timilehinmustapha

LIKES 1. Visual Aesthetics 2. Locations and Set Design 3. Bimbo Akintola's Performance 4. Strong First Act

DISLIKES 1. Narrative Complexity and Lost Interest Unfortunately, I became more and more confused as the movie went on, which led to me losing interest in the third act. The intricate plot lacked clarity.

2. Budget and Production Quality: There are lingering questions regarding the film's reported $1 million budget.

3. Challenges with Action Scenes: The film's potential impact was marred by poorly shot and chaotic action scenes. Clear directing and cinematography should maintain clarity, even in chaotic scenes.

4. Inconsistent Performances: Olumide Oworu's performance felt out of place, and the foreign father-son dynamic left me disconnected from the film.

5. Heavy American Influence: Those expecting a more authentic Nigerian narrative may find "The Black Book" distracting due to its overly Americanized tone.

6. Overambitious Social Commentary: Although the film's intention to provide social commentary is admirable, it becomes bloated.

7. Plot Twist and Unnecessary Elements: The movie's reliance on excessive explanations, visual effects and the plot twist involving Vickie and Mr. Edima made it feel superfluous.

8. Unexplored Relationships:

9. Unnecessary Characters

SUMMARY: To summarize, "The Black Book" fails to meet expectations despite its attractive visuals and capable performances. The movie's convoluted plot and heavy reliance on American cinema prevent it from exploring the intricate relationships and societal themes that could have made it truly compelling. If you're looking for a clear and coherent storyline, "The Black Book" may leave you feeling confused and disappointed.

I recently had the pleasure of watching "Stranger," a Nigerian movie that features young actors taking on prominent roles. Set in the rural town of Ireti, the film showcases the flat landscape and plentiful plantations of the area. As someone who enjoys seeing more Nigerian films set in rural parts of the country, I was delighted to come across this movie.

Bimbo Oshin, who played a lead role in the film, was a nice surprise, and she did a fantastic job portraying her character. I was excited to see her on screen, as I hadn't seen her in many movies recently. Her performance is worthy of an AMVCA nod, but I'm not sure if the film is eligible for the present award season.

While watching the movie, I noticed a few errors, including the use of the new 100 naira note, which wasn't in circulation during the year the film was set. I also couldn't understand why Joseph acted as a translator for Adetola's mum when Dr. Macaulay, played by Chris Iheuwa, could speak three languages (albeit with halting French). Additionally, I wasn't impressed by how young Adetola's dreadlocks didn't grow throughout the years.

These inconsistencies could have been improved by a director with better attention to detail, but they don't detract from the story. However, Nollywood's obsession with fog machines is getting tiring to see, and I'd love to see better depictions of night shots, especially since this film was lacking in that regard. I also wasn't a fan of the dirty makeup look given to Adetola's mum, but I could tell that the film wanted to show off the makeup crew's work with its close shots of Adetola's wound. Finally, I wasn't a fan of the missionary message and acts in the film, but since they were relevant to the plot, I can't complain.

At the beginning of the movie, I thought I would be disinterested, but I became invested in the story of young and teenage Adetola. The story of adult Adetola wasn't as captivating, and his actions felt contrived, making the final parts of the film uninteresting. Teenage Adetola was subtly humorous, and young Adetola pulled off an impressive performance. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for adult Adetola, I appreciated the consistency in the facial features of the performers and their portrayal of Adetola's meek nature. The casting director deserves a nod for their decisions.

All three versions of Adetola faced obstacles in their lives, but their resilience and faith saw them through. These themes are central to the movie's message, which is one of perseverance. The film is direct and intentional, with cringe-worthy dialogue that could have been worked on during the screenwriting process. The soundtrack was also repetitive and became annoying at times. I also feel that the synopsis oversells the actual story in the film, and the title wasn't well-selected. The story is similar to the "Eze Goes to School" type of stories we were told to read in primary schools and had its motivational moments.