple in Fifty Shades Freed. He said: “Christian’s reaction to Ana being pregnant is not positive. It’s the exact way that you don’t want your partner to respond when you say you’re pregnant. He feels like he is in no position to be a father. Where they are in their life and the kind of relationship he wants to have with her, a baby’s just the last thing that he wants—it would not fit into his structure. Emotionally he feels that having had such an awful early childhood, why—when his birth parents were so awful—why would he be any better? That terrifies him.”

Terrifying on another level is the threat Christian begins to perceive behind the series of unfortunate events that have begun to take place. Dornan explained: “Once he realizes that both the helicopter and the computer server were sabotaged, he knows that Jack Hyde was involved. He knows him to be a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. In that way, he is very similar to Christian.”

When it came to working with Johnson and Dornan, director James Foley takes a moment to reflect on the work they have put into the series. “At this point, they are referencing something that they know; they’re not making believe. Somehow, Dakota plugged into the psychology and the emotion of Ana, and Jamie relaxes even further into the role; in Freed, you see him find Christian Grey in himself.”

Producer Michael De Luca agrees with his director: “What Jamie and Dakota have been required to do in this series is to accompany this rarified space few performers ever encounter. Not only were they charged with bringing to life two of the most beloved characters of the past century, they had to discover the nuances of Christian and Ana under the relentless eye of the public. They’ve handled themselves with grace, charm, compassion and levity—all while plumbing the depths of their characters. I speak for everyone involved in the production when I say that no two actors could have done it better.”

"Fifty Shades Freed" is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Domhnall Gleeson meets his match in 'Peter Rabbit'

Scene from 'Peter Rabbit'

British actor Domhnall Gleeson stars as the fussy landlord Thomas McGregor in Sony Pictures Animation's Peter Rabbit, the new family comedy which brings all of the audience-favorite Beatrix Potter characters to the screen in a brand-new, modern adventure.

In the film, Thomas McGregor has risen through the ranks of London’s famed department store Harrods, working diligently – some might say obsessively – towards the post of Associate General Manager, only to find that the position has gone to a man who doesn't deserve it. When he inherits the McGregor manor (and its attached vegetable garden), Thomas sees a chance to sell it in order to finance his own toy shop.

A man who wants everything neat, tidy, and in its place, Thomas is about to meet his match in “Peter Rabbit.”

“What’s the worst place you could put someone like Thomas? In a dirty garden with little rabbits trying to mess it up,” said director Will Gluck. “He’s driven to distraction.”

“He's a little bit uptight, and gets fired through no fault of his own,” Gluck added. “And then he meets somebody who changes his life.”

Two somebodies, actually – there’s Bea, the sweet and generous next-door neighbor who sees something in Thomas, and then there’s Peter, the rabbit who turns his garden (and his life) upside down.

In fact, at the beginning of the film, Thomas’ motivation is centered around revenge. “He has been swearing to himself that he would find a way to get back at Harrods,” notes Gluck. “When he finds out he’s inherited the manor, he sees it only as an opportunity to fix it up and sell it, to make enough money to start his own toy shop.” It’s no surprise that when Peter begins to make a mess of the garden, he similarly begins a vendetta – no matter how crazy that is.

And McGregor’s feud with Peter starts with vegetables, but it’s taken to the next level as they rival for Bea’s affections. “It’s a really tricky balance to have a villain who becomes a love interest,” says executive producer Jodi Hildebrand. “Domhnall was perfect for this part because he can do it all – he gets huge laughs out of this tightly wound character… then turn into an Irish Buster Keaton with big physical comedy… then melts like a puppy in Bea’s arms. He can truly do it all.”

“Thomas and Bea are very different people,” said Gleeson. “She's kind and caring, and sees that he's strange but doesn't treat him badly for it. Any other woman he's shown interest in has been immediately put off by his uptightness. Bea seems to find it funny and sweet, and she's relaxed enough for the two of them. He tells her that he likes her art, and that means something to her.”

Gleeson says that Gluck’s approach to the comedy of the part was what attracted him to the role. “We operated on the principle that it needed to work for everybody, but we never said, ‘We’d better do this because it's a kids' film’ or ‘We’d better add a joke in here for the adults,’” he noted. “Will approached the film with the perspective that funny is funny, and funny will be funny for people of every age.”

