Opening Today

Etiquette for Mistresses

Directed by Chito Roño; stars Claudine Barretto, Kris Aquino, Iza Calzado, Kim Chiu, Cheena Crab

Five women share a secret; they are involved with a married lover. The film is based on the book written by journalist Jullie Yap-Daza. Calzado, who plays a TV host, found her role a departure. “I needed to be strong-willed, not the usual sweet and meek martyr I usually portray.” She also had to do research on some legal terms, she recalls.

The Martian
Directed by Ridley Scott; stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels

Left behind on Mars, an astronaut relies on his ingenuity to survive in a hostile environment. IndieWire’s Eric Kohn calls it a “brainy studio effort that sticks to familiar ground.” Screen
International’s John Hazelton agrees: “Storytelling techniques work well enough to keep the film engaging … breezy and relatively light.”

Papa Francisco
Directed by Beda Docampo Feijoo; stars Dario Grandinetti, Silvia Abascal, Blanca Jara

Biopic recounts the life of Pope Francis, traveling from Argentina to Italy. Associated Press’ Vicente Panetta reports: It “explores key elements… from his ministry to the impoverished… to his fight against poverty, prostitution and drug trafficking.” Inquirer.net relates that it is based on the book by journalist Elisabetta Piqué.

L. DK
Directed by Taisuke Kawamura; stars Ayame Gouriki, Kento Yamasaki, Anna Ishibashi

After a sprinkler mishap, popular cutie moves into the pad of lonely girl. Dramajiang blog remarks: “They probably tried to put everything that is in the manga in a two-hour film, but still it wasn’t enough… 7 out of 10.” Geeknama points out: “Just watch it for its truckload of cuteness and sugar-coated romance.” Exclusively in SM cinemas

SPL 2: A Time for Consequence
Directed by Pou Soi-Cheang; stars Tony Jaa, Wu Jing, Simon Yam, Louis Koo

To bring down a notorious gangster, a cop goes undercover as a junkie and lands in a Thai prison. JoBlo’s Movie Emporium’s Chris Bumbray describes it as “goofy, but so much fun… tons of awesome, bone-crunching action.” The Hollywood Reporter’s Elizabeth Kerr sums it up as a “pan-Asian romp… a tight, entertaining flick.”

Straight Outta Compton
Directed by F. Gary Gray; stars O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Paul Giamatti, Jason Mitchell

Escaping from a dangerous neighborhood, youngsters revolutionize music and pop culture. New York Times’ Manohla Dargis says, “It’s a story driven by classic tensions: struggle and triumph, division and conquest.” Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers thinks it’s “an amazement, an electrifying piece of hip-hop history.” Exclusively in Ayala cinemas.

Z for Zacariah
Directed by Craig Zobel; stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Pine, Margot Robbie, Colin Bragg

After a nuclear holocaust, scientist stumbles on the last woman on earth, but another man enters frame. Film Journal International’s Michael Sauter hails it as a “thoughtful and thought-provoking-take on life after Armageddon.” Los Angeles Times’ Michael Rechtshaffen differs: “An intriguing set-up yields a … ponderous payoff.”