Bad text messages

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

WE got some text messages discrediting the box office performance of "For the First Time" starring Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion, saying it failed to match the take of "A Very Special Love. " We don't know who're sending these messages. What we did was ask someone who knows the real score in box office results of both local and foreign films and our source (who refuses to be named as our source also produces films now and then) said that it's "For the First Time" who has the edge.

"Baka dini-discredit lang 'yung tandem nina Richard at KC kasi their next movie is with the rival network na," our source adds. "Actually, dalawa na ang hits ni Richard this year kasi 'yung 'My Best Friend's Girlfriend' niya with Marian Rivera, sobra rin ang lakas noon. "

At any rate, one incontrovertible fact is that Richard is also a toprater on TV, with his "Codename: Asero" consistent in its high ratings every night. This week, Richard as Grecko/Asero weds Heart Evangelista as Emily. Emily finally believes that she's with Grecko when he kisses her and she feels that it's really the man she loves who is with her, not some stranger. Grecko shares that he's an undercover agent. Emily is later attacked by some hoodlums but Grecko comes to her rescue. He later figures in an action-filled fight scene with his rival, Dave (Paolo Contis), and with the villainous Vladimir (Elvis Gutierrez).

Grecko's sister (Ysa Villar) reprimands their dad, Ibsen (Richard Gomez), for being such a womanizer, the reason why their mom, Gelyn (Joanne Quintas), tried to kill herself. Ibsen asks for Gelyn's forgiveness and she gives him another chance. Ibsen tries to end his relationship with his paramour, Sandy or Lady Q (Carmina Villaroel). But when they see each other again in a restaurant, they have a secret tryst inside the rest room. When Gelyn sees Sandy there, she walks out on Ibsen.

JC NEXT TO RICHARD

NO doubt that for Annabelle Rama, the number one young actor today is no one else but her own son, Richard Gutierrez. And after Richard, she believes the one who's next in line is her other ward, JC de Vera.

"Talagang si JC na ang susunod kasi very talented siya," she declares. "Unang-una, he's young, only 21. Tapos, bukod sa pagiging bata at sariwa, he dances well, nakakakanta, malakas ang appeal sa girls, maganda ang katawan dahil lagi ko yang pinagwo-workout at higit sa lahat, napakagaling umarte. "

How about the competition? "Huwag na lang tayo magbanggit ng ibang names. Basta si JC, hindi pagtitiwalaan 'yan ng GMA-7 na bigyan ng four episodes sa 'Obra' kung wala silang tiwala sa kakayahan niya. He'll play four different characters at ang isa dun, macho dancer siya kaya tiyak lalong darami ang fans niya. "

We thought JC doesn't want to go sexy, but how come he agreed to play a macho dancer?

"May approval naman ni Tita Annabelle as my manager," he says. "Also, I read the script at ang ganda ng story and the role assigned to me. For the actual taping, may totoong macho dancers sa set at ginaya ko lang 'yung pagsasayaw nila. Nakaka-nerbiyos, but I gave it my best para hindi na mag-retake. Okay lang naman sa'kin ang daring roles, basta hindi malaswa o baboy ang pagkakagawa. "

What can he say about his manager's pronouncement that he's next in line to Richard? "I don't want to be compared or to compete with anyone. Richard inspires me. Ilang beses ko na siyang nakasama sa movies, last sa 'My Best Friend's Girlfriend,' and I really admire his drive and dedication sa trabaho niya. May mga nagko-compare sa'kin kina Dennis Trillo and Dingdong Dantes, but I don't think there's a need for that. Kino-compare pati 'yung macho dancing scene ko with that of Dennis in 'Magdusa Ka. ' Sana, huwag na lang. Unang-una, mas may na-achieve na sila kaysa sa'kin. Huwag na lang kaming pagsabungin sa isa't isa kasi pare-pareho naman kaming Kapuso. "

ALEX PLAYS LEAD AT ABS

Alessandra de Rossi can currently be seen on both ABS-CBN and TV-5. She plays a supporting role in "Betty La Fea" as John Lloyd Cruz' former girlfriend, but she plays the lead role in TV-5's "Love Books" feature for the month of September, "NBSB: No Boyfriend Since Birth".