In “Peter Rabbit,” the mischievous and adventurous hero who has captivated generations of readers now takes on the starring role of his own contemporary comedy. In the film, Peter’s feud with Mr. Thomas McGregor escalates to greater heights than ever before as their fight to gain control of McGregor’s coveted vegetable garden and the affections of the warm-hearted animal lover who lives next door (Rose Byrne) extends to the Lake District and London.

In Philippine cinemas starting February 28, “Peter Rabbit” is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Oscar contender “Darkest Hour” opens on February 14

Scene from 'Darkest Hour'

Nominated for six major Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor, Focus Features' historical drama “Darkest Hour” will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma, Greenbelt 1) starting February 14.

Directed by Joe Wright (“Atonement, ”Pride and Prejudice”), “Darkest Hour” is the dramatic and inspiring story of four weeks in 1940 during which Winston Churchill’s courage to lead changed the course of world history.

During the early days of World War II, with the fall of France imminent, Britain faces its darkest hour as the threat of invasion looms. As the seemingly unstoppable Nazi forces advance, and with the Allied army cornered on the beaches of Dunkirk, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the leadership of the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman). While maneuvering his political rivals, he must confront the ultimate choice: negotiate with Hitler and save the British people at a terrible cost or rally the nation and fight on against incredible odds.

"Words can, and do, change the world. This is precisely what happened through Winston Churchill in 1940," marvels screenwriter and producer Anthony McCarten. "He was under intense political and personal pressure, yet he was spurred to such heights in so few days - over and over again."

McCarten has long held an interest in the legendary statesman's life, and like many he has found inspiration in Churchill's speeches and oratory. McCarten found himself gravitating towards the intense period "of May 10th through June 4th, during which Winston turned coal into diamonds."

The linchpins of his original screenplay for “Darkest Hour” became three speeches that Churchill wrote and delivered between May and June 1940.

It is a common saying that the first few days and weeks on the job are challenging. For this 65-year-old man, being named Prime Minister of Great Britain on May 10th, 1940 came at a time when the stakes could scarcely have been higher. Allied Forces was already at war with Adolf Hitler, and one democracy after another had fallen to his Nazi forces. Britain now stood on the edge of a precipice. The dilemma was, either steel the nerves and be drawn deep into the conflict; or retreat from the war altogether, with inconceivable consequences for British sovereignty.

McCarten clarifies, "The question was whether to fight on alone, perhaps to the destruction of the armed forces and even the nation, or to play it safe - as Viscount Halifax and [outgoing] Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed - and to that end explore signing a treaty with Hitler. Winston had to wade into this fray, and he found himself battling the establishment.

"This story is anchored in the past yet it resonates all the way into the here and now. Too often today, our 'leaders' are followers. These decisions made in less than one month's time had global ramifications."

Ultimately, says McCarten, the “Darkest Hour” screenplay took shape "examining the working methods and leadership qualities and trains of thought. Winston strongly believed that words mattered, and he took pen in hand to help him - and his country - face down a terrifying threat.

"In the process came the self-willed making of an iconic man."

Also starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, Stephen Dillane, Ronald Pickup, and Ben Mendelsohn, “Darkest Hour” is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Teenage girl finally meets her soulmate in 'Every Day'

Scene from 'Every Day'

Exploring the universal themes of true love, identity and coming of age, the upcoming charming movie “Every Day” reflects very contemporary ideas about acceptance and the freedom to be whoever you are – an idea very resonant in today’s young people who increasingly reject categorization.

The movie follows a teenage entity named only A, who wakes up every day in a different body, Every Day deals with the challenges faced when A falls head over heels in love with Rhiannon (Angourie Rice), a girl unlike anyone they’ve ever met. Can you have a relationship with a soul who inhabits a different body every day – sometimes boy, sometimes girl, sometimes the school quarterback, sometimes the outcast? Who are you removed of your body, your race, your clothes, your family? The story is the actualization of the old adage that we should ‘love someone for who they are on the inside,’ all the more powerful because it is set during the teenage years when we customarily try on and experiment with myriad external identities in an effort to figure out we are.

Screenwriter Jesse Andrews also opted to fill out Rhiannon’s world, specifically giving her a family back story that didn’t exist in the novel. Rhiannon’s father is recovering from a nervous breakdown and not working, her mother is the sole breadwinner, her sister Jolene is a bit of a wild child, and Rhiannon is the rock trying to hold everything together. 

“What was great about what Jesse did with Rhiannon’s story – introducing the family and their history – is that it gives Rhiannon a really clear character arc,” says Grass. “When we meet Rhiannon she has a real desire for normalcy but she is also somewhat stuck and unable to fully discover herself because her focus is on supporting her family. This is the foundation from which she takes off on this incredible journey.”

