There were sporadic giggles and laughters during the screening of Afi Africa's "The Lookout". Odd thing is, it isn't even remotely funny. It's not comedy. The film is a pink-flavored, highly charged action drama that reminds me of the visual style and cinematic discernment of Monti Parungao. "Bayaw", anyone?
In the story, siblings George and Grace Limotog got separated from each other after battered wife and mother (Yayo Aguila) sells them to a nefarious slavery ring! George eventually grows up as Lester Quiambao (Andres Vasquez), a notorious hired assassin who's being pursued by operatives. But to fill his emotional void and libidinous urges, Lester "buys" himself a lover and sidekick Travis Concepcion (Jay Garcia) who assists in his operations. (Note that this avenging assassin lives in a very scenic, albeit dilapidated tenement beside an MRT railway, yet he can buy a human being!) On the side, Lester still searches for his younger sister Grace, now Monica (Elle Ramirez) whom he didn't realize has been heading the operatives tasked to apprehend him.
The story is clunky, convoluted and preposterous. As it heightens its drama, you are transported to an alternate dimension where hired killers - no, wait, gay assassins have the luxury of buying men straight off a meat shelf like they were market commodities. I'm not referring to "one-night-stand", "lay-on-the-hay" services but actual flesh-and-blood pulchritudinous guys as personal properties. Slavery exists in the Philippines, believe it or not! At least in the vitiated imagination of its writer and director. Audience reception was telling: First, there was awkward silence as the audience takes in the assault of sensibility. Then chuckles eventually followed.
Typical of Pink Films, most actors are newbies with fresh faces and sculpted bodies. They're also exceptionally eager actors. But while they're visually captivating, you can't help but notice the floundering skill behind all these. At least Parungao had clarity. Africa meanwhile randomly shoots narrative blanks, which is an obvious case of opportunity being squandered. More skilled film makers could have strutted their wares here. Instead, we're fed narrative strains that made our skin crawl.
To prove my point? Do we really want to see Rez Cortez being sodomized by a couple of thugs? Such perversion, debah? Besides, if George wanted vengeance for having been sexually abused by his trainor/tormentor (Cortez) when he was younger, why didn't he do it himself? That would have been the ultimate revenge, right? I guess even our protagonist was appalled by such idea. After all, he likes guys his age; fit, muscular and thespically dazed. Then again, this salient detail could have slipped the director's mind?
Turned out, the audience dictated its genre. This was comedy after all.
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| Search your pockets for some Meclizine - or a barf bag will do! |
#cinemalaya2018 #thelookout #afiafrica
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