Movie Review: No Other Woman
October 6, 2011 | 12:00am
After exactly one week from its first showing day, I was finally able to watch “No Other Woman.” I totally had no idea what “No Other Woman” was about (until the trailers were shown) since I did not receive any media release about the movie. “No Other Woman” is a co-production between Star Cinema and Viva Films, I was later informed. For some reason, I stopped receiving press invites from Star Cinema.
Anyway, I had to watch this movie for two reasons: first, the movie was rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, which only means that the movie is good, period; and second, because Cristine Reyes is in the movie.
In a nutshell, Reyes and Derek Ramsay are married. Ramsay is a furniture supplier in the resort owned by Anne Curtis. Curtis and Ramsay developed an illicit relationship. Sooner than later, Reyes learned about the “affair” (it was neither adultery nor concubinage), and that is where the story started to pick up.
If I were not mistaken, this movie was promoted as the “hottest movie of the season” perhaps due to the sexy scenes in the movie. But in my opinion, even if the movie was deprived of skimpy-clad leading ladies and half-naked leading man, the film will still remain a blockbuster.
I just got a word from Veronique Del Rosario-Corpuz herself that the movie had already earned P130 million since it opened in the box office. Though jointly produced with Viva, “No Other Woman” is a breath of fresh air for Star Cinema from the dismal ticket sales of “Forever and a Day,” unfelt box office results of “The Adventures of Pureza,” and the less-than-impressive box office returns of “Way Back Home.”
So, what made “No Other Woman” a multi-million peso success? I say, ordinary story, exceptional performances.
It is with no contention that the plot of “No Other Woman” is a commonplace in the Philippine film industry. I believe a similar plot was used in another Star Cinema-produced film, “Love Story.” But what made the common story stand out is the perfect blend of brilliant casting, outstanding film direction, and yes, excellent musical scoring.
The acting was nothing short of superb. Curtis flawlessly portrayed the role of the other woman, a slut who in my opinion is the best slut in town, reminiscent of her role as Celine Magsaysay in “Maging Sino Ka Man.” Reyes faultlessly portrayed the role of a good wife, and she was truly in her element.
There was a contrast in the acting styles of the two female leads – Curtis’ was natural, or in the words of Eugene Domingo, “as is, where is,” while Reyes’ was soulful, which made me remember why she was critically acclaimed at the Seoul International Drama Awards in South Korea for her portrayal of the title role in “Eva Fonda.”
Ramsay, on the other hand, was the perfect casting for the role of the husband. He had the depth in acting of a Christopher de Leon, the handsome face of a Piolo Pascual, and the masculinity of any other actor.
For a multi-million peso blockbuster, “No Other Woman” was a deviation from the romanticized film elements present in the likes of Star Cinema-Viva co-prod “You Changed My Life,” which by the way holds the record for the highest box office gross receipts. For the first time in recent years, Star Cinema and Viva sold “reality” to its viewers, absent of the cheesy kilig factor. To quote a veteran showbiz writer I was able to talk to recently, “No Other Woman” was ‘absent of any pretensions.’ And true enough, the movie showed us the realities of life, naked of any cinematic gimmickry.
RATING: Five (5) STARS out of five (5) possible STARS.
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