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| Tisoy! It's a laugh a minute, once the viewer gets the hang of Ishmael Bernal's unique brand of tongue-in-cheek humor. Nothing is sacred in Tisoy! (NV Productions). The film shows Bernal at his best, witty, irreverent, satiric and light. The references to film art itself are hilarious. One scene for instance, has Christopher de Leon flirting with Corazon de la Cruz, Nora Aunor's character in Minsa'y Isang-Gamu-Gamo (1976). Another scene has De Leon telling Jay Ilagan how horseback riding is the director's (Bernal, who else?) frustration. The film spoofs are not limited to such alienation effects. Every now and then, Bernal uses a shot or a sequence taken straight out of Filipino movie clichés. One sequence has Moody Diaz with a bunch of extras dancing around the streets of Manila spoofing old musicals where a well-choreographed number hide Diaz's lack of talent. In other words, bad dancing is shown for comic effect. There are some delightful gems that belongs in the Filipino Comedy Hall of Fame. Marianne de la Riva, caught in Manila's traffic jams, for instance, holds a plant that keeps growing like Jack's magic beanstalk. The scene with Bert "Tawa" Marcelo delivering a speech to his townsfolk is a classic. All of these personalities and situations are beautifully orchestrated by Ishmael Bernal's impeccable comic timing. He never lingers too long on a joke and studiously avoids overdoses. Indeed, Tisoy! is all gags, visual puns, pop art, cheap gimmickry, faulty pronunciation, cuteness and sudden revelation. Releasing itself from the manacles of rationality, the film chooses to follow the easy logic of its free-wheeling farce. There is hardly any element in Tisoy! which can be faulted for lack of imagination. The film resorts to slapstick, possibly the most brainless of theatrical devices, to restore life in a dead genre. The harmless shenanigans are expertly positioned against a backdrop of more pressing concerns. The effect is almost subliminal communication, an expression that turns the movie from a game of reckless patawa into social satire. To pull off this masquerade, the scriptwriter has created some provocative comic characters. Tisoy's bohemian balikbayan is physically embodied by Christopher de Leon's physique and charisma. He even has to move in the familiar Bernal way, a kind of a half-dance, half-trance. Jay Ilagan adds a lot of color to his role as Boy Biglang Yaman. Street sweeper Aling Otik is irreverently incarnated by Moody Diaz. Bert "Tawa" Marcelo is at his most delightful in the role of Tikyo. He plays the part with just the right amount of gusto. Even Charo Santos, not noted for comedy is funny as Maribubut. All the cinematic elements are so well integrated that one doesn't talk of one without the other. True, there are a few lapses, but what's a few unfunny moments in a film which has you laughing your heart out? Tisoy! is meant for intelligent viewers, those who can distinguish between ridicule and respect, satire and farce and fact and fiction. Directed By: Ishmael Bernal Screenplay: Severino Marcelo Cinematography: Arnold Alvaro Music By: Vanishing Tribe Film Editor: Augusto Salvador Art Director: Pis Boado Produced By: NV Productions |
8:42 AM
Excellent review. I love Tisoy! It reminds me of Godard's but more accessible & fun!
9:45 AM
Bernal was great with satire. It's something that even Brocka wasn't able to achieve.
Tisoy! was first made into a sitcom in 1968 from which the first movie released the following year was based on. Bernal's take on Tisoy! was closer to Nonoy Marcelo's original comic strip...
1:51 AM
I didn't know that it was a comic strip and then a sitcom first. I agree, Bernal is good in satire. Even his comedy Working Girls has a satirical edge to it.
2:32 AM
Really? Nonoy Marcelo was a famous cartoonist. His other famous work was Ikabod Bubwit...
Bernal's comedies are mostly satirical. I would say that Tisoy! is Pabling's second cousin.
9:39 AM
I don't know Nonoy Marcelo, he he he.
10:19 AM
Oh my, the laugh factor never falters whenever I catch Tisoy on cable Jojo. Too bad the annoying interruptions and pop-up on tv distracts the enjoyment of every viewers who simply goes along with Bernal's timeless wit of a movie that is Tisoy.
Almost every scene is a riot but the one that really stands out for me was the traffic jam! Sakit ng tiyan ko sa eksenang 'yun.
I missed Bert "Tawa" Marcelo's contagious laugh and foolish grin!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading your review!
