Movie Review: In Your Eyes

The stars of 'In Your Eyes' - Claudine Barretto, Richard Gutierrez, and Anne Curtis. Photo part of press kit.

Since I missed the premiere night showing of In Your Eyes because I was doing something important for our beloved country, I tried to catch the movie on its opening day. Fortunately, Professor Jay Batongbacal, who just had given us our midterms, did not hold classes that day. I was not actually sure why he will not be holding classes for the remainder of August but I think this has something to do with his pending Doctoral in Law. I am only guessing though.

Anyway, it’s quite refreshing to see Claudine Barretto on the big screen. It had been almost half-a-decade since Claudine Barretto last appeared on a movie. Many were actually excited for the movie, not only because this would literally be Claudine’s comeback movie, but due to the film’s interesting, bordering grotesque, plot.

For some, the movie might seem avant-garde, for others, a desperate attempt to be controversial. It had been a long time since I last posted a movie review. In Your Eyes has some good material which could serve as a wonderful headstart fora series of movie reviews to come.

Claudine plays a physical therapist working in the United States. She has a little sister named Julia, played by Anne Curtis. Since their mother died due to complications to childbirth, Ciara took care of her only sister Julia. When Ciara went to the United States to work, she asked her sister to follow suit. Armed with a student visa, Julia went to the United States to be reunited with her sister Ciara. She tagged along her boyfriend Storm, played by Richard Gutierrez, who only has a tourist visa.

Storm got frustrated with the discrimination he receives when he tried to work underground. This led him to contemplate of coming back to the Philippines. The only solution Julia thought of was to have his boyfriend Storm marry her sister Ciara for a green card having in mind that the two will eventually divorce.

To cut the long story short, Ciara and Storm had sex, fell in love with each other, obviously, behind Julia’s back. Tension and conflict in the plot of In Your Eyes began when Julia found out of the pseudo-incestuous relationship between his boyfriend and her sister.

I felt that the plot itself was not able to support the controversy it tried to present the viewers. On the part where the conflict was supposed to be resolved, I felt that there was something lacking in between the conflict and the resolution parts. If there is any consolation, that would be he superb acting offered by the three main characters. Although I must admit that there were few times where the lines made by Richard Gutierrez seemed to be awkward, nonetheless satisfactory. Overall though, this is a great improvement from his previous acting roles.

Claudine was strong in her element. She proved once more that despite her uber long hiatus from TV and movie, she still can act, and superbly at that. Seeing Claudine Barretto act in this movie is enough for the movie ticket price.

Anne Curtis, for her share, did not disappoint. Although she was not able to outshine Claudine with her dramatic acting prowess, her acting in lighter scenes compensates. Indeed, Anne was spontaneous, out of the box, free-spirited, and to cap it all, exciting.

If one is looking for a light drama, the movie In Your Eyes is quite commendable.

Follow Pinoy Gossip Boy on Twitter and stay connected on Facebook for quicker updates!