Like so many her age, when the producers approached Angourie they discovered that she had already read the book and was a fan. “I loved the book and I love concepts like this. The story questions things we take for granted about how we think about ourselves and how don’t always see people for who they really are, focusing too much on outside appearances. I thought it would make an awesome movie.”

The Rhiannon who we meet at the beginning of the film is living a fairly conventional life, albeit being the rock of her destabilized family. A nice girl, a good friend, a solid student, Rhiannon is dating the popular boy at school, though she doesn’t feel very connected to him or much appreciated. She’s playing all the parts she feels she should play at the expense of her own self-discovery.

Rice adds, “She and everyone around her are all seeing each other not for who they are, but for who they think they should be, which I think is pretty common. Another important part of Rhiannon’s journey is learning to see and accept those around her, and she then shares that perspective with her family.”

“Every Day” is now showing in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films. 

KBO celebrates Valentine’s the whole month 

After the awaited TV premiere of the JoshLia movie “Love You to the Stars and Back” KBO viewers can watch the Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz-starrer “Finally Found Someone,” “12” with Alessandra de Rossi and Ivan Padilla, and another TV premiere, “Fallback,” featuring Zanjoe Marudo and Rhiann Ramos.

Revisit the reunion movie of Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz, “Finally Found Someone” on February 10 to 11. The movie is about Aprilyn Esguerra (Geronimo) who goes “viral” when videos of her crying her heart out after being left at the altar hits the Internet. For fear that the incident will harm their family’s reputation, her ex-fiance’s dad, who is a mayor hires a public relations consultant, Raffy Sandoval (Cruz), to help boost the family’s image. Raffy plans to help Aprilyn move on and find a new love, but the question is, will he allow himself to love?

Also available on that weekend are “The Barker,” “This Time,” “Rematado,” at “Tumbok.”

Meanwhile, on February 17 to 18, watch a movie about giving losing one’s self in a relationship and taking time to get it back. After 12 years together Erika (Alessandra de Rossi) and Anton’s (Ivan Padilla) relationship is starting to crumble. However, the ending of the relationship might be the perfect time for Erika to start a new life and find herself again.

Airing alongside “12” are “Pagpag,” “Always Be My Maybe,” “Somebody To Love,” and “Dukot.”

The month will end with another premiere as the Zanjoe Marudo and Rhiann Ramos-starrer “Fallback” debuts on KBO. They play former lovers that did not have closure when they broke up. Afraid to get hurt again, Michelle (Ramos) resorts to a ‘fallback’ or plan B, her ex, Alvin (Marudo), even though she is already dating another guy.

“Everyday I Love You,” “Camp Sawi,” “Angela Markado,” and “Bulong” will also air on February 24 to 25.

Star Cinema on SKY Pay-Per-View is not holding back on the love as they air JoshLia’s “Love You To The Stars And Back” and “Fallback” starring Zanjoe Marudo and Rhian Ramos from February 10 to March 2, 2018.

“Love You To The Stars And Back” is the second offering from the love team of Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto. After leading the successful “Vince & Kath & James” the two are back in a quirky romantic comedy that highlights the strength of love in the face of adversity.

Mika (Barretto) is an unusual girl with strange interests. After hearing news that upsets her, she goes off into the night to fulfill her late mother’s wish, get in touch with aliens. She meets Caloy (Garcia) along the way and gives him a lift after he gets injured. They bond on their shared road trip and she eventually finds out that he has cancer. The two learn to face hardships and move on with the help of love.

The other half of the Valentine double feature of Star Cinema on SKY PPV is “Fallback” featuring Zanjoe Marudo and Rhian Ramos. The two play former lovers, Alvin and Michelle. Worried her new boyfriend, Chris (Daniel Matsunaga) will leave her, Michelle resorts to a plan B or a ‘fallback.’ In a strange twist, her fallback is her ex. Will their current situation help bring back the flame between the two? Get the bundle offering now to watch and find out.

These movies are available from February 10 to March 2 in high-definition and for unlimited viewing. The offer is available to all One SKY, SKYcable, SKYdirect, and Destiny Cable subscribers.

Fall in love with local films 

ElNella

Love is in the air this February and if you’re celebrating the love month with an SO (significant other)or flying solo, SM Cinema has got you covered as it presents local films with this amazing movie line-up for the month.

