69 ½ falls short of perfect

Written and directed by Ted Manotoc Finalist, Digital Lokal competition 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival Epic wanted to direct the best Filipino film ever made, but his dwindling resources have prevented him from doing so. When he and his roommate were evicted from their shared apartment, the aspiring filmmaker was forced to do something he thought he would never have to. Against his will, Epic had to direct a pornographic movie in exchange for food and lodging, with his roommate Mike as producer. The businessman who funds them, aside from imposing the condition that his mistress Penelope be the lead actress, had four requirements for the film: it had to show oral sex, anal sex, penetration, and ejaculation. Unable to completely let go of his creative integrity, Epic attempts to find a compromise between his own artistic vision and the conditions set by their benefactor. What follows is a hilarious account of the making of Epic’s “pornographic musical," an artistic rendition of an otherwise purely carnal film. Epic’s film was divided into four parts, each segment dedicated to one of the requirements. Cunnilingus, the first segment, is an operatic solo by lead actor John. Filled with euphemisms and innuendos, it is sensual without being too vulgar. The second song was aptly named Anal Criminal, a jazzy beat coupled with clever rhymes that are a little risque, but never improper. The third part is a song-and-dance performance, to the tune of the surprisingly catchy song “Penetrate." The fourth part of Epic's musical never reached completion, however, for personal reasons.

Photo courtesy of Cinemanila The genius of this movie comes from the musical itself, as it was able to avoid any blatant sexual acts while keeping to the businessman’s manifesto. The film is arguably designed for the thinking audience, considering the enormous amount of word-play involved. Although an intellectual film is commendable, it seems to be a drawback as well. By being too smart, the film limits its audience to a certain group. The movie’s deadpan humor was very effective, but also a disadvantage. The type of comedy is a welcome departure from the slapstick variety overused in Philippine cinema, but it requires a certain level of attention not everyone is willing to give. Contrary to the conventional approach, the film started off with the climax, enticing the audience with the gripping scene. The sequence of events worked well for the movie, and the editing was excellent. The too-obvious product placement, however, was quite annoying. The film ended on a rather disappointing note, but it is still worthwhile to watch. Although the movie might not be enjoyed by the general audience, its witty antics are too entertaining to pass up. - GMANews.TV