MOVIES UNDER REVIEW: (scroll down to see the reviews if you are in a hurry, else read the intro first)
1. TOTAL WAR
2. THE AMAZING GRACE
3. WHITE WATERS (in view, looking for a copy)
BEFORE NOLLYWOOD...THERE WAS CINEMA
Cinema in Nigeria can be linked to the late Herbert Ogunde (in the past), and now associated with the Silverbird Galleria on the one hand, and Asian counterfeiters and pirates who collaborate with many Nigerians to reproduce foreign and local movies and make them readily available at street corners and every market, on the other.
The pioneers of the video craze include the producers of such movies as Living In Bondage, Circle of Doom, Ikuku, Violated, Rattlesnake and Glamour Girls. As with most things in Nigeria, once an avenue seems to yield some profit, people from everywhere (and with nothing to offer professionally) flock to get a chunk of the simmering stew. What do you get when mediocres flood a profession/business? Don't even tell me because I have plenty to say about that.
I have been assaulted with hundreds (if not thousands) of poor movies in the last decade or more. I speak the minds of most Nigerians and Africans. We agree that a lot of work need to be done to better the industry (if it is one at that); the players, do they think they need to work harder? Are they not swelling their backs and boasting to anyone who dares throw the question in their faces that they can match Hollywood actors breath for breath and gesture for gesture? I support the idea of self-praise (especially when no one seems to be giving it to you), but what about 'looking in the mirror' and telling yourself the home naked truth? Does it hurt too much that you have to live in denial and wish it away by the not even doing things differently?
The proponents of the excuse that Hollywood took a long while to get where they are today should please stop using computers, watching tv and riding in cars. Let them go back to riding mules; listening to the town-crier (who may not be sober enough to deliver the morning news); and counting beads and cowries; and marking walls and trees; and tasting the ground with their tongues to determine weather; and catching wind in their faces to know where the rains are coming from. We are in the modern times, and must move in tandem. If we can match any individual anywhere academically and in sports, why can't we just do our homework and get things right in Nollywood? Take a look at the Nigerian music industry and you will catch my drift. Even that took the bravery of Ruggedman, who incidentally caught a lot of flack for being outspoken, to get the players back to the drawing-board. Now we enjoy it, and some of our very young musicians are picking up international awards and getting world-famous (and super rich). Same cannot be said about the movie industry.
I am not donning this robe of criticism because it is an industry I have vested interests on; not because I have beef for some people - I hardly know them personally - I am doing this because I speak the mind (mind you, one mind) of all movie buffs who'd love to see Nollywood movies pick up awards at the Oscars and have international collaborations to great effect, tell our stories better and fill the pockets of those who deserve it through their sheer passion, hardwork and talent.
The likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, who by the way is an A-list Hollywood actor may never star alongside our delectable actresses (Dakore Egbuson, Yvonne Jegede, Bimbo Akintola, naming a few) and hunks (Chinedu Ikedieze & Osita Iheme, Segun Arinze, Ramsey Nouah, also naming a few). The lacuna is so huge it can swallow four planets the size of Venus! Don't wonder who Chiwetel is. I have watched him grow in status. From the role of an African interpreter in La Amistad, a runaway doctor in Dirty Pretty Things where he starred with another Nigerian great actress Stephanie Okonedo (The Jackal, Hotel Rwanda, Sweet Revenge, etc) to bigger roles as a gangter in Four Brothers (with Mark Whalberg, Tyrese, Benjamin of Outkast), as Dewey in Talk To Me (with Don Cheadle and Cedric The Entertainer) and most recently alongside Denzel Washington in American Gangster. Yes! That's him. Na Igbo man! You better believe it. Now, do you see him starring in movies with any Nigerian actor in Nigeria?
Flip the coin. You there? On this flipside is the music industry. Please do not draw my wrath by disagreeing that P-Square, D'Banj, Etcetera, Tuface, Asa, Styl-Plus, Faze, TY Bello, Rymzo, 9ice and so many others (the list is growing endless by the day) cannot match the best in music worldwide. There are a lot of collaborations already: this testifies to their international standard. Sadly, Nollywood is poking the giant rock with broomsticks. We need to land with a bang! That is the purpose of this weblog.
So, I'm going to be looking at some movies I have seen, and many I intend to see, with a critical eye. You will read about the good, the bad, the ugly...I am sparing nothing. You are welcome to bust me as well. There is a place called Forward. That's where we're headed, we'll let nothing hold us down or drain us of inspiration. God is our source. To God Be The Glory!
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Movie Title: TOTAL WAR
Omotola Jalade, Francis Duru, Uche Jombo
Synopsis: How does a changed man deal with his gruesome past when it rears its head threatening his immediate future happiness?