7:09 AM
I'm surprised you haven't even heard of Nonoy Marcelo, Ron... He was quite famous most especially after the comic strip Ikabod Bubwit came out.
Nonoy Marcelo was also honored as one of the Centennial Artists by the CCP in 1998. He was the only cartoonist that was given such a recognition.
7:12 AM
It's great that you were able to catch Tisoy! on cable in spite of the annoying pop-ups.
The traffic jam scene was hilarious indeed! It showed Bernal's unique brand of humor. What I loved most in the movie were the references on some of the best Filipino films of the mid 70's such as Nunal Sa Tubig, Romero's Ganito Kami Noon, O'Hara's Tatlong Taon, Mike de Leon's Itim, Lupita's Alkitrang Dugo and Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo.
Bert Marcelo was very entertaining as Tikyo and so was Moody Diaz.
One thing I noticed were the cameo appearances of both Edgar Mortiz and Johnny Delgado who would eventually form Bad Bananas with Christopher and Jay Ilagan...
12:38 AM
Yes, those movie references were itself a treat to those die hard pinoy movie audiences. Those who have seen our own movies being referenced will surely get a kick out of those scenes. Kahit sa patapos na may pahabol pa rin sa airline scenes hehe...The motherload of major stars cameo are also a plus factor.
You know what, I like mostly Moody's roles in movies she's in. I like her particularly in Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising and Kakabakaba Ka Ba? She can easily upstaged big stars with her effortless comic and dramatic roles.
I think Tisoy is one of those movies viewers have to watch not only once to catch the gags, references and yes stars who easily disappear in the blink of an eye. I like naman Hilda's 'maarte' appearance hehe....
10:18 AM
Of course only Pinoy film fanatics can truly appreciate the movie references. The guest appearances in Tisoy! was integral to the plot such as the kids from Alkitrang Dugo showing up at the beach since in the movie itself they were in an island near the beach...
Moody Diaz never ceases to amaze in most of the roles she played in Mike de Leon's movies. She was also regularly seen in many Viva produced melodramas playing a housemaid or mayordoma same with Metring David...
Some of the jokes in Tisoy! maybe dated but that doesn't lessen its impact. There were issues raised in the film that are still relevant today,
3:00 AM
Mabuti na lang at napanood ko ang mga pelikulang binigyan reference ng Tisoy at nakarelate ako, Malaking bagay din ang pagiging mababaw minsan kahit dated o 'corny' ang pelikulang komedya o satirical, nakakatawa pa rin.
Moody and Metring, maybe not big stars but very effective actresses!
8:49 PM
Mabuti na lang at madalas ipalabas sa cable ang mga ini-spoof ng Tisoy! Kung tulad ng iba na matagal nang hindi napapanood, medyo mahirap maka-relate sa mga film references sa ginamit ng pelikula.
Moody and Metring maybe two of the most visible character actresses during the 70's and 80's but there were also others who played the same roles in their movies. The likes of Esther Chavez, Flora Gasser and Lorli Villanueva comes to mind...
11:59 AM
Yes, they were very visible too during that time despite not headlining films they were appearing. I remember Lorli's role in Oro Plata Mata and Totoo Ba Ang Tsismis? the most while Esther Chavez's role in Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap stick to mind.
While having some pinoy movie marathon, I also noticed Lily Miraflor's countless roles in Regal during the early '80s.
Going back to Tisoy! This is one movie I won't get tired of watching over and over again.
12:46 PM
Tisoy! is a fun movie from beginning to end, thanks largely to Bernal's unique sense of humor. Tisoy! is unlike most comedies, some of the jokes are timeless. It also helps that Bernal was greatly served by his cast who didn't care if they looked silly and out of control.
Esther Chavez was funny as Johnny Wilson's over protective mother in Sa Totoo Lang!
11:59 AM
You said the magic word Jojo, acclaimed actors who doesn't care a bit even if they looked silly. In short, they were all games playing their roles.
Haha, yes Esther Chavez's role in Sa Totoo Lang. Imagine kahit kinasal na haha...
12:17 PM
Making themselves look silly is something not most actors are willing to do when it comes to delivering honest-to goodness comic performances. Many would succumb instead to toilet humor. The brilliance of the acting ensemble in Tisoy! was the fact that they trusted their director and the end result was something truly memorable...
11:27 AM
Amen to that!
12:49 PM
Thanks a lot Dennis!