Blessings rain on Marian

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Marian Rivera turns 25 on August 12 and guess who’s all agog on how she’d celebrate it. Well, it’s Mother Lily Monteverde, as Marian has a new movie with her, the horror film "Tarot," written and directed by Jun Lana who last year gave Regal its blockbuster hit, "Kulam."

"Tarot" is not Marian’s first fright flick with Regal. She also starred in "Pamahiin" three years ago, where she played the role of a ghost who’s in love with Dennis Trillo. Now, she’s paired with Dennis anew in "Tarot," which is due to be shown on August 26 as Mother Lily’s birthday presentation, just like "Kulam" last year. Mother Lily wants to host a special birthday party for Marian this Saturday, August 8, and it will help not only "Tarot" but also Marian’s return on TV via "Darna," which will replace "Zorro" on GMA-7’s primetime slot after "24 Oras" starting August 10.

In "Tarot," Marian plays a simple girl whose life changes drastically when her dying grandma, Gloria Romero, left her a special gift before going to the great beyond. Marian inherits Gloria’s ability to tell the future of people by reading Tarot cards, particularly the gift to predict who will die soon. Because of her warnings, several people were able to evade their impending date with the Grim Reaper. But it turns out Marian has to pay a price because of her warnings. Each time she gets to save the life of someone, a loved one pays dearly for this with his or her own life. It becomes Marian’s task then to save her own family members, including Dennis himself, when their lives are threatened because of her gift.

"It’s very scary," says Mother Lily. "When we watched it,mas nakakatakot pa kaysa ‘Kulam.’ Mas gumaling ang pagdidirek ni Jun Lana. Tiyak na sisigaw ang viewers sa loob ng theaters. And Marian has improved so much as an actress. Ang galing niya! I’m really proud of ‘Tarot.’ Kasama rin dito si Roxanne Guinoo, kaya Kapusoat Kapamilya stars ang magkasama rito."

As for Marian, she’s just so thankful for all the blessings now coming her way. "May bago na kong movie na ‘Tarot,’ may bago pa akong show na ‘Darna,’ so what more can I wish for on my birthday kundi sana, tangkilikin ng viewers ang ‘Tarot’ sa sinehan at ang ‘Darna’ sa TV," she says.

In connection with "Darna," they will hold a "Darna Liit" contest for girls aged 4 to 7 in "Sis" to promote it. The grand prize is P50,000. Marian will also hold a grand fans assembly on August 8 in the afternoon. If you want to join, register at the Kapuso website on www.igma.tv that will also launch the Darna Kiddie Club.

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Richard Gutierrez and Rhian Ramos were the special guests in the Intriga Crossfire portion of "Showbiz Central" last Sunday to help promote the finale week of their hit primetime show, "Zorro." They’ve also been paired before in "Capt. Barbell," "Lupin" and "Kamandag." Was there ever a time they annoyed each other?

"Rhian never annoyed me," says Richard. "She’s always bubbly at di siya nagbago Hindi siya nakakapagod na kasama and I want to thank her for being a part of the journey that is ‘Zorro.’"

"Si Richard, alaskador, ‘yun lang," says Rhian. "I also want to thank him for making me a part of his life and four of his shows."

After working in four shows, nagka-developan ba sila?

"In ‘Capt. Barbell,’ Rhian was just 15 nang makapareha ko. So malayo ang age gap namin. Walang ligawang nangyari. We’re just close friends."

How about Rhian, hindi ba siya nagka-feelings for Richard?

"I will always have feelings for him."

What’s the level of those feelings?

"10."

They both feel sad since it will take a long time before they’re paired anew, since Richard will be doing "Full House" with Heart Evangelista while Rhian is paired with Dingdong Dantes in "Stairway to Heaven." This week is the viewers’ ultimate chance to witness Richard Gutierrez’ supreme and remarkable portrayal of the bold caballero. Ramon (TJ Trinidad) is about to shoot Cara (Bianca King) but Juana (Michelle Rodriguez) arrives and kicks him. The two girls tie him up and take him to the hideout of the Caballeros so that Zorro can kill him. But Zorro takes pity on Ramon and the villain takes the opportunity to stab Cara. The guardia civil come and they capture Zorro in the forest. Gov. Aragon (Eddie Gutierrez) is about to board a ship to take him back to Spain with all the wealth he has stolen from the town of Angeles but Ramon tells him they now have Zorro so he stops his voyage to witness the death sentence on Zorro. The towns people come to rescue Zorro but Gov. Aragon makes them choose who they want save: Zorro or the children of the town who are his prisoners. Zorro volunteers to take the place of the kid in an act of supreme sacrifice.

