MOVIE RUN By Shaibu Husseini

DANGEROUS BABE

Producer – Kingsley Ogoro

Director  - Chico Ejiro

Actors – Regina Askia Williams, Charles Okafor, Ayo Adesanya Hassan, Paul Obazele

The producer’s first choice for a movie cop Ayo Emmanuel returns in Dangerous Babe and for the umpteenth time Ayo finds himself playing a cop as if that is all he is good at.

But the story is not about the gangling and ebony black “screen cop”. Somehow the plot zeroed in on Janet Obahon (Regina Askia-Williams) who walks into a conspiracy and earns a jail term. Rita (Ayo Adesanya Hassan) her friend who was responsible for the death of her husband Steve (Paul Obazele) and who planned it all takes on Emeka (Charles Okafor), the family lawyer. She insists on having an affair with Emeka (who has his eyes though on her friend Rita) and also wants her husbands ‘will’ altered. Janet soon gets out of jail and predictably she falls in love with Emeka. Not pleased, Rita frustrates the relationship. But by some stroke of luck, Emeka steps on a revelation that finally nails Rita. The movie rolls to its climax when Emeka eventually weds Janet.

Ogoro and Chico’s got something gripping here even though it was obvious that realism was sacrificed for aesthetics. It was evident too that the crew took so many things for granted and so details became second place. There were a few drawbacks aside the unpardonable synch problem with the songs Janet mimed to and wrong institutional representation where a suspect was hounded into jail without proper investigation. In the flick, Regina Askia was introduced as Janet Obahon. This leaves her as someone from the Edo/Delta axis. But when she soliloquized at some point, she did it in Efik? Two. Was the chap that brought Janet out of prison a warder? He didn’t look a bit a warder. Three. Was there a costume and make-up artist on set? There was none because a good costume and make-up artiste would have properly made up and costumed Janet if for nothing to justify time lapse after she was released from jail.

Grab a copy though. Aside the drawbacks, this movie with the signature of the self proclaimed Mr Prolific of the Movie- Chico Ejiro, makes for an interesting viewing and has a number of life lessons to teach. Great soundtrack too and spectacular performances especially by Charles Okafor, Ayo Adesanya Hassan and Paul Obazele.

LAGBAJA

Producer – Muyideen Alade Aromire

Director – Alade Aromire

Actor – Jide Kosoko, Yomi Ogunmola, Grace Adejobi, Peter Fatomilola etc.

Lagbaja the newest flick by Muyideen Aromire aka Alade lurks at a video outlet near you. Muyideen unarguably one of the first generation folk home movie producers latches on the popularity of the phenomenal musical character called Lagbaja to drop an interesting folk story- a simple but yet intriguing take on a defiant ruler. Nearly every one who has seen this movie has recommended it to someone else. They hold that it represents on of the “best Yoruba movie” offering in recent time.

 The story in brief: Otun (Ade Ajiboye) alleged to have attempted rape is derobed before the shrine of Lagbaja on the orders of Oba Aderigbibe (Gbolagbado Akinpelu). Ojekunle (Yomi Ogunmola) son of the shrine attendant is tied to the stake and shot over a spurious allegation. Vengeance is next. A killer mask that adorned same costume as the village mask- lagbaja but which was later discovered to be an aggrieved Otun leads the onslaught and renders the village ungovernable. Enters the twist. Death toll is on the rise. Oba holds Alagba responsible. The thinking is that he may have invoked the wrath of the masked god Lagbaja to avenge the death of his son. In between Oba seeks divine intervention. Ifa absolves Alagba of any blame. There is a further twist when Ifa names Adediyun (Toyin Oguntayo), the Oba’s only daughter as the architect of the many problems of the land. Oba is adviced to make peace with Otun. But Otun rejects the overture. The plot rolls to a poignant end when Otun is discovered to be behind the killer mask and when Adediyun incestuous activities were revealed by one of her trusted aides. Otun and Adediyun are tied to the stake and shot. And Lagbaja ends.

An engaging story, the movie Lagbaja in terms of story, plot execution and to some extent photography is no doubt far away from the rest. Just a few draw backs but definitely not in the area of acting because the actors put up a convincing performance. The natural acting talent of the late Yomi Ogunmola (this was one of his last movie appearances) and the promising actress Toyin Oguntayo oozed through out the flick. Peter Fatomilola (Oluawo) was as usual in his acting best. Subtitling was okay and it was merely expressive of dialogue. But the chaps here need to spend time on spell checks. There is no word or expression like “Faulsehood” or “becaming”. But see Lagbaja. Stock it if you can. It’s vintage Muyideen Aromire who always tries to impress. You will like that scene between Ajani and Adediyun. It was well enacted.