Amigo - A Piece of History in an Almost Forgotten Era

In 1900, the small village of San Isidro was invaded by a tenderfoot battalion of young American soldiers headed by Lt. Compton (Garret Dillahunt). They freed Spanish friar Padre Hidalgo (Yul Vazquez) who’s been held under the care of Rafael Dacanay (Joel Torre), cabeza of the barrio. The American forces pursue the revolutionary troops of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, but Compton’s conciliatory tack is to “win hearts and minds” instead. “We’ll pay for every item or service that you provide to us,” informs the leader.

But the colonizers soon make the life of the local folks difficult that even the cabeza, a land owner himself, has to plough his own land. People’s mobility is restrained. They are not allowed to stray far from designated demarcations. Joaquin, Rafael’s son, escapes and joins his uncle Simon (Ronnie Lazaro), a revolutionary. Martial Law is declared, and farming animals are butchered. God is indeed busy elsewhere.

At one point, Rafael is caught leaving his boundaries (he is taken to the hills by the revolutionary soldiers asking for a couple of things: 10 cavans of rice and a treacherous decoy). As punishment, he gets imprisoned by the Americans. This necessitates selection of a new cabeza. The principles of freedom-loving America rest on the concept of the democratic process. So an election is held. To the consternation of the invaders, Rafael once again wins. He is freed to lead his wards.

Soon thereafter, the town falls into a state of harmony. Relationships are built, and even romance blooms between soldiers and the local girls. But peace and harmony don’t always constitute the real motivations of the Americans. When Col. Hardacre (Chris Cooper) surprises San Isidro with a visit, he isn’t amused with the post-Fiesta countenance and the laidback demeanor of its inhabitants. In his mind, they are in a state of war, and barrios are being attacked and plundered. Soon thereafter, Rafael Dacanay is re-arrested, charging fast into events that would escalate into a bloody encounter. The cabeza is forced to spill the whereabouts of the guerilla soldiers. What becomes of his brother and his son? And more importantly, will Dacanay free himself from an impending execution?

Joel Torre resurfaces as one of the country’s most insightful actors. His “Amigo” persona is imposing without being arrogant; congenial without being cloying, and Rio Locsin beautifully complements the cabeza’s cordial demeanor. Garret Dillahunt’s Compton perfectly straddles his conflicted persona: is he the tough “warlord” or the gentle savior? Yul Vazquez’s Padre Hidalgo is such a joy to watch, one of my favorite performances from this spectacular ensemble.

There are a few sore points though: John Arcilla’s Nenong is too caricaturish. His betraying persona would have been more sinister with a little more subtlety. Ditto with Irma Adlawan (as Nenong’s wife Josefa) who, in her limited screen time, churns out an over eager characterization. This has been a habit borne out of theatrical crutches. On celluloid, Adlawan tends to evince ripples in the water when there should only be a reflection. Lee Meily’s camera work is like a breath of fresh air, crystal and in some ways affectionate. Had they decided against the use of the digital medium, cinematography would have turned out even better.

Chris Cooper is mean-spirited Col. Hardacre.

And no, Kyle, this isn’t a worthy companion piece to the amateurish “Baler” (2008), another historical film set at the end of the Spanish occupation in a little town in Aurora. I cringe remembering the emotionally hollow exposition, fake mustache, iffy production values and maladroit Spanish lines and delivery. “Amigo” is too polished and insightful for the unfair comparison.

Told in intimate narrative strokes, Director John Sayles carefully sculpts a town filled with distinct personalities, adequately fleshed out in modicums of amusing anecdotes. The character studies delve into human emotions ingrained in the cultural mores that run a small town. What’s even more interesting is how Sayles is able to capture the Filipino spirit as a community; how Sayles ensnares the gist of a captured spirit. And when a film master like Sayles is able to bridge his vision into something very Filipino, I am simply in awe!

Ronnie Lazaro is Simon.

Master film director John Sayles

Company Men – Ben Affleck & Kevin Costner Fight Recession

The world has been in economic shambles the last decade or so. Even in corporate America, there haven’t been enough bees producing honey or cows delivering milk, so to speak. As a result, factories and businesses close shop. And it isn’t just the blue collars getting affected. Even hot shot executives find their posts redundant. And huge companies end up downsizing, affecting thousands.

In John Wells’ “Company Men”, one such executive is Bobby (Ben Affleck) who loses the ship building arm of a powerful conglomerate. But he soon finds out that along with unemployment comes dispossession – not just of his home, his Porsche, his golf clubhouse membership - but of his dignity. When his brother-in-law Jack (Kevin Costner) offers him a job at the construction, he balks as he doesn’t see himself the “nail-pounding” type. Of course, he had to beg for the same job back later, but this uneasy predicament underlines the tuning up of the masculine ego. Several other characters share their stories in the film: Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) is one of the co-founders of a billion dollar company who finds himself fired by the company’s owner - his college roommate and best friend; Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) who, nearing 60, is likewise desperate for a job; Sally Wilcox (Maria Bello) is the relentless bearer of bad news (she’s tasked to fire people).

Despite a gloomy plot, the film (set in Boston), is far from being dour or melodramatic, thanks largely to a kinetic script that allows us to root for the characters on screen – and a great ensemble with solid performances. Though there is a tragic resonance somewhere in the narrative, the ultimate payback for our attention is the inspiring tale of perseverance, as well as the resilience of the human spirit to stand up from a hard fall. I am particularly surprised that director Wells finds a middle ground not to coat his parable with undue sentimentality. It allows us to comprehend these disparate situations better. Finally, we don’t always hold construction workers in high regard, but we should think again!

“Company Men” will make a great companion piece to George Clooney’s “Up In The Air”.

Jack and Bobby

Phil (Chris Cooper) queues for a job interview, along with younger men.

Ben Affleck's next project is a Terrence Mallick romantic drama with Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem, Amanda Peet, Rachel Weisz and Barry Pepper.