Movie Review: ‘Mina-Anud’ plus my exclusive photos taken at its celebrity screening

Dennis Trillo and Jerald Napoles. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

Not a dull moment in ‘Mina-Anud’.

For a movie that runs around two hours everything goes by so fast that before you know it, it is over. There are several reasons in ‘Mina-Anud’ that will rivet the moviegoers’ full and fixed attention solidly to the big screen and these factors are the following: fluidity in the storytelling, driven characterization, very funny sequences, bits of action, beautiful scenery, masterful editing, mesmerizing cinematography, perfect music, balanced dramatic moments, nail-biting scenes. This movie is an original.

Director Kerwin Go and Assistant Director Relyn Tan. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

Have a blast seeing veteran and multi-awarded actor like Dennis Trillo like you have never seen him before. Have a barrel of laughs with actor-comedian Jerald Napoles, and not only that – you will understand why his role in ‘Mina-Anud’ was such a pivotal one. See Matteo Guidicelli in a role that he has never ever played before in movies and television; yet, he pulls off a truly convincing and praiseworthy performance here.

Mara Lopez and Alvin Anson. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

The three mentioned main stars above are backed-up by a strong supporting cast in the likes of Mara Lopez, Dionne Monsanto, Lou Veloso, and Alvin Anson, to name a few.

I salute Kerwin Go on his driven and purposeful personal mission – against all odds – to not only direct but also to write the script for ‘Mina-Anud’ given that it deals with a very sensitive and highly inflammatory subject matter–the drug epidemic that continually besets this country. But this movie revolves specifically around a high-class drug called cocaine… A dangerous and highly addictive drug that wreaked havoc on the inhabitants of a small island town called Mina-Anud in Eastern Samar, when dozens upon dozens of cocaine bricks were washed ashore and the hapless and unaware inhabitants there had no clue or inkling as to what exactly they had accidentally discovered.

Director Jose Javier Reyes. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

This is where all the adventure begins for the main onscreen characters in ‘Mina-Anud’ and it will take you, the moviegoer, on a wild ride that is full of surprises, fun, and scenes that will make you stop and think.

‘Mina-Anud’ with its plotline did not leave any stone unturned; it did not have any plot holes. Clearly, this movie did not feel disjointed or incomplete in any way. ‘Mina-Anud’ is one cohesive, fluid, and forward marching movie that achieves all its goals from beginning to end.

For all people who wish to become a director one day, for all who wish to make a great screenplay one day, and for all who wish to one day take part as an actor in a masterpiece of a movie such as ‘Mina-Anud’, take mental notes and absorb everything you will see in this movie. ‘Mina-Anud’ will educate you in all categories as to what makes a movie feel complete and what quite possibly will be one of the greatest local movies to come out in the last decade.

Dennis Trillo, Jerald Napoles, and Kim Molina. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

You do not have to be a movie critic or a film buff to appreciate this movie and understand why ‘Mina-Anud’ has begun to earn critical praise and admiration and respect from everyone who have been lucky enough to watch it. The movie will speak to you no matter who you are and where you come from because it will surpass all your expectations and will inadvertently help you to develop a deeper sense of love for our film industry.

Let us rightfully give credit where credit is due. ‘Mina-Anud’ has become a masterpiece primarily because of Kerwin Go who I have said, and I will remind all that I was the very first one to say it, that Kerwin Go is “The Quentin Tarantino of the Philippines”. Interestingly enough, others now are saying the same thing about Kerwin Go and describing him as such. That is truly a sign that Kerwin Go is a visionary and a skillful director and is more than capable of creating a masterpiece movie when given the opportunity to do so. Truly, Kerwin Go is the next great director!

Mother Lily Monteverde, Matteo Guidicelli, and Col. Ariel O. Querubin. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

For moviegoers who want a price of an admission ticket that is worth every single peso of it, ‘Mina-Anud’ is the movie to watch when it begins its nationwide release in cinemas on August 21, 2019.

My score for ‘Mina-Anud’ – 10/10