Never Not Love You is a 2018 Filipino romantic drama film written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, starring James Reid and Nadine Lustre.[3] The film tells the story of Gio (Reid) and Joanne (Lustre) whose young, carefree, and reckless love is tested when their dreams take them in different directions.

Never Not Love You
Theatrical film poster
Directed byAntoinette Jadaone
Written byAntoinette Jadaone
Produced byVic del Rosario Jr.
Starring
Cinematography
  • Mycko David
  • Carlos Mauricio
Edited byBenjamin S. Tolentino
Music byArlene Flerida Calvo
Production
companies
Distributed byViva Films
Release date
  • March 31, 2018 (2018-03-31)
Running time
100-105 minutes[1]
CountryPhilippines
Languages
  • Filipino
  • English
Box office₱92 million[2]

The film was produced by Viva Films in collaboration with Project 8 Projects.[4] It was released in theaters nationwide on March 31, 2018.

Cast edit

Production edit

Development edit

The film's initial title was Five Years Later, then changed to Here's to the Fools. On December 22, 2017, the director announced the final title of the film to be Never Not Love You.[6][7]

Filming edit

The film's shooting locations are Makati CBD, Quezon City[8] Zambales, and London.[9][7]

Soundtrack edit

Never Not Love You (Original Movie Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album / EP by
ReleasedMarch 27, 2018
GenreSoundtrack
Length22:43
LanguageTagalog
LabelViva Records Corporation
Singles from Never Not Love You (Original Movie Soundtrack)
  1. "Prom"
    Released: 23 March 2018[10]

The soundtrack of the film includes music and performances by John Roa, Janine Teñoso, Marion Aunor, Ebe Dancel, and James Reid and Nadine Lustre.[11] The first song released with an official music video is "Prom" performed by James Reid and Nadine Lustre. It also serves as the lead single for the soundtrack of the film.[12] John Roa's "Oks Lang" was featured in the 2nd teaser for the film.

Never Not Love You (Original Movie Soundtrack)[11]
No.TitlePerformed byLength
1."Prom"James Reid and Nadine Lustre4:28
2."Oks Lang"John Roa5:36
3."Bulong"Janine Teñoso3:45
4."Sana"Marion Aunor4:28
5."Prom (Acoustic)"Ebe Dancel4:26
Total length:22:43

Notes

  • "Bulong" is a cover of "Bulong" by Kitchie Nadal.
  • "Prom" is a cover of "Prom" by Sugarfree.
  • "Sana" is a cover of "Sana" by Up Dharma Down.
  • Ebe Dancel of the band Sugarfree made an acoustic version of "Prom" for the film.

Release edit

The film was theatrically released on 2018 March 31.[13]

International screening edit

The film made an international screening in few selected theaters in United States[14] and Middle East[15] In November 2018, it was screened at the International Film Festival of India held in the city of Goa as part of the World Panorama section.[16]

Reception edit

Box office edit

Never Not Love You grossed ₱20 million on its second day of showing in over 200 theaters according to the Instagram post of Viva Artists Agency.[17] As of April 15, 2018, the film gross an estimated amount of ₱92 million.[2]

Critical response edit

Never Not Love You received mostly positive reviews from critics with particular praise going to the performances of Lustre and Reid and the directorial efforts of Jadaone. In a review for Rappler.com, Oggs Cruz said that "the film is so meticulously threadbare, it feels like its central love story belongs not in the realms of commercial entertainment but in the real world". He called the film Jadaone's "most grounded romance" and praised the director's ability "for turning the nondescript to magic..."[18]

Wanggo Gallaga of the website Click the City gave the film 5 out of 5 stars and described Reid as "charming as hell" and called Lustre a "powerhouse" and the "real star" of the film while praising her performance by saying that "There is a whole world of emotions within her that she carries with every movement".[19]

Inquirer's Cake Evangelista called the film as the lead stars' "best work so far". Reid was commended for finding a "balance" in his character and Lustre for being someone who "evokes a wealth of meaning and emotion". Director Jadaone was called the film's "true strength". Evangelista noted that "In Never Not love You, Jadaone shows us a different side of herself as a storyteller."[20]

The Neighborhood's Philbert Dy gave the film a rating of 4 out of 5 and praised how it "smartly examines modern romance in oddly pragmatic terms". He praised Reid for leaning into his character and described Lustre as the one who "shines in the movie". Regarding Lustre's performance as Joanne, he said that the actress "just makes everything feel meaningful". He also noted that the pair displays "a familiarity and chemistry that might just be unmatched."[21]

