So, kamusta naman ang acting debut ni Rico Blanco? Not so bad. Though, I wouldn't expect him to  be doing any more movies soon. Luckily, all the other actors did a great job that you forget that he's not doing a very good one. But why comment on his acting anyway when there are tons more that goes on in this film?

Nasaan si Francis is a movie based on an Ilonggo play titled "Diin na si Francis" and I must say that that much was obvious. There was really only one setting when you think about it. I'd say that 3/4 of the movie happened in the living room of Francis' house, but it didn't make the film at all boring. Actually, it was a lot of fun.

The characters were all very nicely animated. Even Francis, who dies about 20 minutes into the movie, was pretty well characterized. I mean, because he was a drug addict and usually apathetic, even if you were a doctor, you could really believe that he was still alive and just, ignoring the people around. Though, I guess the story wasn't really all that. I mean, keeping Francis alive wasn't really a very important concern. If he was such a bad guy that even his siblings didn't like him, who would care enough that he was dead? And if he always took too much drugs, who wouldn't believe that he ODed? Still, what made the film interesting was how many situations the characters found themselves in wherein it was still very plausible that they would all believe that he was alive, despite its being obvious to the audience that he was dead, and isn't that the fun in movies anyway?

Compared to Big Time, I'd say there was a lot more going on in Big Time, but that doesn't necessarily make it better. I'd say that I liked them both equally because they were both creative, funny, and well-made. For an experimental independent film, I'd say this one's pretty good with regards to tapping into the non-film-experts audience because it was not so confusing, despite the weird stuff, like, animated scenes, and CSI-like CG (i.e. when Francis was about to die, and the "camera" zoomed inside his body to show his heart rupturing). So I guess I can say that the indie scene is at least a step closer to the mainstream. Perhaps if they keep using famous actors like in this one, but just as a starting point because I think the fact that Big Time had some no-name actors was pretty good because it made the movie look more believable that it could happen to any normal person.

Anyway, it's a lot of fun to watch, because although it's about drugs and violence and all that, there weren't too many scenes that would make you queasy. Though I think it could've done without the whole "dance" by Julia Clarete and Tanya Garcia, but you know, whatever.

I would just like to note too though that, well, yet again, I saw the last full show of this in SM on a Monday night and other than me and my friend there were only 2 people in the cinema. And it was still creepy as ever. Gah, when will I ever learn?!

Okay, 1 movie down, 3 to go!

* Oh, and if anyone finds a better picture for this movie, can they send it to me please? Because that one posted is just, well, you can't really see anything on it, can you?