'76

Incredible. Rarely do I see Nollywood movies adapted from true life situations, especially from a dated era where so much attention to detail is paid. The lighting, cinematography, props are so beautiful, this movie can definitely be categorized as modern classic. The retro feel it give is so breathtaking that nothing looks out of place throughout the 2 hour duration of the movie. Incredible casting as well! I was especially impressed by the performance of Adonijah Owiriwa who plays Captain V. M. Jaiye. Overall I loved the movie in it's entirety and hope more directors and producers can provide more movies reading between the lines of historic events. 9/10 for me.

Based on true events about a failed military coup d'état in Nigeria in beginning of 1976 led by Lieutenant Colonel Buka Suka Dimka to overthrow the government of General Murtala Mohammed .. it's a political thriller with structured first half that later takes a winding course..however, an intriguing plot.. Interesting facts I came to know about watching this movie is that they love Hindi (Bollywood) cinema as in one scene they are showing Shammi Kapoor's movie in background.. also, the youngers kneel on floor or bow to show respect to the elders and use of left hand to eat, greet, handover or to collect is a sign of disrespect.

Political-military thrillers are probably my favorite genre of movies & I had great expectations for this film. Unfortunately, in the end, this film kind of falls flat on its face. The set-up had so much potential but the pacing is poor & at times the movie ends up being a boring chore to watch. The performances by the actors are solid, especially considering what they were given to work with because the script isn't particularly well-written & the plot doesn't end up being very intriguing. The cinematography is good & they managed to capture 1970s Nigeria pretty well.

But in the end it's hard for me to recommend this movie. As I said these are my favrorite type of films by far & if I got bored watching it I can't really see anybody who's not a fan of the genre even bothering to finish it. And to those who are fans of political/military thrillers, this production is nowhere near the standard of films we are used to so I doubt many would enjoy the experience. It's a shame because I would love for more movies like this to come out, especially given how many events & conflicts in Nigerian history there are to explore in cinema.

'76 should be applauded for its great story, great acting, great actors, and great costumes and setting.

But these laudable qualities are affected by weak characterization, a convoluted plot, and haphazard plot arraignment.

The film also relies heavily on the viewers' understanding of the reality of the events, aftermath, and effects of the 1976 Nigerian failed coup. However, only a few sections of the audience understand this,

Other than these errors, the film and classics like October 1 (2014) Black November are great must-watch Nigerian movies depicting Nigeria's history of political and tribal instability.

As Nollywood gets to the cinemas and international film festivals. This is a worthy watch. If you're expecting to see true-life characters with relation to the coup plot and assassination of Murtala Mohammed in 1976, you'll be greatly disappointed. Rather this is more of a story created around that setting. Also as a military-themed movie, I was expecting to see some firepower in action, but this had none. The actors played their roles well most especially Rita Dominic, who was spectacular and emotionally intriguing in the movie. She added to the suspense in the movie. Ramsey Nouah was terrific as usual. Movie was a bit stretched. But in all, this was a good effort worthy of international acclaim.