unSAULicited

For decades politics, power and corrupt governments scrambling for mineral rich territories, have given rise to civil war in Africa and created conflict zones where the scale of destruction is now unimaginable. Hundreds and thousands of people have been slaughtered in military coups, are emotionally destroyed through rape and gender-based violence, and have been victims of unspeakable human rights violations. The civilians who have managed to survive the decimation have been forced to flee to safety from rebels sewing terror in their regions, making up more than 9 million refugees and internally displaced people without resources to form a new life. It is a suffering that knows no end. The motion picture “The Last Face” is brought to the screen by a group of filmmakers and actors who coincidentally all happen to be humanitarians in their own right and unquestionably this resonance was their motivation to work with very the difficult material. “The Last Face” centers around a love ...

From his first notable on-screen role as Stiles Stillinsky in the 2012 adaptation of the 1980’s cult classic “Teen Wolf” to his first lead role in the dystopian flick “The Maze Runner”, Dylan O’Brien now stars in the all-action packed movie “American Assassin”. Since then, the actor has continuously proved to everyone that he is one Hollywood’s most versatile actors. From being able to take on the role of a best-friend, a rebel, a freedom-fighter and now a deadly assassin. Dylan takes on the role of Mitch Rapp in “American Assassin”, a one-of-a-kind assassin who possesses savage skills and a ferocious drive for payback. A non-stop action-espionage thriller rooted in the raw reality of today’s hard-to-detect enemies invisible black ops, high-level surveillance, portable nukes and murky agendas. This is the story of a 21st Century counterterrorist spymaster-in-the-making who, in a world of new rules, breaks all the old molds. But much as we’re in the midst of a new era of bold in...

Known for his versatility and expansive acting chops, James Franco is back on the big screen in “The Vault” an action-thriller that takes you to oblivion every single scene starring with Clint’s daughter Francesca Eastwood and Taryn Manning (Netflix star in “Orange is the New Black”). “The Vault” starts off like any other day for weary bank manager Ed Maas (James Franco) get coffee, stare blankly at the clock, gripe about a quiet bank. All seems normal until the day turns unexpectedly fast and dizzying as he’s confronted with a barrel of a gun and two on-edge sisters who are robbing his bank in order to help their brother pay off his debts. At its heart, “THE Vault” is a loyalty play. Three estranged siblings are caught in a desperate situation that forces the resolution of life-long conflicts. This day will make or break them. It’s love and a family bond versus fear and betrayal, forgiveness versus revenge, trust versus suspicion and this bank is the nightmarish battleground. ...

"Walang kasimpangib ang paglimot." - Mga salitang nabanggit ni Juan Miguel Severo noong press launch ng Game of Trolls. It's one sad truth--We have to keep on talking about what really happened during Martial Law. History is only as good as what is understood and accepted even if is full of fallacies. I'm sure you've seen how bad tings are right now. Here's how things went down during the press con: [ View the story "PETA to stage A Game of Trolls this September" on Storify ] The time is still now to talk and remember so that we could act. And of course, watch.

“Game of Thrones” and “Narcos”’ notable star Pedro Pascal stars in the upcoming theatrical release of “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”, sequel to the blockbuster action “Kingsman: The Secret Service” that reinvented and introduced the world to a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program. Back in their lead roles as part of the Kingsman organization are Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong and Sophie Cookson with new cast members Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal and Jeff Bridges who belong to the Statesman, the counterpart of Kingsman in the United States. Directed by Matthew Vaughn, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” sees our heroes face a new challenge. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the US called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded. In a new adventur...

The Elvis Presley of the Philippines is back! One of the country's all-time most-loved singer-actors will stage his very first full concert after more than 28 years! Eddie Mesa headlines a show that will keep us rockin' and rollin' all night as he takes us through the journey of his career spanning 4 decades. Joining him are Pilita Corrales, Christoper de Leon, Edgar Mortiz, Tirso Cruz III, Ramon "RJ" Jacinto, Cieara Sotto, The Hotlegs. Of course, performers of the Eigenmann Clan will also be on the stage including Michael de Mesa, Ryan, Geoff, Max, Gabbi, and Andi Eigenmann, Sid Lucero, and Cherie Gil. If the press conference is a preview of how fun the concert would be, The night will be filled with fun and laughter with the whole, as Ms. Cherie Gil would put it, Eigenfam. As shared by Eddie Mesa, his journey so far hasn't been perfect. There have been quite a number of rough patches and the concert will be a testament of how love and fo...