Accolades edit

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Guild of Educators, Mentors, and Students Hiyas Ng Sining Awards March 21, 2019 Best Film (Mainstream) Never Not Love You Won [22]
Best Film Director (Mainstream) Antoinette Jadaone Won
Best Actor James Reid Nominated
Best Actress Nadine Lustre Nominated
Inside Showbiz Awards March 3, 2019 Favorite Movie Actor James Reid Won [23]
Favorite Movie Actress Nadine Lustre Won
Favorite Movie Never Not Love You Won
Favorite Movie Director Antoinette Jadaone Won
Favorite Movie Soundtrack Prom by Ebe Dancel Won
Myx Music Awards May 15, 2019 Media Soundtrack of the Year Prom by James Reid and Nadine Lustre Won [24]
Young Critics Circle August 16, 2019 Best Performance Nadine Lustre Won [25]
Best Editing Benjamin Tolentino Nominated
Best Cinematography and Visual Design Cinematography: Mycko David and Carlo Mauricio; Production design: Ana Lou Sanchez Nominated
Best Sound and Aural Orchestration Music: Len Calvo; Sound Design: Jason Conanan, Kat Salinas and Mikko Quizon Won
FAMAS Awards April 28, 2019 Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role James Reid Nominated [26]
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nadine Lustre Won
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Mycko David Nominated
Best Picture Never Not Love You Nominated
42nd Gawad Urian June 18, 2019 Best Actress Nadine Lustre Won [27]
35th PMPC Star Awards for Movies June 2, 2019 Movie Actress of the Year Nadine Lustre Nominated [28]
Movie Actor of the Year James Reid Nominated
Movie Loveteam of the Year James Reid and Nadine Lustre Nominated
3rd Eddys Award July 4, 2019 Best Actress Nadine Lustre Nominated [29]
Best Cinematography Mycko David Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ "Never Not Love You (2018) – Details and running time". Click the City. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Never Not Love You (2018) > Box office gross opening". Instagram. Viva Artists Agency. April 15, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Lim, Lance Paolo (December 22, 2017). "Get your first look at James Reid and Nadine Lustre's upcoming film". PUSH.ph. ABS-CBN Corporation. Event occurs at 11:45 AM. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  4. ^ "Never Not Love You (2018)". Project 8 Projects. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Gab on shoot for Never Not Love You". Instagram. Lagman, Gab. February 20, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  6. ^ "JADINE'S 2018 MOVIE FINALIZED AS 'NEVER NOT LOVE YOU'". Inside Showbiz. December 22, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Cuta, Mikah (January 4, 2018). "5 Things To Know About JaDine's Upcoming Movie: 'Never Not Love You'". Pilipinas Popcorn. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  8. ^ Raket Pa More: A Shooting and Taping Memoir (The Movie Daya Edition Part 1), 2023-06-05, retrieved 2023-06-06
  9. ^ "James, Nadine fly to London for 'Never Not Love You'". ABS-CBN Corporation News. ABS-CBN Corporation. January 21, 2018. Event occurs at 6:24 PM. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  10. ^ "Prom by James Reid and Nadine Lustre", Apple Music, March 23, 2018, retrieved April 2, 2018
  11. ^ a b "Never Not Love You (Original Movie Soundtrack) by Various Artists", Apple Music, March 27, 2018, retrieved April 2, 2018
  12. ^ "Prom – James Reid › Music Videos". Viva Records. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  13. ^ "JaDine get tangled up in each other in first 'Never Not Love You' teaser". Rappler. February 8, 2018. Event occurs at 10:03 PM. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  14. ^ "Never Not Love You (2018) > US International screening". Instagram. Viva Artists Agency. April 7, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  15. ^ "Never Not Love You (2018) > Middle East International screening". Instagram. Viva Entertainment. April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  16. ^ Hallare, Katrina (November 9, 2018). "'Never Not Love You' to be shown at 2018 International Film Festival of India".
  17. ^ "Never Not Love You (2018) > Box office gross opening". Instagram. Viva Artists Agency. April 2, 2018. Event occurs at around 9:00 AM. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  18. ^ Cruz, Oggs (April 2, 2018). "'Never Not Love You' review: Work-love balance". Rappler.
  19. ^ Gallaga, Wanggo (April 1, 2018). "'Never Not Love You' is unafraid to get quiet, intense, and very real". Click the City.
  20. ^ Evangelista, Cake (April 8, 2018). "Super Review: 'Never Not Love You' is JaDine's best work so far". Inquirer.
  21. ^ Dy, Philbert (April 2, 2018). "'Never Not Love You' Smartly Examines Romance in Pragmatic Terms". The Neighborhood.
  22. ^ "ABS-CBN stars, shows win big at the 3rd GEMS Hiyas ng Sining". January 16, 2019.
  23. ^ "FULL LIST: THE WINNERS OF INSIDE SHOWBIZ AWARDS". Inside Showbiz. March 4, 2019.
  24. ^ "FULL LIST: Winners, MYX Music Awards 2019". Rappler. March 16, 2019.
  25. ^ "YCC names 'Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang' best film, Nadine Lustre best performer".
  26. ^ Aguilar, Krissy (March 18, 2019). "LIST: FAMAS announces nominees for its 67th Awards Night".
  27. ^ "FULL LIST: Nominees, Gawad Urian 2019".
  28. ^ "Mga nominado sa 35th PMPC Star Awards For Movies inilabas na". Push. May 18, 2019.
  29. ^ "Editors' group unveils 3rd EDDYS nominees". Manila Standard. May 19, 2019.

External links edit