I have always liked Omotola on screen. Then, my sister from another mother Uche Jombo is one I can kill for. So, seeing them both on the cover of one movie meant I was definitely going to see it.
The movie, set in Jos brought back the horrors of the Liberian genocide and war. Francis Duru played the part of a modern-day pastor, who a few years earlier was a Liberian rebel soldier who ordered, supervised and participated in the wanton rape, torture and killing of many people - most of them volunteers and aid workers. Now a changed man, he lives in Nigeria and is doing well, engaged to a beautiful social worker, Uche Jombo. Everything is going great until Omotola, elder sister to Uche returns from the USA only to find the same man who murdered their parents gearing up to be her brother-in-law.
The reaction is typical from all concerned, but the acting ability of Francis Duru painted the whole movie in beautifully tortous colours. He spoke the Liberian Pidgin English smoothly and shed real tears as he aimed to keep his sanity.The storyline sounds like a true story, very believable and spanned out. My discomfort with the movie are few, one of which is the inability of the make-up artiste to make both Omotola and Francis age according to the passage of time.
Akume played the role of antagonist well. The slimer he got with his antics at pulling Francis down due to jealousy, while he preyed on his woman, the more the story of Francis's past unfurled. This vindicated Akume and set up a good climax.
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Movie: THE AMAZING GRACE
Nick Moran, Fred Amata, Imabong Odunge, Joke Silva, Zack Amata
Written, produced and directed by Jeta Amata
Synopsis: John Newton, the composer of the world famous hymn The Amazing Grace, borrowed the tune from a song by the locals of a town in the new Cross River State of Nigeria, during the slave trade era, after he was rescued by the same captives he was taking to Europe.
Long before I saw it, I heard rave reviews.
This is a ground-breaking movie, one I expect would usher in an era of quality movies (in the form of what Ruggedman did for music in Nigeria). The cinematography is world class, the sound the same. And it was shot on celluloid. This should be the most expensive movie to be shot in Nigeria by a Nigerian.
The story of John Newton, who wrote the popular hymn: The Amazing Grace, who came to Nigiera (Calabar to be precise) as a slave trader, but had a life-changing encounter at sea when he was rescued by the slaves.
The European cast and crew added colour to the production. Zack was at his best as the soothsayer, who knew about the coming of the White Man, and warned of the dangers. They came, and began catching slaves to fill the hold of their ships bound for Europe and the New World (West Indies), and some for South America.
Of note, and which the writer gave ample time, is the connivance of indigenes in the heinous activities. This goes a good distance to support the claim of Westerners that the trans-Atlantic slavery era would not have been without the participation of Africans themselves.
Back to the story:
During the raid, which came at the time when the whole town gathered for the usual wrestling contests between the young men, who also used this opportunity to flaunt their prowess and woo potential wives... The catchers swooped on them, setting their houses on fire and carting away men, women and children, killing many in that process.
Fred played a brave, temperamental husband. He fought bravely and was knocked out, left for dead, only for him to wake up later and find his wife dead. In his anger, he goes after the catchers. Things don't exactly work out as you plan, especially when you are blinded by fury and the quest for vengeance. He is captured along with others, one of them his niece (or cousin), played by Imabong. The beautiful young woman was sold to the catchers by his fiance for a bottle of rum (who was led to believe that she was being taken away to the West and he'll get the chance to join her later).
She, it was who caught the eye of John Newton. She began to learn the Englishman's tongue, and helped calm the other captives. I was amazed at her speed for pickin up the language. It was not gradual, and she had no accent at all. That was the only part I did not swallow well.
There was trouble at sea, and John Newton was saved. It was overwhleming, leading to the song, The Amazing Grace, borrowing the tune of a song the locals sang all through their capture.
All in all, I will have to see the movie again and do a re-review. The story was told by Joke Silva who was a little girl when the events occurred.
It was a wonderful viewing experience, and going by Nigerian standards, I am yet to see a better picture. The icing on the cake was the soundtrack by Sammie Okposo.
We salute Jeta for his efforts and pray he does not relent.
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Movie: WHITE WATERS
OC Ukeje, Rita Dominic, Joke Silva
3 comments:
Hi, nice job. Please continue with your busting, though you seem to favour Uche Jombo a lot.
Good job!!!I'm so pissed with Naija movies that i dnt bother anymore, instead of gettn beta they are gettn worse. The cast most of time is so pathetic.
@ Grace - He already said Uche was his sister from another mother so u shld understand the favouritism. It's now left to us to bust her too.
Are you in the movie industry as well? Is it not better to make telling contributions towards change, than to stand aside and throw stones? You did a good job. Do more, and then may be join. You write well...
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