"Well, at last, nakapagbida uli ako," she says. "I play Rudie, a junior marketing executive who's smart, pretty, witty, but never pang nagka-BF. All my friends tell me I look great and I'm also smart, so I really can't understand why boys seem to be interested in me only as a good friend but not as a girlfriend. Dahil dito, naging more determined ako to find Mr. Right. "

"Love Books" are TV adaptations of Summit Media best-selling chick lit novels. The first offering was "Have Baby Will Date" which starred Valerie Concepcion and it got positive feedback. The second novel to be adapted, "NBSB", is written by Claire Betita Samson and it's something a lot of loveless girls can identify with. Will Alex de Rossi eventually succeed in finding her one true love? Find out in "Love Books" this month. Joining her in the cast are Jomari Yllana, Joross Gamboa, FHM cover girl Precious Adona and PBB's Bruce Quebral. It's aired Tuesdays at 7 p. m. , with replays on Catch Up TV on Sundays at 12 noon.

NOT GOING HOME EMPTY-HANDED

Kris Aquino is all smiles these days. And why not? Since "Kapamilya Deal or No Deal" returned on the air in late July, it's been consistently rating very high, making it a bigger hit than her previous game show "Wheel of Fortune. " Even people in high society are watching it, so it's no surprise that society columnists like Johnny Litton and Maurice Arcache agreed to guest in the show this week and try their luck against Mr. Banker together. Another special guest is Pinoy Dream Academy headmaster, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab. They will all try to make the deal of a lifetime as they match wit with Mr. Banker. Will Lady Luck smile on all of them or will she frown with an arched eyebrow at that? Johnny and Maurice's episode have just been shown and they nearly won P2 million. Ryan Cayabyab, more fondly known as Mr. C, is optimistic that he won't come home empty handed after joining the show. His episode will be shown tomorrow.

The show has attracted a lot of famous personalities since it returned on air. Among those who've already played are Gabby Concepcion, Joseph Estrada, Billy Joe Crawford, Dingdong & Jessa Avanzado, Cornelia "Angge" Lee and Ben Chan. But so far, no one has won to become a millionaire. So who'll be the first millionaire of "Kapamilya Deal or No Deal" in its third season? Find out in "KDOND" before TV Patrol World">TV Patrol World.

RIGHTEOUS KILL: AMAZING, MARVELOUS PORTRAYALS

GENERALLY considered as two of the best actors in Hollywood, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, both Oscar winners, have appeared in two films before. They had one major scene together in "Heat" but they didn't get to meet at all in "Godfather II" as they belong to two different time frames. They're now together again in a mystery-crime drama, "The Righteous Kill," playing two seasoned and highly decorated New York City police detectives hot on the trail of a vigilante serial killer (that reminds us of TV's lovable serial killer of criminals, "Dexter"). This time, they share a lot of screen time together.

Their target is a murderer whose victims are all suspected criminals who managed to dodge the judicial system. Their corpses are usually accompanied by a poem with four lines that aims to justify the murderous act. What the police cannot accomplish on their own in ridding the city of these bad elements, the killer now wants to do on his own personal mission.

De Niro plays Det. David Fisk or Turk while Pacino is Det. Thomas Cowan, also called Rooster. They are assigned to investigate the case of a notorious pimp who became one of the serial killer's latest victims. They've both been serving the police force for 30 years and they can very well retire, but this could also very well be their most sensational case so far. They're called in because the new case seems to have a tenuous connection with an old one that they thought they have solved several years ago.

The two ace detectives gather clues on their own and also with the assistance of a drug pusher. The similarities between the recent killings and their earlier case raises a disturbing question: could it be possible that they put the wrong man behind bars? Soon, they also realize that all the pieces of evidence they've gathered point to their own department and the killer can just very well be another cop.

Directed by Jon Avnet ("Red Corner", "Fried Green Tomatoes") and written by Russell Gewirtz ("Inside Man"), "Righteous Kill" is an intricately plotted mystery that will keep viewers guessing until the end. It does have a few moments that drag but, all in all, it's a deft thriller where all the various elements come together in the end. There's a major twist in the narrative that you can detect if you're perceptive enough (especially when you consider that there are a number of flashback scenes that can be quite repetitive), but you could also easily overlook it because of the good acting of the major performers. Both De Niro and Pacino give amazing, marvelous portrayals that do not disappoint. They're ably supported by John Leguizamo as an NYPD cop who are at odds with them, Brian Dennehy as their captain, Dan Futterman and Trilby Glover as lawyers. It also features hiphop superstar 50 Cent as a shady character named Spider.

Source: People's Journal