Presented as a political thriller, nagsimula ang kuwento sa activist journalist of the Philippine Sentinel na si Henry Rosales (Luis Alandy) who has written a series of articles on the tyrannical Gov. Muntazir Ghazi (Tirso Cruz III) of the fictitious Mindanao province of Abdul Rabb. Guest siya sa TV show ni Cheche Lazaro (playing herself) kasama ang isang pro-establishment writer, si Ross Rivera (TJ Trinidad), a paid apologist and defender of the government.
Ka-live in ni Henry ang TV newscaster na si Greta Manarang (Lovi Poe), pero bihira silang magkita dahil pareho silang busy. Henry is abducted by armed men at nang muling makita ay isa nang duguang bangkay. Buntis na pala si Greta at nakunan siya dahil dito. Tinulungan siya ni Ross ngunit galit siya rito dahil alam niyang magkaiba sila ng mga pananaw sa buhay.
Henry wrote his articles with the help of two local journalists, Azad Sinan (Allen Dizon) and Claire Pasilan (Ina Feleo) of the Mindanao Weekly Herald. Inutusan ni Gov. Ghazi ang mga tauhan niyang patayin din ang mga ito ngunit nagawa ng mga itong makatakas at nagtago sa tulong ng editor nilang si James (Jim Pebanco.) On her own, hinanap ni Greta ang katarungan para kay Henry at naging katuwang niya rito si Ross na ang mga mata ay nabuksan sa katotohanan at iwinaksi ang assignment na binibigay sa kanya ng editor niya para ipagtanggol na naman ang gobierno. Natunton nila ang kinaroroonan nina Azad at Claire at tinulungan nila ito upang isambulat ang kanilang nalalaman sa isang press conference. Ngunit naroon pala ang mga tauhan ng gobernador at naglagay ng bomba na humantong sa isang malagim na trahedya.
It’s easy to easy to see na ang movie ay inspired by true to life events na nangyari sa Maguindanao massacre where 57 people were killed by the reigning warlords there. Pero siempre, binago na ang maraming insidente sa movie at alam mong fiction lang ito dahil ang imbing gobernador dito ay agad napatay, unlike in real life where the case is dragging on and on even after a year since the November, 2009 killings.
Walang alinlangang nagtagumpay sina Lamangan at Ilagan in coming up with an effective thriller, lalo na sa mga tagpong hinahabol sina Greta, Ross, Azad at Claire ng mga masasamang-loob na talagang nakakatensiyon. To make the film more realistic, they use the actual dialect in Mindanao na ginagamit ng mga tagaroon. Bukod kay Cheche Lazaro, gumanap rin dito as himself si Ted Failon bilang tagapagbalita ng mga insidenteng nagaganap sa movie. There is only one word to describe the movie: fearless. In one scene, talagang ipinahayag na ang pumipigil sa investigation sa pagpatay kay Henry ay si FG mismo ng Malacanang. Ipinakitang maging ang police officials ay kayang-kayang bayaran at ang mga armas na binebenta sa warlords ay galing mismo sa Department of National Defense. Gagalitin ka ng movie dahil alam mong totoo ang mga inilalarawang katiwalian dito, pati na yung mga pandaraya sa halalan aided and abetted by the former administration. Ipinakita rin dito ang dating pangulo, without naming her, declaring martial law in Mindanao.
The film offers fine ensemble acting, but Tirso Cruz III dominates it with his ferocious portrayal of the corrupt governor. TJ, Allan and Ina give effortless performances in their respective roles. Lovi is too young for her role, but she does handle her dramatic scenes well with a quiet performance. This is also the last movie of the late John Apacible who plays one of Tirso’s henchmen. As in real life, he also died here after being shot in the chest.
The film ends with a statement recounting the entire number of media people killed during the term of Gloria Arroyo, making it the most dangerous place in the world for journalists. What’s sad that in the term of new pres. Noynoy, journalist and broadcasters continue to be killed.
It’s a pity that the film not have a regular run in public theatres. They did this for “Dukot” but it didn’t make money as the general public doesn’t care for realistic films but just go to rom-coms that they find more entertaining. What they plan for “Deadline” is a premiere night on June 23. After that, they will show it in alternative special screenings in various universities all over the country and Filipino communities abroad, which is how they were able to recover their investment for “Dukot”. They’re sponsored by the NUJP (National Union of Journalists of the Philippines), CEG (College Editors Guild) and Asian Congress for Media and Communications.
