I will remember Francis M

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

03/10/2009

King of Pinoy Rap Francis Magalona passed away of pneumonia originating from leukemia last Friday, March 6, at age 44. He is widely mourned, even by those who never met him. In the single time I communicated with him, Francis left a lasting impression.

Nancy Reyes-Lumen of Cook magazine had asked me to interview him for a story. I thought I would have a hard time doing it as Francis was sick and I was physically challenged as well. My nephew, Jose Francisco Cruz III, e-mailed my questionnaire to him and, in two days, he returned it with well-expounded answers. But I also needed his new images to accompany the article. Help came from Malou Choa-Fagar, who helped me secure it from Francis’ wife, Pia Arroyo-Magalona.

The wide outpouring of grief for Francis’ departure is understandable. He was a kind man and a great, patriotic artist who touched the hearts of many Filipinos.

‘Taken’: The return

of slam-bang hard action

Whether as Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, as Michael Collins in Michael Collins, as Alfred Kinsey in Kinsey, Liam Neeson continues to display an acting range matched by few. In his new movie Taken, Liam plays an former government operative who will single-handedly attempt to free his kidnapped daughter in 96 hours. Taken was Hollywood’s no. 1 movie for 2009, surpassing the $100 million gross in after a few weeks of release. From Viva International Pictures, Taken opens in local theaters tomorrow, March 11.

Former government operative Bryan Mills (Liam) begins the longest 96 hours of his life, and the hunt for the fearsome organization that has taken his daughter Kim. Bryan had only recently given up his government career to be near Kim (Maggie Grace), who lives with Bryan’s ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) and her new husband. Bryan’s goal is nearly derailed when Kim requests his permission to spend time in Paris with a friend. All too aware of the dangers that could lie ahead for Kim in a foreign land, Bryan says no, but Kim’s disappointment leads him to very reluctantly relent.

Bryan’s worst fears are realized when Kim and her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) are suddenly abducted from their Paris apartment. Moments before Kim is dragged away by the as yet unseen and unknown assailants, she manages to phone Bryan, who begins to expertly piece together clues that will take him to the darkness of Paris’ underworld. He will let nothing and no one stop him from saving his daughter.

According to the film’s co-screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen, it was co-writer and producer Luc Besson who came up with the idea for Taken. They turned this idea into a compelling story, with big set pieces, practical action, martial arts, and what Kamen calls “crazy/crazy” stunts — and very few computer-generated effects. Pierre Morel directs.

No anti-ex-husband talk for Sheryl Cruz

Sheryl Cruz, back in the recording scene after more than 10 years with a mature sound marked by soulful rendition of songs about love, family and country, tells Buzzstation she will candidly share the reason of her divorce when it’s finalized. She adds, “But right now is not the exact time to talk about it. The divorce was a mutual agreement between us. Part for the reason for the divorce is maybe the distance and lack of time for each other. Other reason I can’t say now.”

Although it was against her will, she asks, “What should I do? Kailangan ko bang isiksik ang sarili ko? He was the one who asked. I hate to say anything against the father of my daughter.”

In 2008, Sheryl signed a five-year deal with Wow Music, Wow Magic Sing videoke microphone sister company. She teamed up with Bernadette Gutierrez and Marizen Yaneza-Soriano and collaborated with musicians and arrangers Jun Tamayo, Mike Bon, Arnold Buena and Mike Villegas to come up with the beautiful There’s No Place Like Home CD under the Wow Music label.

Among the six English songs, there is one revival (“Love Me For What I Am” given an acoustic twist), and the self-composed song “Joy.” Among the four Tagalog songs, there is also one revival (Sheryl’s hit ballad “Kaibigan Lang Pala.”) The rest is a mix of musical genres. “Pangarap ng Puso” is a danceable melody. “Luzviminda” is a nationalistic, upbeat track. “Kahit Ika’y Nasa Malayo,” a duet with Gino Padilla, is a heartfelt love song, and “Ligaya” is a pop ballad.

The CD was a family affair. Cousin Doricel Sonora Crisostomo, a radio executive, acts as Sheryl’s music consultant and all-around handler for her music career. Cousins Josept and Jeffrey Sonora supervised the recording at the FPJ Studios. Jeffrey, who is also a photographer, took Sheryl’s photos for the album cover. The Sonora cousins are preparing for their next project: Sheryl’s Christmas album.

Sheryl is going around the Philippines and abroad to promote There’s No Place like Home.

Shame on intrigue-sowers!

Showbiz writers have this bad habit of sowing intrigue to create a scandal where there is none or where there is very little. They do this so they have something to write about in their scandal sheets. (I’m almost tempted to use the four-letter word that rhymes with sheet.)

Like the issue about Dr. Vicki Belo’s statement that offended Boy Abunda, showbiz writers found the cause to be the unpaid tickets that goes back to 2006 and had been settled between them back then through a meeting. Boy categorically explained there’s no connection between the unpaid tickets and Dr. Vicki’s remark. Common sense says there’s no connection. It was a bad joke on Dr. Belo’s part, which Boy, the butt of the joke, quite naturally found offensive.

Showbiz will be a lot more peaceful if there are no professional intrigue-sowers! And our country a lot more developed if we are not hooked on tsismis as a people, according to the Ateneo Graduate School.

Baler, a must-have in your DVD collection

Baler, 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF)’s biggest and most awarded movie, finally makes its way from the big screen to your TV screen as it becomes available on premium video beginning March 18. In the film, Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales team up for the first time as two star-crossed lovers. Viva Films’ official entry to the 2008 MMFF, it won major awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Mark Meily, Best Supporting Actor for Philip Salvador, Best Screenplay for Roy Iglesias and Best Actress, the first-ever acting award won by Anne.

A tale of an overwhelming love between a young Filipina (Anne) and a Spanish-Filipino soldier (Jericho), Baler is set in the backdrop of 1898 wartime action between a 57-man rifle battalion of the Spanish military and the Filipino forces, more popularly known as the Siege of Baler. A story of conflict, betrayal, suffering, self-preservation, selfishness, obstinacy, and self-interest, “Baler is also a story of heroism, courage, love of freedom, patriotism, endurance, chivalry, humanity and above all, it also tells about a noble story of love in time of war.”

The powerhouse cast includes Phillip Salvador, Michael de Mesa, Leo Martinez, Joel Torre, Carlo Aquino, Nikki Bacolod, Mark Bautista, Ryan Eigenmann, Baron Geisler, Bernard Palanca, Allen Dizon, DJ Durano, Arvee Quizon and Jao Mapa. The theme song “Ngayon, Bukas at Kailanman,” which celebrates the power of an enduring love, is sung by pop princess Sarah Geronimo.

Experience Baler’s grandeur, mystery and beauty on DVD. Among its special features are the following the main film with English subtitles, behind-the-scenes, history of Baler featurette, character vignettes, set tour recreating the Church of Baler of 1898, a photo gallery, theatrical trailer, Baler TV spots, bloopers, deleted scenes and “Ngayon, Bukas at Kailanman” music video by Sarah Geronimo.

Baler will be available on VCD at P275, on regular DVD at P600, and on limited edition DVD at P1,000.

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