"Showbiz Central" also paid tribute to President Cory Aquino. We liked their interview with James Yap, husband of Kris Aquino, who said Cory was a very good mother-in-law who accepted him wholeheartedly as a part of their family. She was so thoughtful that she’d text him inspirational messages especially when he had a game to play at the hardcourt. It shows how supportive Cory was not only to her own daughter but also to her son-in-law. James added he’s supposed to leave for a basketball match in China last weekend, but he requested his team that they will just follow him later after the funeral of Cory Aquino.

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We’ve seen a lot of gay-themed films about teen boys and their first loves ("Maximo Oliveros," "Dose")oppressed masseurs ("Masahista," "Heavenly Touch"), etc. but "Little Boy Big Boy" is very different from past gay flicks, even from the previous films of its director, Jay Altarejos, known for such pink films as "Lalaki sa Parola," "Antonio" and "Kambyo."

Comparatively speaking, this is his most "wholesome" film to date. It’s a love story about two yuppies (a graphic artist and a bank employee) who just happen to be both boys. So boy meets boy, boy gets boy, boy loses boy, but there’s a hint of reconciliation in the final frame. Told within their story is the puppy love between a little boy and a little girl that is also charmingly developed.

The central characters are Raymond (Paolo Rivero) and Tim (Douglas Robinson). They meet in a gay orgy hosted by Lex Bonife (also the film’s scriptwriter) and Raymond takes Tim home. It so happens that Raymond’s sister, a single mom, is going to Hong Kong to meet a new boyfriend and leaves him her son, Zach (Renz Valerio). Raymond is very open to Zach about his being gay and the boy accepts it matter of factly, even the sight of his uncle sleeping in bed with Tim.

Zach quickly warms up to Tim, a very caring person who cooks spaghetti for him and teaches him how to play basketball. Since he grew up without a dad, Zach considers Raymond and Tim as his two fathers. He meets a neigHBOr, Jill (Sophia Baars), who invites him to her birthday party. They become friends and Zach later claims Jill to be his girlfriend, to which she agrees.

But like most gay relationships, the one of Raymond and Tim is soon rocked by jealousy. Tim wants an exclusive relationship but Raymond can’t help but flirt with other gays on the net and on his cellphone. Tim says he has lost his trust and decides to leave Raymond. Meantime, Zach’s mom returns and it’s also time for him to leave Jill. Raymond is left alone once again in his apartment. He asks forgiveness from Tim through the internet and it seems like Tim has a favorable response.

The movie is different from most gay flicks as it changes the usual portrayal of gays on screen as swishy faggots. The gay men here are both straight acting, the kind who are buff and called macho gays. Paolo Rivero is the busiest actor today in gay flicks. His performance here is better than in any of his past ones like "Daybreak" and "Heavenly Touch" (where he’s an out and out gay). He’s complimented by Douglas Robinson as the more sensitive Tim with his very expressive pair of eyes, even if his Visayan accent often gets on the way of his delivering a more effective portrayal. Gay viewers won’t be disappointed as they’re featured in two hot love scenes.

But the most splendid performance actually comes from Renz Valerio as the little boy who really looks so pure and innocent, a primary requirement of the role that he superbly fulfills, despite the fact that he has a slutty mom who flirts from one boyfriend to another. He’s a natural in all his scenes. Sophia Baars, Ruffa Gutierrez’ precocious daughter in "Desperadas 1 and 2," also does well as Jill.

"Little Boy, Big Boy" opens in Robinsons Galleria, Ermita, Bacolod, Iloilo and Cinema Cebu this August 5..

Source: Malaya

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