Graceland

“Graceland,” as called and was the title of the indie film (copy shown at University of Perpetual Help Las Pinas courtesy of Gawad Tanglaw's Dr. Jaime Ang) that had for its cast in the lead role Arnold Reyes, was a stark opposite of its name. It was dark and tragic and there was always that foreboding sense of danger one scene after another scene. The scriptwriter and the director of the film have successfully produced this effect.

The plot was wicked … the guy who hatched everything was … real scoundrel that the viewer will hold on to the film from beginning to  end. It opened up with that highway patrol scene … turned out the cop was fake, held up Reyes, who was a taxi driver, killed the congressman’s daughter in the process, and kidnapped his own daughter. Voila … you have an interwoven plot between murder, kidnapping, pedophilia, and revenge, all set against a backdrop of poverty.  The flesh trade and the stink created by the houses by the esteros were very palpable.

Reyes is no doubt one of the finest actors that will go down in the history of Philippine cinema; ditto with its scriptwriter and director Ron Morales. It was a Brocka-film-came-alive. Only, the rough sound in the background was annoying; and Reyes’ stunning stupidity, which was understandable of course, as he had to save his daughter.

Graceland will leave everybody breathless.  In theaters on April 26.