MOVIE RUN By Shaibu Husseini

MONICA (Lewinsky)

Producer-Temitope Duker

Director- Fidelis Duker

Actors- Zack Orji, Grace Evaly, Tony Akposheri, Felida Essi, Forster Ojeabaru, Obey Etuk and others.

Most people who got this off the shelf would have concluded that this, because of the title, represented a disguised telling of the famous Monica Lewinsky’s saga. But it didn’t come near that widely told story which would have undoubtedly made an engaging flick. This is why there is a suggestion that the folks behind this should be charged for deceptive titling.

The story that was Monica revolved around a lady about town- Monica (Grace Evaly) who is well married to one Gozie (Zack Orji). Gozie realizes way down his life that he was married to the wrong woman. Gozie would not believe the tale making the rounds that his wife was a whore until his close friend evidenced the fact. Gozie hands Monica a marching order and the movie walks off but not after the revelation that Monica’s long standing friend is HIV positive.

This has a solid message. But on the whole it represents a lame effort and walks off too as some fetish fantasies brought to life. It has a number of limitations which includes the fact that it is creepy, overdrawn, and unoriginal. Though it boasts of some cheap thrills but they are not enough to raise the roof. In fact this bare of any real human emotions. Besides, not much attention was paid to lighting. A few day time scenes played as if the crew lost light. Indeed Duker’s effort has never run so low.

But this gets thumb up for direction. The director did a commendable job of managing the movies flow especially in terms of the cast performance as evidenced in the impressive outing of some of the supporting players. The model and actress Grave Evaly got a role here. Not that she did anything particularly different with what is already known of her voice and body, but that her chirpiness was shaped into something expressive was the plus. Fidelis Duker who called the shots found a role here too. But shots were incoherent once he was on set. The bearded actor Zack Orji who is often cynically cited as ‘the one who plays the good husband in every movie’ returns to a role that is not markedly different from the others. He played the good husband here again.

ARROWS

Producer – Ugo Emmanuel& Alex Okeke

Director – Ekenna Udo Igwe

Actors   - Pete Edochie, Patience Ozokwo, Tony Umez, Benita Nzeribe and others.

One Mokeme (not sure whether he is a chief or an Nze) dies and Chief Okoye (Pete Edochie) leads a band of Mokeme’s surviving brothers-Atuegbu (Remy Ohiajianya) and Obinna (Stan Nnadi) to an asset-sharing meeting in the late Mokeme’s house. There, Mokeme’s wife Hellen (Patience Ozokwo) and only son Kingsley (Muna Obiekwe) are stripped off of their due inheritance. A courageous Kingsley puts up a resistance that left his sight impaired for the better part of the flick-the handiwork of Chief Okoye and Atuegbu who had earlier visited a sorcerer. Events just plod along from here until the law of retributive justice takes it toll on the devious characters. Anyway Kingsley got his sight restored. Mother and child reclaim their inheritance and the movie ends…. not a happy one though for the devious Chief Okoye; the polygamist Atuegbu; for the unfaithful Gloria (Kingsley’s fiancée) and Ken, Kingsley’s friend and confidant who somewhere in the movie coveted his fiancée.

This two-part account even though didn’t say anything new, goes down pleasantly well as you watch it. One of its plus is that it makes complete sense from start to finish but its greatest draw back is the fact it’s too drably an account for a movie. All that story of Arrows could have been told in a single outing. But no! The chaps here in an attempt to impress will add ‘salt’ to a meal even when the meal is already tasty. Ekenna Igwe who penned this and also took the credit for directing the movie could have saved us the agony of watching all those unnecessary details particularly those scenes with Atuegbu and his wives. It didn’t add up to the movie, which dealt primarily with the twin issue of harmful traditional norms and the quest for justice. So in trying to throw up a ‘loaded account’ Ekenna devoted precious time to details that does not add up to the main plot. When you have too much of something it becomes boring. That was almost the case with this movie with a long list of the sectors famous actors- Pete Edochie, Pete Ene, Benita Nzeribe and this fellow King Joe Okechukwu who fitted snugly into the role of Pastor James.

You may wish to see Arrows. The most interesting thing about the movie outside its didactic intent is the fact that it rewards the banking industry. That claim which ‘the xyz’ bank redeemed in the flick is likely to lure many people to ‘save’ against such eventualities. Really this is worth a look. It’s slow going but it keeps you engaged.