Zoolander: Revenge of the plain Joes

I don’t know how male models would react to the film Zoolander. In this movie, male mannequins are depicted as stupid, brainless, vain and self-centered – to the delight mostly of the rest of us who were not blessed with the models’ enviable height, body and fine cheekbones. This is the revenge of the plain Joes!

In this comedy, Ben Stiller (who also directs the film) plays Derek Zoolander, the world’s top male model whose career is on the decline after losing in the fashion awards which he dominated for three years. After announcing his retirement, he gets the surprise of his life when a fashion guru who has never bothered to hire him even when he was at the peak of his career suddenly offers him work. Little does he know that this is just the handiwork of underworld characters who want to use his empty brain and program him to assassinate the Malaysian Prime Minister. (There is a part in the movie where the Philippines is mentioned – with negative connotation, as expected.)

Zoolander is peppered with a lot of comical situations guaranteed to bring the house down. Why, even the funeral scene in the early part of the movie is funny.

Of course, there is a part in the film (the climax) where the exposition is presented like a Tagalog movie. But that’s just one portion of the movie. The rest of the film is enjoyably light.

Watching Zoolander will surely leave you with a smile on your face after the movie is over. Only those in the modeling profession will leave the theater frowning.

Lea in new musical

A full decade after she scored a grandslam (Drama Desk, Laurence Olivier, Tony Awards, etc.) as Best Actress for playing Kim in Miss Saigon, I am still overwhelmed by the fact that Lea Salonga – a true-blue Filipina – has achieved such a monumental feat.

Of course, as in any awards race, it helps a lot if luck is on your side. Lea was surely lucky that year. Luck, however, wasn’t the only factor that brought in those string of awards for her. There was talent (with a capital T) – and discipline (with a really BIG capital D).

In fact, I continue to appreciate every Lea Salonga performance because I know that it is the combined result of talent, discipline and hard work.

It’s just a pity that we now rarely see her in the local entertainment scene – busy as she is with work in the US. (She’s humble enough to admit, however, that she has to audition for each one of those parts in spite of her Miss Saigon achievement).

Fortunately, she still finds time to visit and to give occasional performances in Manila. Still ongoing at the GSIS Theater (off Roxas Blvd.) until the 27th of January is the local production of David Auburn’s Proof where Lea portrays the part of Catherine, a 25-year-old woman unsure of her mental health. Proof, however, is a straight play and heavy drama where Lea doesn’t get to dance and sing.

Lea Salonga fans who look forward to hearing her sing actually need not despair. Right after she’s done with Proof, Lea is starring in a musical production called Lea Salonga: The Broadway Concert which will be held at the PICC Plenary Hall on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Joining Lea in this concert are Michael de Mesa, Calvin Millado, Carlo Orosa and the San Miguel Foundation POPS Orchestra. (As the title suggests, Lea and her guest performers will render hit songs from Broadway). Directing the show is Bobby Garcia, who is undeniably one of the finest concert/theater directors in the country today.

Nida’s niece on Startalk

People assigned to find the killers of Nida Blanca may be moving slowly in solving the murder case, but at least, they are moving. I just don’t know if they are conducting their investigation properly.

Not so long ago, the NBI began doing routine questioning on the drivers assigned to the MTRCB office (which has since moved out of Atlanta Center and into another location – in Aurora Blvd. near Katipunan Ave.). Some of the drivers who were called in for questioning complained of how some NBI agents had allegedly been badgering them to admit to the crime. "Aminin mo na!" the NBI men reportedly would tell some of the drivers every time they were questioned individually. Now, I really don’t understand police work. Maybe this is really how they operate and make people confess to crimes. At the same time, however, this could also scare prospective witnesses who would probably just choose to clam up and remain silent because, hey, who wants to be harassed and nagged no end?

And speaking of the Nida Blanca murder case, Startalk on GMA-7 features this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. an interview with one of the slain actress’ nieces – Vangge San Jose – who will talk about how the family feels about the investigation and their relationship (especially that of Kay Torres) with Rod Strunk. Do they think that Rod Strunk is a suspect? Why does Elena keep failing the polygraph test? Ms. San Jose will answer all that in this afternoon’s edition of Startalk.