Laruang Lalake...

Feeling super low last night because of a small incident at work. I needed to pre-occupy my mind with dirty stuff. I know it's once again bordering the evil side which I'm supposed to be avoiding for Lent. But this is just minor stuff anyways and can only result on a hard-on which should be ok. (or so my excuse)

Saw it on PEP ages ago under 'Indie Films' and re-read it again last night. Someone had posted the whole movie on Youtube which was in snippets so had to watch it since it was right in front of me.

So I watched Laruang Lalake.

Synopsis: "Is a realist film that portrays the people within the gay film industry and their personal stories from the naughty to the gritty, from the horny to the hopeful. Created by Joselito Altarejos with the script from Lex Bonife, the film weaves the short journey of an ambitious probinsiyano actor, Samuel, an idealistic film staff who is secretly in love with an actor and a filmmaker in the brink of bankruptcy. The film also features the daring Marco Morales, as a come-back actor willing to do everything to steal a name for himself."

Lucky for me Marco Morales was in it and it also introduced Arjay Carreon. Marco is apparently dubbed as the 'Frontal Nudity King' in the gay Philippine Indie Cinema circuit due to a previous film he did where he bared it all. I'm not surprised. But I have much more respect for him than that. He is a truly good looking guy and his acting is pretty good. I heart him!!! Arjay, though a tad on the moreno side, is quite pleasing to the eye too. He seems genuine and innocent and I like that in a guy. I'd have him for a boyfriend anytime. This movie also had Mark Fabilliar as the PA and an upcoming movie director. He's quite cute, though I don't really go for twinks. But I see myself in him with all his secret boy crushes. Actually I'd gladly befriend someone like Mark. But I was most impressed with Mon Confiado whom I remember only from action films. He was really really good here as a gay man, which is a huge jump from his old bad boy image. He has lost a lot of weight which meant fitting for this role. Richard Quan is still believably straight. I wanted more.

But of course the highlight of the film is the nudity. Just the dose I needed for tonight. I didn't think Arjay had it in him to go all the way, but with the path Philippine cinema is heading at the moment...this is almost a must!!! And if I'm spot-on with the mind-set of gay Filipinos in shobwiz lalaland, their thoughts would be like, "If Marco Morales and Coco Martin can do it, sino ba naman si Arjay para tumangi di ba?"

Well folks here's what you've been waiting for...(courtesy of fellow blogger and bastos/boso Pinoywatching):

Finally got to see Slumdog Millionaire! (by myself!!! :D) I thought it was one of the smartest movies made, feeding on our past and seeing how important they are to us. The boy who fell on shit I thought was an amazing talent! So natural in front of the camera at such a young age. The movie gave you a really good look at India's slums contrasted by the new and rich condominiums being made for the wealthier folks. But most of all, I appreciated the love story. It such a different love story. A pure one. From the hands of destiny, which more often than not, we wished we had too. 9.5 out of 10!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is also a side note to my "Men Are Shit!" remark...they are!!!

If you've been reading my blog, then you would know that one of my New Years resolution was to 'Date' this year! I haven't. Only because I haven't found a likely candidate. Justin's still not talking to me and Adrian's kinda out of the picture. Emed just doesn't see me that way, and even though a million people pass my work each and everyday, no one's paid that much attention.

So to fill the void, I've started hanging out with guy friends. I don't often do this because the topic of conversations always seems to end up in sex or drinking. And I can't donate any information to the conversations because a) I don't drink and b) I'd rather talk about the male anatomy.hahaha

But I'm a little desperate. So... I've hanged out with Wil on his birthday. He was super late and paid no attention to my instructions to come on time. Men are shit! This time around, I invited Max and Seb to come and see this movie with me. Since we were all hanging out already in the morning...why not let the fun continue on to the evening. I only parted with Seb because he had to take his girlfriend back to the city 'coz she's going to work. I parted with Max because I was going to church first. But we all agreed to meet in two hours.