“Meet Me in St. Gallen”

Strangers Celeste (Bella Padilla) and Jesse (Carlo Aquino) meet in a coffee shop and have a dreamlike night together, never to see each other again—until they do, years later in the same coffee shop. Best seen with a date, or alone if your heart can take it, discover love and friendship with Jesse and Celeste in St. Gallen starting February 7th.

“My Fairy Tail Love Story”

Can true love’s kiss really fix everything or is it not enough? Watch Chantel (Janella Salvador), a girl who has everything, get cursed and turned into a compulsive singing mermaid and find out that love isn’t as simple as fairy tales make it out to be. Swim your way into the movie house with the family, friends or your would-be SO to this funny and kilig-worthy musical on February 14, Valentine’s Day.

SM Cinema will also screen other local films such as Joel Lamangan’s “The Significant Other,” an intriguing story that will show you the beauty in knowing what’s right, fixing what’s wrong and learning how to let go, starring Erich Garcia, Lovie Poe and Tom Rodriguez on February 21; and “My Perfect You” with Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and Gerald Anderson on February 28.

‘Kita Kita’ now available for mobile streaming

“Kita Kita” is the number one performing indie film in the Philippines

Video-on-demand service HOOQ is proud to announce that “Kita Kita” will debut exclusively starting February 9. “Kita Kita” is the number one performing indie film in the Philippines and has broken all box office records by grossing over USD6.5 million, making it the highest-grossing Filipino indie film of all time.

HOOQ Philippines Content and Programming Head Jeffrey Remigio said, “We are very proud to have the exclusive SVOD rights to "Kita Kita," this movie has broken all the Filipino box office records till date! The February 9 debut is perfect; February is the month for love! Everyone appreciates a good and solid love story.”

“Kita Kita” is a romantic comedy produced by Spring Films and Viva Films, starring Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy Marquez. Shot on location in Sapporo, Japan, it was 2017’s surprise hit. Written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, “Kita Kita” is the story of a tourist guide (De Rossi) who temporarily loses her vision after her engagement falls apart and how she crosses paths with Tonyo (Marquez), who wins her heart with his charm and humor. It is the story of how two lonely people found love in a foreign land. 

Subscribers who watch the movie from until March 15 will qualify for a chance to win a trip for two to Sapporo, Japan.  

A love affair beyond words in ‘The Shape of Water’

Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro, known for his hit feature films “Hellboy” and “Pacific Rim” brings a new world far beyond one’s imagination in “The Shape of Water”, composed of a stellar cast that includes Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones and Michael Stuhlbarg.

“The Shape of Water” is a fairy tale set in the Cold War era that sees the journey of Elisa (Hawkins), a mute janitress in a highly-secured government facility who connected and fell in love with a marine creature (Jones).  From Elisa’s loneliness and powerlessness, she soon becomes a heroine who takes huge risks, made all the more extraordinary because the role is almost without words. 

Rendered mute by a childhood trauma, Elisa communicates in American Sign Language (ASL), but she is able to express herself effusively when she encounters the strange aquatic creature being warehoused in the government lab where she works as a cleaning lady.  Elisa sees none of the creature’s oddities when she sets eyes on the iridescent beauty in chains – to her, he is sheer loneliness and that makes him instantly worthy of her attention. 

Elisa’s rich and brave interior world comes to life via a luminous performance from Academy Award nominee Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky, Blue Jasmine) that propels the story forward at every turn.  Hawkins knew instantly there has never been and will never be a role quite like Elisa.  “It’s so rare that you get a role that asks you to put it all out there.  Where it’s about unadulterated expression and words are not needed, and you have the freedom to express so much through your eyes, breath and body. That is Elisa.” 

Hawkins was Del Toro’s muse as he was writing. “Elisa is not someone who had a horrible existence until the creature showed up.  She was not leading a glamorous existence by any means but she was content.  I needed someone who evokes that kind of happiness, whose face is able to express every hue without a word. Sally has that kind of unique energy, so that is why I wrote it for her.  Sally is the most genuine, unaffected person and I don’t think she is capable of doing anything that isn’t emotionally real.”

The first read of the script beckoned to Hawkins so powerfully it sparked a few anxieties.  “It was so moving.  It was interestingly familiar to me, yet it was like nothing I’ve encountered.  I felt like Elisa was a deep part of me, or like I knew her in another life.  I also felt it was the ultimate romantic fairy tale.  At first I was convinced that Guillermo had the wrong person for the role,” she confesses.  “It’s the kind of romantic lead I really didn’t ever think I would play, so it’s been a dream gift to me.” 