Rody Vera’s award-winning Happiness is a Pearl is set to run until September 17 at Artist Playground’s larger home at Arts Above, 112 West Venue Building, West Avenue, Quezon City. Happiness is a Pearl asks the audience, “What can you do for love?” Mari is a desperate wife of a businessman who meets the very accommodating courtesan, Kenji. Kenji also meets the Japayuki Maria who does what she can to make ends meet, including her emotional needs. The well-written script is accented by the music of Jesse Lucas and Standard Tango plus Argentine Tango choreography by Lezlie Dailisan. Director Paul Jake Paule shards that to show the charm of the first run, they retained the original stage. I would have to say that I agree that the charm is definitely there and with a bigger venue, Artist Playground is successful in even expanding it. We also get better seating in the process. One of the best things I love about Artist Playground is that actors are free to explore their characte...

 No one gets crucified in the new satirical comedy “Patay na si Hesus.” Well, no one or nothing except Pinoy cinema's tired cliches, our outdated biases, predictable expectations and actors' over-the-top performances. The latter gets skewered by the cast's purposely deadpan dialogue delivery – led by the effortless Jaclyn Jose – rendering punchlines funnier, the stabs more razor-sharp. Did we mention that most of the lines are in Cebuano? How more eccentric can this film get? “Patay na si Hesus,” which opens in Philippine cinemas August 16 as part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, is a quirky look at a family's roadtrip from Cebu to Dumaguete, en route to the wake of its estranged father, the titular Hesus. Jose plays Iyay, the feisty mother to a brood of three: Hubert, who has Down Syndrome; Jude, a lovesick trans man; and Jay, who is living the bum life. One unplanned detour comes after another, each pushing this family closer to confronting the past and ...

Action and blockbuster star Gerard Butler stars in his latest passion project “A Family Man” that tackles the under-explored world of corporate headhunting with characters confronting relatable and universal challenges: “the balance between work and family, husband and wife dynamics, the father and son relationship, losing a job and finding a job.” Opening exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas’ Trinoma and Greenbelt 1 screens starting August 23, “A Family Man” is a family drama that deals with real-life dilemmas. A simple, elegant and classic throwback movie about a deeply touching father and son relationship. Dane’s (Butler) journey is predominantly framed through his relationship with Ryan, which is constantly transforming over the course of the film. Producer Craig Flores described the wide search that went into Ryan’s casting: “We reviewed hundreds of self-tapes and auditions from all around the world to find the right kid. Very tough decisions were made, but we ultimately disc...

In the age of instant messaging and fast food, 10 minutes onstage is enough to let you know whether or not you’ve got some magic in your material and talent in your veins. Short+Sweet Theatre Manila gears up for another season and everything is definitely going to be sweeter the fourth time around. Known across the globe as the festival of 10-minute plays (S+S Theatre is dubbed as the "Biggest Little Play festival in the world"), S+S is a springboard for scriptwriters, and a lab for directors, technical crew and thespians alike. Short+Sweet Theatre Manila mirrors the goal of the mother company in Australia—to showcase hundreds of bite-sized dramatic treats, handpicked from submissions all over the world. Presented by OilLamp Inc., Short+Sweet Theatre Manila aims to be an avenue for local and international artists to present their bodies of work, while utilizing the actors and crew that Manila is already well known for. By working hand in hand, the festival becomes plac...

What can you do for love? Rody Vera - Playwright “Happiness is a Pearl,” an original play penned by Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Famer Rody Vera is all set to open on August 25 and shall run up to Sept. 17 at Arts Above, Artist Playground II, 112 West Venue Bldg., West Avenue, Quezon City. “Happiness is a Pearl” revolves around three characters ---Kenji, a male courtesan; Maria, a poor Pinay Japayuki; and Mari, a wife who falls in love with Kenji. Before becoming a prostitute in a club in Kabukicho, Tokyo, Mari was married to a wealthy businessman. But Mari’s billionaire husband soon leaves her when she becomes attached to a male gigolo named Kenji, who has a pearl stitched under the skin of his penis. However, Kenji sets his eyes on a poverty-stricken Filipina entertainer named Maria. Intertwined by fate and struggles, how will Kenji, Maria, and Mari find the true meaning of love and happiness? “Happiness is a Pearl” will be directed by Paul Jake ...