Joel Torre admits being surprised about OTJ's failure as an Oscar entry

Maureen Marie Belmonte

<div><img src='' alt='122613-Joel_Main.jpg' width='305' height='290' align='left' border='0'>Joel Torre definitely left a mark on movie audiences with his role as Tatang in the crime thriller <i>On The Job</i>. “I must have done something correct,” he said when asked how he feels that Tatang has been considered one of the most controversial characters of the Erik Matti-helmed hit.</div><div><br/></div><div>Even before it was screened in the country last August,<i> On The Job</i> had already reaped commendations from critics abroad when it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival last May. “That’s the good thing about <i>On The Job</i> actually. All the critics who love watching movies only have positive things to say about it. So<i> damay na kami doon</i>, it’s all a rippling effect,” he said.</div><div><br/></div><div>The best thing about <i>OTJ</i> he thinks is the fact that it has rendered a lot of feisty critics silent in terms of spewing criticisms. “No matter where you look, even the toughest critic has something good to say. <i>Kasi </i>of course you have to nitpick and say something and say something bad about it otherwise you’re not a critic. But hey, there’s more positive than negative, I mean it’s the first time that I hear people say, ‘Yeah that’s a good one.’ Things have been favorable, critique-wise for the movie. We’re very happy,” he said.</div><div><br/></div><div>For the first time, the well-respected actor spoke up about<i> OTJ’s</i> failure to be the country’s bet for the Foreign Language Film category at the 86th Academy Awards when a lot of fans and critics have already praised the movie. “<i>Ako?</i> I’m just surprised not disappointed. I haven’t seen Transit, which I want to. But it <i>[OTJ]</i> was the popular choice, [but then] there’s a jury choice. It’s their judgment call,” the <i>Honesto</i> star said.</div><div><br/></div><div>Transit, the official Philippine bet to the prestigious award-giving body which failed to make it to the shortlist, was produced by director Paul Soriano.</div><div><br/></div><div>“I’m just surprised that it didn’t get the nod which doesn’t follow <i>dahil ang mahal mahal</i> for you to sell your film abroad just to push it for a nomination, but this one<i> [OTJ] </i>there was already an American company that picked it up. It could’ve been a wiser choice, financially,” he reiterated, adding that, “If there’s a fighting chance, this could be it.”</div><div><br/></div><div>An October report of Variety Magazine said that Universal Pictures has optioned the rights to Matti’s acclaimed crime drama <i>OTJ</i> with the remake said to be written, directed and produced by Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormakur and produced by Scott Stuber.</div><div><br/></div><div>At the end of the day though, despite <i>OTJ</i> being a popular choice, Joel said everything still boiled down to Film Academy of the Philippines’ vote which happened to be for the Jasmine Curtis-Smith-starrer flick, Transit.</div><div><br/></div>

Joel Torre believes 'OTJ' was the 'popular choice' to be the country's bet to the Oscars.

Joel Torre admits being surprised about OTJ's failure as an Oscar entry | PUSH.COM.PH