The Black Book

The Black Book

This Nigerian Crime Thriller sees its lead character, Paul Edima, on a revenge journey against those involved in the unlawful killing of his son.

As with many blockbusters that Nollywood has been churning out in recent years, The Black Book is star-studded, from the insignificant to the important characters. This helps the movie maintain a firm grip on the performances from the cast, but Ade Laoye and Bimbo Akintola (even with her limited screen time) deserve praise for their portrayals.

The Black Book starts with a simple plot, and the first quarter is backed by its emotional core. But as the movie unfolds it becomes complex, and the twists employed don't always help the story's progress. Some relationships are glossed over, and some characters are unimportant.

Even though the plot needs refinement, the cinematography is beautiful and elevated with its choice of locations and set designs.

The Black Book can best be summed as Nigeria's answer to the American John Wick.

6/10.

The Black Book directed by Editi Effiong is an action film about a deacon who taps back into his sinful ways to avenge his son's death, absolve him, and give him a proper burial. Paul Edima, deacon and reformed assassin, is played by Richard Mofe-Damijo affectionately known as RMD. At the movie's opening, Edima is a loving father and pillar of his remote community while bearing witness and doing good deeds in the name of his Christian faith. The transformation of Edima from humble Christian to determined marksman without losing his sense of morality was a fine line to walk but pulled off seemingly effortlessly by RMD. His beach scene alone made me want to fly to Lagos, suit up, and join the cause. RMD emoted the stages of grief with surgical precision. When his character finally reached acceptance of the loss and determination to avenge, the movie hit its stride. The supporting cast was filled with some of the writer's Nollywood favorites including: Shaffy Bello, Femi Branch, Iretiola Doyle, Bimbo Manuel, Bimbo Akintola, and the one and only Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. The unexpected breakout actress was Ade Laoye who played Vic, the unrelenting journalist who was researching the murder of Edima's son when her path and Edima's crossed. Vic's scene in the church when she found out who was responsible for her mother's death brought tears to the writer's eyes. This otherwise strong and determined character broke emotionally in a way that was palpable. Ade's Vic evolved with the storyline as though her scenes were shot in sequential order or as though Ade kept the entire story in mind when she shot each scene. Brilliant performance. Also, shout out to the blonde assassin played by Denola Grey. I was expecting big things from him but he was murdered before his third costume change. Pity. Perhaps more of him and less dozens of people holding guns in the air and chasing each other would have fared better.

Though the premise of the story was believable, it sometimes got muddled with all the shootouts. It became difficult at times to figure out who was fighting whom and why or how Nigeria is still a functioning nation with so many warring factions in broad daylight. To be fair, there's a Hollywood blockbuster buster movie director who is notorious for overdoing fight scenes and explosions by having too much going on at once and giving the viewer sensory overload, but his movies are still some of my favorites. So there's that. Overall, it was a really good movie with a cast of heavyweights lead by RMD, beautiful cinematography, and plausible premise. Just use the gang fighting and gun showboating times for a snack break because they don't seem necessary to the story.

This movie was beautifully executed, and I appreciate its relevance to some of the issues we face in Nigeria today, such as government cover-ups involving innocent lives. While the plot bears resemblance to Liam Neeson's "Cold Pursuit," I must commend the director for their remarkable work. Films like this have the potential to engage Nigerians more in Nollywood.

However, there are a few aspects I'd like to address: 1. The dialogues: The accents sometimes felt forced, attempting to mimic Hollywood, which didn't work well.

2. It would be better if the characters embraced their Nigerian identity more.

3. Some dialogues were cringe-worthy and led to second-hand embarrassment.

4. While there were talented actors, some of the cast members came across as inexperienced.

5. Certain relationships in the movie lacked a solid foundation or exploration.

In summary, I enjoyed the film and its message but believe that Nigerian movies should avoid emulating Hollywood excessively. I'd rate this movie 7/10.

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.

We clap for Editi Effiong👏🏾 The Black book was a breath of fresh air and a beautiful production!

Only wished the film had kept the same vigor that it started out with😔

DELICIOUS

-The cast was a nice fusion of older generation (RMD, Sam Dede, Alex Usifo) and the newer generation (Ade Laoye, Denola Grey, Olumide Oworu)

-Big shout out to the production crew! Impeccable the sound quality. Yinka Edward, as always, nailed the photography. And the set design adequately suited the rough and tough ambiance

-It was obvious the movie wanted to encourage the people to rise up and act against the framing and killing of innocent young men: 'Silence is the enemy'

BLAND

-The film started on a powerful note with a vigorous altercation between police and armed men, later the momentum increased more when deacon Paul's son was framed.

Then about the time Shaffy Bello was introduced, the pace started slowing down. The dialogues became plain and the scenario casual, without creating any suspense or excitement

-Alex Usifo, Sam Dede, and Shaffy Bello, though playing notorious roles, delivered a theatrical performance.

Plus, the level of violence/fighting choreography was low and the screenplay became predictable

-The absence of symbolism failed to intensify the meaning of the story or help the audience relate to deacon Paul and his pain...