Well...I was doged. Both fell asleep and forgot. I should be able to understand, but I can't. I too woke up much earlier than they did today and had to drive for 2 hours whilst theys slept in the car. I had to work yesterday for 12 hours while they didn't. We all got home at midnight! Seb on the way to the city had 2 hours extra sleep. Max fell asleep on the car twice. How can they be both more tired than I was???

Dogs!!!

Men are shit!!! But Seb was more of a pile of shit because he was only 2 minutes away from the cinema. I didn't expect him to be all beautified and smelling nice. I just wanted to see the movie with someone!!! Max on the other hand was an hour away. Even if he tried, he'd miss half of the movie already.

MEN ARE SHIT!!!

Can't wait to see this film Milk by Gus Van Sant starring Sean Pean and James Franco.



Why? Well, because it's a gay orientated film and we have to support that. Plus I'm sure it has a strong message behind it. (don't really care!) And well, because James Franco is in it. (though I am not his hugest fan, I shall still watch it because of him) Why? Well, because he has a kissing scene here with Sean Penn and any big actor willing to do a man-to-man kiss has my vote to see his film. Go JAMES!!!haha

Read Milk Man's interview here (source).

Here are more cool pics of James: (enjoy)

Went to see Cris Pablo's new flick Quicktrip last night at Robinson Galleria.

Grabe, I feel like meat. Everytime I go to the loo, I'm being checked at by dirty old men. I just bow my head down and make sure I don't make any eye contact.

Where are the young good looking blokes of Manila?

------------

Anyways, the movie had so much going for it...well... until the end.

I get it. A movie needs some twists and turns etc to make it a tad more exciting. But...

Let's review the film from the start.

Bank scene. Different sya. Camera shifts on chinito-yuppie-ish boyfriend.

What a fag. (and I mean that on childish way of cursing the character) How annoying was he. He spoke too much, tried too much and just had too much outrage about the world. Having his cel snatched didn't help his cause. I almost felt for him. But I guess this was a blessing in disguise because we move our attention to Topher "Chris" Barreto. Phwoar! What a find. I love simple guys like these. His character assumed that he was pogi, angelic, totally mabait, quite naive (which separates him away from all the evil of this world), masculine, very focused on what he wants for himself and his family and to me, totally sexy. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. (and I'm not even into moreno types) For him, I watched the movie.

I saw in Chris the typical young Filipino of today. Attached to the cel, continously texting their lives away. I felt his need to be part of the world, whatever medium it may be. He seeked comfort in simplicity, because it was all he had, like the messages (or lack of) he recieved in his phone. And like me, we were born multi-taskers. Focusing one side to the family and their needs, and on our most closeted moments, finding ways to witness our secret 'gay' lives.

I felt bad for him. Seeking the attention of an asshole whom he's clearly mistaken for as 'love'.

I was familiar with his escape. Sex. When stressed or upset, I too look for sex as a form of escape. No drinking, no drugs...I go straight to the source. I admire his courage to enter the perverted movie house. I would've done the same. Except the fear of running into DOMs would've overtaken my desires. Obviously in this movie, he lived in a better fantasy world, where youth prolifirated such dirty places. Could there be a hint of reality in this? (I would like to think so.) And like Chris, would I be so quick to respond to anyone's interest in me even if they're butt ugly. No way! Give me Topher anytime and maybe I would think about it.

This is what I liked most about Chris. Behind his angelic nature lies horns driven by sexual desires. And add to that, his homosexual desires. Yum.

Enter super horny buffed Ando. Who is a living proof that all men think about is sex. Poor naive Topher was on the same state mind. Blame chinito asshole. (or thank him?) Half the movie is spent trying to find their magical place for sex. Where to go, where to go? Motels, parks (with desperate baklitas roaming it's grounds), dodgy friends pads. It was a nice glimpse to the grity world of motels in the Philippines. (which I'm nowhere close to knowing) Who would've thought that in these trying times, some motels dare to deny pink money by pushing away homosexual clientele? Hmmm.