For Hawkins there was no other means to doing so except to dive in to the deep end with full abandon, navigating Elisa’s blooming courage as well as a florid fantasy life that becomes unexpectedly real – with the most unexpected of partners.  Working with Del Toro helped her to let go completely and submerge herself.  “Being Elisa was an incredibly internal kind of journey, but Guillermo is so inclusive and so values your creativity as well, and that he really helped,” Hawkins explains.  “He has such a powerful vision that whatever your fears are, he just takes them away and says ‘let me worry about that.’” 

Hawkins had a steep learning curve to begin with.  She began taking ASL classes and dance lessons well before rehearsals began.  She also began feeling out the way Elisa moves, her lightness on the earth.  “To me, it seemed she is always floating, always in a kind of dance, so I wanted to get at that sort of otherworldly feeling in her physical being,” she describes. 

“The Shape of Water” opens in cinemas nationwide on February 21 from 20th Century Fox. 

‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’

A frustrated mother rents “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” as her teenage daughter’s murder stands unsolved.  The arresting messages on the billboards Mildred put up that read “Raped While Dying, And Still No Arrests? and How Come Chief Willoughby?” resulted in division, anger and moral reckoning among the townsfolk.   

It all begins with Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) and the three billboards she rents on Drinkwater Road.  Caught in the crossfire between Mildred and Chief Willoughby (Harrelson) is the chief’s right hand man, Officer James Dixon, played by Sam Rockwell, whose role had won him this year’s Best Supporting Actor Award at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors’ Guild, Critics’ Choice and from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Rockwell is also nominated for Best Supporting Actor category in this year’s highly-anticipated Academy Awards.

Dixon is an officer whose potential is self-sabotaged by intolerance and a wildly erratic temper, usurping the chief’s authority and order. Ultimately, as Dixon’s curiously co-dependent home life is revealed, the source of his psychic angst comes clear.   “He still lives with his mom and he’s a bit stunted, unable to just break free and finally become an adult,” Rockwell explains.  “He has an extremely dysfunctional relationship with his mom, which makes for quite a bit of trauma and then he takes that out on other people.”

“I think we all can relate a bit to his anger and his sadness,” Rockwell goes on, “and also I think to his hero worship of Chief Willoughby.  I think a lot of us have felt that kind of reverence for someone and yearned for their approval.” 

At the heart of “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” are actors Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, John Hawkes, Lucas Hedges and Peter Dinklage helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Martin McDonagh. 

The film is, says McDonagh, the most tragic he has written so far yet it is also a search for hope. “I think that this film, probably is more universal for people it might hit more hearts and minds in a way, it might reach more people because I think the film, appeals to a lot of - there's a lot of things going on in the film, that I think appeals to people and so you know I think he's amazing and he keeps getting more amazing. I don't know, it's just he's so out there, I mean he's got crazy ideas, it's crazy stuff,” says Rockwell of the film and director McDonagh.

A thrilling and engaging film from start to finish, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is from 20th Century Fox and will open at the following cinemas on February 14 - Eastwood, Shangri-La Mall, Century Mall, Commerce Mall, Festival Mall, Fisher Mall, Gateway, Fora in Tagaytay and in Vista Malls : EVIA, Taguig, Las Pinas, Daang Hari, Pampanga, Sta. Rosa and Bataan.  

Brace for a fiery February 

Animax/Released

It is going to be an intense February with two new shows on Animax: “What do you do at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us?” and “Armed Girl’s Machiavellism,” as well as the 10th anniversary of Otakufest 2018, where Animax will be taking part as the Official Channel Partner.

In a world where most of the human race has been destroyed by creatures known as "Beasts,” a human survivor by the name of Willem wakes up five hundred years later and lives a lonely life of despair. However, he soon meets a group of girls who can wield special weapons to fight against the Beasts. Together, they will continue the fight against the Beasts and protect the people around them.

“What do you do at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us?” premieres February 14, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m., first and exclusively on Animax.

Meanwhile, Fudo Nomura is a transfer student who enters a school where girls are allowed to carry weapons and rule mercilessly over the boys. On his first day, he becomes the target of RinOnigawara, a member of the Five Ruling Swords committee that commands the school. She tries to force him to conform to the rules of the school using her sword. However, he chooses not to give in so easily. In order for him to break free from their rule, he must defeat the Five Ruling Swords.

“Armed Girl's Machiavellism” premieres February 14, Wednesdays to Fridays at 10 p.m., first and exclusively on Animax.