Isang Bala, Isang Buhay

Isang Bala, Isang Buhay (lit.'One Bullet, One Life') is a 1989 Filipino action film co-written and directed by Jose N. Carreon. The film stars Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Tony Ferrer, Dawn Zulueta, Suzanne Gonzales, Rosemarie Gil, Paquito Diaz, Ruben Rustia, Subas Herrero, Dencio Padilla, and Ilonnah Jean. Produced by Viva Films, the film was released on November 2, 1989.

Isang Bala, Isang Buhay
Directed byJose N. Carreon
Written by
Produced byJesse Ejercito
Starring
CinematographyEly Cruz
Edited byEdgardo Vinarao
Music byJaime Fabregas
Production
company
Distributed byViva Films
Release date
  • November 2, 1989 (1989-11-02)
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Critic Justino Dormiendo of the National Midweek gave the film a negative review, criticizing its cliché plot that fictionalizes the real story it is based on.

Cast

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Production

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Isang Bala, Isang Buhay is actress Ilonah Jean's first film for Viva Films.[2]

Release

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Isang Bala, Isang Buhay was released in theaters on November 2, 1989.[3][4]

Critical response

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Justino Dormiendo, writing for the National Midweek, gave the film a negative review. He criticized the film's tired plot of "gold-hearted goons forced to embrace a life of crime and mayhem" which fictionalizes the true story from which it is based, and noted that Daniel's principle of using only one bullet for every opponent makes the film absurd "as soon as Revilla guns down his second victim." He also considered the actor's performances to be "barely passable." Overall, Dormiendo expressed disappointment in the film due to director Carreon previously demonstrating his filmmaking skills through his "brilliantly-scripted" Broken Marriage (1983) and "impressive directorial debut" Sandakot Na Bala (1988).[5]

References

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  1. ^ "After Robin, now Bong". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. November 4, 1989. p. 27. Retrieved July 9, 2021. Dawn is Dolores...
  2. ^ Lam, Lulubelle (November 5, 1989). "Edu worried about Lucky". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. p. 17. Retrieved July 9, 2021. Ilonah Jean signed up with Viva Films but until now, she is not yet given any assignments. [sic]
  3. ^ "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. November 2, 1989. p. 16. Retrieved July 9, 2021. AMOR 2........Isang Bala, Isang Buhay
  4. ^ "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. November 1, 1989. p. 27. Retrieved July 9, 2021. AMOR 2..........Jones Bridge Massacre
  5. ^ Dormiendo, Justino (November 29, 1989). "Cold and Lifeless". National Midweek. Lagda Publishing Inc. pp. 28–29. Retrieved July 9, 2021. There is a new kind of violence being inflicted on today's local screen—the reel-life exploits of real-life gangsters and hoodlums. [...] The film's scenarists, Jose Carreon (who also directed) and Jojo Lapus, attempt to refurbish a plot worn-out and puerile with their fictional embellishments...
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