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For years, Vic Sotto has been (rightfully) derided for churning out disposable cinematic trash as his production outfit’s yearly entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival. Enteng Kabisote, once a beloved faux-comic book character, turned into the symbol of everything wrong with the annual movie extravaganza - forgettable films with zero substance. It’s been a while, though, since he’s released an MMFF film (5 years to be exact); is his newest offering more of the “same old, same old”, or is he willing to bring something new to the table?
We here at the Cinegeeks Podcast are happy to report that Mr. Sotto has chosen to present in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival not just one of the best films of said festival, but one of the best films of the year. The Kingdom, directed by Michael Tuviera, and co-written by Tuviera with Michelle Ngu-Nario, is a true Filipino epic about family and responsibility that evokes early season Game of Thrones-levels of world-building, drama, and intrigue that will certainly make audiences want more.
Mr. Sotto stars as Lakan Makisig, the ruler of the Kingdom of Malaya, a fictionalized version of the Philippines if it were never colonized or subjugated by any foreign nation. There are a lot of things on his plate as the story begins: he must decide on his chosen successor, overseeing the wedding of his youngest daughter, as well as quelling a rebellion brewing in the northern part of the kingdom. On the other hand we have Sulo (played with steely determination by Piolo Pascual), a member of the Banished (a group of individuals living in the Malayan islands but aren’t really consider as citizens) who carries in him a burning anger directed at the Monarchy. Seemingly on a collision course with each other, both Sulo and the Lakan will realize that they are more alike than they think.
Let’s just get it out of the way: Vic Sotto is fucking awesome as the Lakan. We’ve always seen him as a goof, a clown, an actor that can never be taken seriously in anything he puts out. We’ve begged him for years to do something that can flex the dramatic muscles we know he has in him (outside of those god-awful Holy Week specials), and it seemed like those pleas would forever fall upon deaf ears; with The Kingdom, he answers the call and portrays Makisig with a quiet regal resolve, kinda like Ned Stark in Game of Thrones, that belies the pain he feels from the weight of a whole kingdom on his shoulders. Superb stuff from him, and we won’t be surprised if he ends up taking Best Actor at the Gabi ng Parangal. Please Mr. Sotto - more of this. Please.
Ever reliable is actor extraordinaire Piolo Pascual, who once again showcases why he is one of the country’s best. He has had so many great roles both on the big screen and on the telly, and we add his turn as Sulo to that glowing list. Last year, he wowed us in a short but utterly captivating role in Gomburza, and he brings the same A-game from that joint to The Kingdom, sprinkled with some action star chops to boot. He ably holds his own against Sotto, and when the two face in a climactic conversation, it’s just riveting stuff.
The rest of the cast are firing on all cylinders as well - Cristine Reyes as Makisig’s eldest daughter Matimyas mixes a quiet nobility with a cunning that makes her formidable, Sue Ramirez as Lualhati is magnificent as the King’s youngest daughter, and Sid Lucero is always great in everything he does.
In any other Filipino director’s hand, material like this could go either of both ways: too melodramatic, or too “indie”. Michael Tuviera does a bang-up job of directing the hell out of his cast, while maintaining the delicate balancing act of making every element in the film work together. Expect him to not just be in the conversation for Best Director, but also possibly win the whole thing.
For those of you who have written off Mr. Sotto as one who’ll never make a film that doesn’t have slapstick or humor from the lowest common denominator, you’ll be glad to know that The Kingdom redeems him from Movie Jail, and we absolutely cannot wait to see the next installment in this exciting tale.
CINEGEEKS RATING: A+
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