And finally to the sex. Good for them. About time they find a secluded place for raunch.

Except...

I wanted just a tad more. A tad more pubic hair, a hint of cock... anything! Lately, I've been led to believe that there is a current trend going around the Filipino gay Indie scene that promotes the act of going full monty, kahit na hindi sila yung main characters. (Ang Lihim ni Antonio had it; Maraming Salamat Po Hanggang Dito Na Lang had it; Ang Lalake Sa Parola showed cock at some point)

And yet none here. Nada, zilch. I was hoping for it during the masturbation scene. Pero ala. But that's ok. At least we got to see a bit of Topher's and Ando's butt. Plus the gay sex scene here is a little closer to reality. They seemed keen. Troopers at heart. Tongues did wag and at some point the word 'torrid' came into my head. Believeable. Naive at some point, "Mahal na kita!" Hot.

Until the ugly twist. Like really? Was it neccessary?

It didn't work for me. Not that I am always in favour of happy endings. (I love horror flicks that kill all their characters. Well most. hahaha) Blame it on me being a hopeless romantic. A true seeker of love in all it's facets. Romeo in my own way. But mostly because I really thought Chris totally deserved to be loved and be happy. (he's that cute) Niloko mo kami. Akala namin eto na para kay Chris. He was in. His goaly kick was going to be the scream of the crowd. Pasok na sya!

But dude...

Sinira mo yung ending. Yak! I went home wanting my P40 back. You can have the P100 when everything was fine and dandy. But the rest. That's 15-20 mins of my life I can never get back.

All in all: it wasn't really that bad, well the first half. In fact it bordered in "OK!" Pero sayang. I'll give it to you though C. Pablo, the budgeting of funds at the beginning of the film was creative. I felt Chris' sense of poverty. We could all relate. The poor family cliche will probably be far removed from Filipino films. Heck, it's all over television, so why not film. When done properly, it does tug on peoples hearts. Chris was a good son all over. Admirable traits. My Kuya would dare not ask me for a kiss in exchange for money, but heck, to all his own. Loveable sexy and cute main character: check. Winner ka na sana dun. Yun nga lang, plain cliche na yung storyline. For all we know, he could've turned into a macho dancer. Then I would've just walked out of the moviehouse. But there was a point it became, could this movie be about a guy looking for love at all the wrong places? Then I was intrigued. So I soldiered on...

The rest of the film moved at a steady rate. The ex-boyfriend remained annoying. His friends made me promise that I shall never acquire such shallow people in my life. Ever! Ando's beefy body made me curious. It made me want to meet my own damaged Ando. But where? The movie made me question if real Ando's exist in the dark corners of dirty movie houses in the Philippines? Enough to tempt me to come back every year? And for the real Ando. Will he be making more gay films? Pero baka nga may topak ang ibang mga Ando. Yung mas malala pa ang aabutin mo in real life kuno.

So I gave the film a 6. For Topher.

I concluded that I could've been doing better things in life. Like maybe catching up on sleep or food tripping. Or hanging out with my family. Or maybe watching a better film at the other cinema?

I guess for me, when I go on secret rendevous like this, in a country I try to visit only on occassions, you want it to be well worth it. One wants to come out satisfied feeling the whole experience was well worth it and I'd like to tell all my friends about it. Like in Lihim or in Pagdadalaga ni Maximo. They had some depth in them that touched my heart. Truly profound gay films that I am proud to tell people. I felt something after the 2 hours of watching those.

With Quicktrip, that's what I felt like. Like a Quicktrip lang to Robinsons Galleria, just to kill time. Kasi may kulang yung film. Like depth, like a better ending, like better sex scenes, like less corny lines. If had I stayed home, logged unto the internet a searched for good porn, probably that would've been more satisfying.

