SHARON-RICHARD STARRER MOST TALKED-ABOUT MOVIE
by Crispina Martinez Belen, The Manila Bulletin, March 2, 2000

It's definitely the most talked-about movie, the latest team-up of megastar Sharon Cuneta and former boyfriend Richard Gomez titled 'Minsan, Minahal Kita.' Everybody, especially the womenfolk, seems to have been impressed by the Star Cinema offering megged by Olivia Lamasan.

We asked some of those whoíve seen the movie why they like it and one say ìdahil nakaka-relate ako sa character ni Sharon, si Dianne. Dahil ang sitwasyon nila ni Richard (as Albert), nangyayari talaga.î

ìMinsan, Minahal Kita,î which is still drawing in huge crowds, is about true love, but the kind of love is forbidden because both Sharon and Richard play characters who are married. The movie is about adultery, but Sharon said ìthe movie does not patronize adultery. It talks about the reality of people not having control over their love for each other, their now wanting to fall in love but not being able to do anything about it in the endÖî

Asked in an interview if she wasnít worried that the movie might throw the impression that itís okay to be a mistress, Sharon said ìno, Direk Olive and I were saying that we donít want people thinking that we are glorifying adultery here because it is not the point of the movie. Thereís a redeeming factor at the end of the movie. The characters Richard and I play, Dianne and Albert, are two decent people who love their families and who are trying to make their marriages work but just inevitably they keep on bumping into each other, and eventually they fall in love. They both know that itís wrong. So they both struggle with all their might to avoid it but canít. This is the mytery of love that you cannot control.î

For this movie, Sharon really prepared herself by first slimming down (she lost about 66 lbs.). She didnít take Bangkok pills, as has been speculated by some people; she also did not go through liposuction ìalthough I have nothing against it, it was an option not available before. Liposuction is not the right way to slim down. When I reach my ideal weight and find out that I have problem areas, then maybe I will consider it. And then Iíll have to take care because I have to eat naman. Thereís really no easy way to lose weight. Right now, Iíd like to have some sort of a vanity fund so when Iím 50 I can just have a facelift. I donít want to grow old no matter what it costs. If I could only grow as gracefully as Susan Sarandon or do it as wonderfully as Ate Vi! But Iíd like to have some lines too to show that Iíve become wiser over the years. I really want to grow old gracefully.î

So there, overweight ladies, thereís hope, take it from Sharon whose new look is also a factor thatís drawing in women moviegoers to see ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî which incidentally, also stars Edu Manzano, Angel Aquino, Carmina Villaroel, Rosemarie Gil, Ciara Sotto and Marvin Agustin and Kristine Hermosa.

By the way, the stars of the movie, along with their friends in showbiz, attended the premiere showing of ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî at the SM Megamall Cinema. Fans flocked to see the Sharon-Richard reunion.

Adding glitter to the premiere event were Helen Gamboa, Rudy Fernandez, Lorna Tolentino, Cesar Montano, Tirso Cruz 111, Gina Alajar, Rowell Santiago and Fanny Serrano. ìMagandang Tanghali Bayanî hosts Randy Santiago (who came with wife Malou), John Estrada and Willie Revillame were also present.

îMinsan, Minahal Kitaî was also the closing premiere of ìPelikula at Lipunan,î the month-long millennium film festival of international classics and Filipino masterpieces held at the SM Cinemas.