MOVIE RUN By Shaibu Husseini

MADAM DEAREST

Producer- Tade Ogidan

Director- Tade Ogidan

Actors- Akin Lewis, Yemi Solade, Opeyemi Aiyeola, Sola Sobowale, Deji Adenuga, Lere Paimo and others

The assertion that players in the self styled Nigerian home video culture dubbed Nollywood have strayed too far from telling engaging stories with likeable characters and a happy and unpredictable ending may not be true after all. Here is an engaging account-Madam dearest, from the stable of OGD pictures run by one of the sectors substantial movie directors and producers Tade Ogidan that is likely to welcome back patrons of good movies who may have perhaps concluded that the players here have stopped spinning good tales.

A brief synopsis so we don’t give out the story.  Biodun (Akin Lewis) a victim of circumstance is jailed for 85 years. His jail term is inexplicably cut short. He returns two years later to discover that a lot has happened behind him. His wife, Bukola (Opeyemi Aiyeola) had literary moved on. She had settled for Daniel, their educated and handsome houseboy of Ghanaian origin whom she had a son for. Biodun’s unexpected arrival spoils the fun for Daniel and Bukola. The movie ends minutes after Daniel eloped with the child. There is a sequel and the way this played out it is difficult to tell how it would eventually end. What is possible however is that the couple-Daniel and Bukola may become one again in spite of that costly interruption in the married life. 

This excites. It is decently acted and represents one effort that is worth your time and quid. It also gets thumb up for some underlying sarcasm about the realities of life. Though with much to trim and not enough timeline in between scene, the convincing performance by its competent cast, Sola Sobowale, Yemi Solade, Akin Lewis et al makes some fault here easily forgivable. As Daniel, Yemi Solade is likeable. He truly presented himself as someone thrust into a situation he couldn’t control. Sola Sobowale got it right here. She has a way with roles that are interpreted with slapstick desperation. She and Solade are about the best element of the film. That is not to suggest though that the other characters did not drop off a sincere performance. They all created a genuine depiction of their characters.

This without doubt has the richness of a rich and simple story. Not that it said anything new but it was confidently shot and represents a satisfying fare. Take a snack break when you feel a scene is too wordy or when you feel a scene is playing out like a scene in a soap opera.

BED OF ROSES

Producer – Chimezie Oguzie

Director  - Mac Collins Chidebe

Actors – Justus Esiri, Kanayo Kanayo, Eucharia Anunobi, Emeka Enyiocha, Jennifer Eliogu and others.

Married to a girl whose father is stupendously wealthy, Festus (Kanayo Kanayo) is handed a cheque of a huge amount as take off grant. His father in law thinks he should put some spark back into his life. He wants him also to quickly revive his moribund petroleum business. He transforms from a petty trader that he was to a business tycoon. But weeks after, Festus gets heady. He keeps late night and became so reckless with funds. Somewhere else he talks his younger brother into accepting to marry a wealthy dude Angela (Eucharia Ekwu) whom he had encountered. Festus wants Phillip (Emeka Enyiocha) to become as successful as he is and even more but all-on Angela’s wealth. Well Phillip approves of the proposal. He agrees to wed Angela and this means dumping Amaka his first love. But Phillip and Amaka had hardly settled down as man and wife when things turn sour. Angela becomes so quarrelsome and disrespectful. Amaka his earlier love wont try a bit of what Angela does. It was on that note of regret that the movie taxies off.

This is tasty. Mac Collins Chidebe who called the shot as director brought a light tone to this two part movie which made it resemble a rich and simple story even though predictable. But for the light tone, it could have easily been brooding and overtly stuffy.

Comparably this is a tale with its own integrity. Aside the fact that it has a number of life lessons to teach part of which is the warning that life is not all a bed of roses, it has many things going for it especially in the plot and plausibility department. Though its not the first to examine such miseries, it gripped us occasionally because of the refreshing manner it was told and principally because it was told with a thoroughly charismatic cast. Kanayo Kanayo holds the movie together with his precise characterization. He combined very well with the other cast members and he got good support from them.

See it. It doesn’t pretend to be a brilliant account but it’s a movie with a soul.