In fairness...thank you for discovering Topher Barreto. I look forward to more of his projects in the future. He has lots of potential and may make it big on Indie films. Here's hoping that he would be willing to once again offer his services on satisfying the needs of the gay community in the film industry. Good luck to you bro!

To Chris Pablo: Andyan ka na. Alam mo na ang kailangan mong gawin. Hindi naman kailangang madalian. Pagisipan lang. Konti pa. Malapit ka na. Yung pang Academy ang dating. Depth lang Kuya, depth lang. Marunong ka nang humanap ng pogi, so no worries there. Malay mo, masali sa Film Fests all over the world yung susunod at susunod pa duon di ba. Bigyan ng panahon at isip. Di pa huli ang lahat! Yun lang po. Pero salamat na rin kahit papaano. :)

Watch the trailer for yerselves:

Hahaha. Happy Hearts. I laughed so much with this movie. I just saw it last night on DVD and was so amazed by the storyline. Best Filipino Gay Comedy of the Year!!!

Of course it was really Wendell Ramos who carried this movie. He's so funny being gay. He carries it really well. His lines were fantastic, he really looked heart broken when he broke up with Rustom and he was funny when he gets giddy and excited meeting people at the door.

His 'Hoy Bakla' sister Giselle Sanchez is an old time favorite. She cracks me up so so much it's not funny. Talaga...I want friends like her! They make life so bearable.hahaha

Of course Rustom is a winner for now portraying a lot of gay roles. America should take note. Filipino gay actors playing gay roles and well respected for it. The US has such big issues about this, though there are a few names out there who are breaking the glass barrier. Rustom panalo ka sa kin! Mabuhay ka!

Surprise surprise Jean Garcia. I've always known her to be an evil evil witch ever since Pangako Sa 'Yo with Kristine and Echo (I love them!) and now in La Vendetta. Yet here she was actually human. So human in fact I fell off the sofa. She should play more roles like this. Para di na ko matakot sa kanya.hahahaha Kasi maganda sya diba!

Then there's the two young love birds, Shaina and Rayver. I think Rayver is so so hot especially when he used to dance that i-kembot dance in ASAP. ~like tsuper kilig ako and tili~ Yet...he's still lacking something. Ewan ko what it is. I mean he's really gorgeous, maputi, baby faced and he looks really tall. Carry nya naman yung movie and soon, he will grow up and take more matured roles. (I can't wait) Pero may kulang. Oh and Rayver...quit mo na yung clothes sponsor mo. Graveh! As in pangit ang mga damit mo. I feel like making you my doll and dress you up.bwahahaha Like talaga kuya! I think, you should do what Gerald did and appear on MMK or something, portray the same role where you tanan Shaina away, but then you become poor, you suffer, but you suffer for love. ~wowz~ Then, I shall have much more respect for you. Promiz! Kasi I'm a fan of yours. And I want our love to become stronger! ~Hoy bakla tumigil!~

Shaina...she's pretty. I already knew that. Her clothes here were pretty awful too...except some. Especially the short skirt and big sunglasses. Ngek. Di bagay ate! You should pick clothes that reflect your age, bata ka pa iha. Don't rush it. Wait din kita mag mature ok. But I can see you following your sister's footsteps. I've seen her play roles like that.

Pero back to the storyline. I love this movie sans the dancing bit. Like tsuper suka ako when they always dance. Corny kasi eh. They were like copying another movie with that male model and they mixed ballet/classical with rap/R&B etc. I mean I loved that movie. Wag nyong sirain mga ate. 'Tong mga Pinoy talaga minsan, alang originality.

Pero wagi! Happy Hearts really made my gay heart happy! 9 out of 10. I shall watch this a couple more times and enjoy my P60.hahaha Go Rustom! ~more power!~ Go Wendell! ~I heart you!~ Go Rayver! ~good luck FaFa!~