Movie Review: Mind Game

Title: Mind Game

Starring: Van Vicker, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Reginald Lubin, Carlin Kenol

Story: Darlene Cobham

Producer: Samuel Ameyaw, John Uche

Executive Producer: Samuel Ameyaw and John Uche

Director: John Uche

Year of production: 2010
Country: Nigeria, Ghana, Haiti
Language: English
Genre: Religious Drama

Prologue:

This movie was initially hyped here as a Nolly-Golly-Belly combo that I was really looking forward to. It’s been out for a while, but I never found the time to watch it until over the Christmas break. Even though  I was hesitant because all reviews that I had seen were pretty lukewarm, I felt that I owed it to my readers to review it after hyping it, so I  tried it out over the Christmas break. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Story:

Betty (Omotola) is a very pretty Christian girl who attracts a lot of male attention, particularly from Patrick, one of her male coworkers (Reginald Lubin). She falls in love with and marries Richie (Van Vicker), a successful Christian man. They are the perfect couple, very good looking. She starts to live her worst nightmare when after their wedding Richie refuses to touch his wife. For three months, they play cat and mouse with each other, with Richie coming up with every excuse in the book to avoid intimacy. One day, Betty comes home early and accidentally discovers the reason for Richie’s refusal to perform his marital duties. What does she see, and what does she do about it?


Click here for trailer and Review

Movie Review: I sing of a well.

Title: I sing of a well
Starring: John Agyeman, Akofa Asiedu, Godwin Kotey, Kofi Mends, Doris Sakitey, Prince David Osei, Luckie Lawson
Director: Leila Djansi
Executive producers: Akofa Asiedu, Leila Djansi, Ross Lamanna, Ambrose Augustt
Story: Leila Djansi
Year of production: 2010
Country: Ghana
Language: English/Ewe
Genre: Historical Drama

Prologue: There was a lot of drama before, during and after the making of this movie. You can read about some of it here and here, or you can just google Akofa and Leila and get an eyeful. They really did not get along during the making of this movie. Given that background, I was expecting something really horrible. But honestly, I liked the story. I really did. I hyped it here last year if there is any interest in going back to look at that.

What is the story about? Soraya is engaged to Dume a common hunter in the village. They want to get married, but the bride price set by her uncles (her father is dead) is way too high, so he continues to work to raise the money. In the meantime, Soraya catches the eye of the crown prince and he demands her hand in marriage. How does this work out for Soraya, Dume and the kingdom itself?

Click here to continue on to trailer and review

Movie Review: A private Storm

Title: A private storm
Starring: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Ramsey Nouah, John Dumelo, Ngozi Ezeonu, Ufuoma Ejebonor
Producer: Vivian Ejike
Story: Vivian Ejike
Executive producer: O Atoki
Directors: Ikechukwu Onyeka, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen
Year of production: 2010
Country: Nigeria.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Prologue:  This is Vivian Ejike's third movie. The first one,  "When the heart lies" was pretty bad. However,  I was very impressed by Silent Scandals, her second movie. For this movie, there is only one thing I want to say:

AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHHHH! That is what I am talking about. Yeah!! Nigerian movies are stepping up BIG time and Vivian is right in the midst of the revolution. What? What!!! I know I am gushing like a schoolgirl, but I cannot help my self. I loved it. Loooooooved it. LOVED IT!! Please do not watch this on youtube, get your own original copy. At the moment, all the online stores have it, so get a copy u hear me? It does not cost that much and you will get excellent entertainment during this holiday season.

Click to continue to Trailer and review

Nollywood art exhibition on CNN

So, it appears that CNN has this fascination with Nollywood. The industry is now on their radar and it appears there is a new story every 5 minutes. However, I am not sure that I am feeling this exhibition at all. It all seems so artsy without much substance that I can relate to. I am an avid Nollywood fan and I do not really know what Ms. Saro Wiwa is going on about. Who are these people? And there is more to Nollywood than the aspirational English movies. We have the yoruba movies as well as the traditional village based movies. Talking about plastic and aspirational!! Suffice to say I am not really excited about view of the industry. But here it is anyways:



Full story here

Ciao!!

The Hype: Tango with me

                                                                               

Hi peeps!
I have decided to be a little more selective about the movies I hype nowadays, but this one, I could not resist! What a gorgeous, gorgeous trailer! Very attractive!! The story line appears to be really similar to Perfect picture, (another movie I need to review soon), but hopefully there are plot differences. Its a star studded movie, featuring the lovely Genevieve Nnaji, newcomer Benjamin Joseph (hawt!!), Joke Silva, Bimbo Manuel, Bimbo Akintola and Ahmed Yerima. It was produced and directed by Mahmood Ali-Balogun, while the screenplay was written by Femi Kayode.
Click for Trailer and more.....

The Hype: The Child

The delectable Wole Ojo won the fourth AMBO competition and so he gets to star in their latest movie - The Child. Apparently its a Benin based  epic starring  Joke Silva, Bukky Ajayi, Alex Osifo and as always directed by the fabulous Izu Ojukwu. 

 The Story:

Directed by Izu Ojukwu, ‘The Child’ revolves around a Benin town’s expectation of a ‘child’ promised the community by the gods. The advent of the child will see to the end of the town’s problems which include drought and recurrent war defeats, especially against the strong army of Ijogun.

Two children, at least as far as we can tell, are born on the said night; one is by the widowed queen Ifueko, played by Joke Silva, whose uncle the Iyase (Alex Usifo) is the regent. Another woman gives birth to a son. The rains return, wars are won and a basket mysteriously retains water after the boys are born. As long as the basket holds water, the community knows their special one is still alive. As both boys grow up, so does the competition between them as both are intent to prove their ‘childship,’ despite the fact that all have accepted the crown prince Nosa (or Omo as his mother calls him) as the special one (Edaeke).

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Cindy's Notes

Title : Cindy's Notes

Starring: Bhaira Mcwizu (ambo 3 winner),  Nonso Diobi, Clems Ohameze, kasimu Yero, Jennifer Ayomo

Story: Amaka Ezeala

Screenplay: Felix Odion

Producer: Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO)

Director:  Izu Ojukwu

Year: 2008

Country: Nigeria

Genre: Inspirational drama

Language: English


As anybody who reads this blog knows, I am a big fan of Izu Ojukwu - Amstel Malta collaboration. I have previously reviewed the first two movies in the partnership, namely Sitanda and White Waters.  For those unfamiliar with the Amstel Malta movie franchise, here is a quick overview - The amstel malta company sponsors a reality show every year to find new talent for the Nigerian movie industry. The winner gets to star in a movie directed by the tremendous Izu Ojukwu. Azizat Sadiq won the first edition and starred in the aforementioned  Sitanda, while O.C Ukeje won the second edition and was the star of white Waters. The third edition was won by  Bhaira Mcwizu and she is consequently the leading lady in Cindy's Notes. By Nigerian standards, Cindy's Notes is a tremendous movie!

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