Movie Reviews
Movie Review: Òlòtūré Uncovers The Depraved World Of Trafficking And Prostitution
Human trafficking, prostitution, rape and murder are vices that are prevalent in our society. Although one doesn’t get to see the very depth of this dark, horrific and depraved world as most of it is shrouded in secrecy.
A Nollywood film directed by Kenneth Gyang and produced by a trio made up of Heidi Uys, James Amuta, and Temidayo Abudu, Òlòtūré is a crime drama which exposes the secret, brutal and dangerous underworld of prostitution and human trafficking.
An Ebonylife film acquired by Netflix. Òlòtūré is currently Nigeria’s No 1 on Netflix and No. 10 in the World.
The movie follows the story of an investigative journalist – Òlòtūré played by Sharon Ooja, the eponymous protagonist.
Armed with nothing but passion and bravery Òlòtūré disguises herself as a commercial sex worker and ventures into the world of human trafficking and prostitution in a bid to uncover a prostitution ring but got more than she bargained for.
Sometimes, stay and fight. Other times, run away and come back to fight another day. pic.twitter.com/I29c7QtbSa
— Netflix Nigeria (@NetflixNaija) October 4, 2020
What looked like a normal undercover investigation quickly snowballed into her reality. From being an outsider, she’s sucked into the dangers of the life of a sex worker, where is drugged and raped by a politician.
The movie would take you on an emotional roller coaster. With sex scenes, sexual violence and violence against women.
Òlòtūré embodies the dark and bitter life of prostitution in Nigeria.
A high point in the movie was the trip to Europe. Òlòtūré and the other ladies were lodged in a house where they were compelled to participate in an oath-taking ritual which was aimed at enslaving the ladies to their trafficker.
This scene was graphic with blood, pubic hair and nudity.
The cinematography is impressive, it grabs your attention and focuses it on the movie’s theme. The plot is impressive.
The role of Òlòtūré was played well by Sharon Ooja but she didn’t interpret the character like I would have wanted her to. During the movie, I sought answers to questions like why she embarked on the mission and why she was so passionate about the story. The movie ended without giving much of an answer.
Though it seemed like the rape incidence intensified her motivation to pursue the story to its very depths but it wasn’t much of a tangible motivation.
Inspired by a Premium Times investigative journalist Tobore Ovuorie, who risked her life to go undercover to uncover the woes of trafficked women in the nation.
Omoni Oboli’s character (Alero), a pimp who made a promise to get them across the Pacific Ocean to Europe was perfectly interpreted. Omoni Oboli played the role very well. I wouldn’t be out of line to say this movie is one of her finest works.
In Òlòtūré, we meet the good, the bad and the absolutely ruthless. #Oloture is now streaming globally. pic.twitter.com/JJJoTmeRwu
— Netflix Nigeria (@NetflixNaija) October 2, 2020
The movie goes beyond trafficking and prostitution. It exposes several areas of corruption and police negligence and sluggishness in the country.
Featured in the movie are Sharon Ooja as Òlòturé, Beverly Osu as Peju, Ada Ameh as Titi, Omowumi Dada as Linda, Blossom Chukwujekwu as Emeka, Omoni Oboli as Alero, Segun Arinze as Theo, Adebukola Oladipupo as Beauty, Ikechukwu Onunaku as Chuks, Kemi Lala Akindoju as Blessing, Omawumi as Sandra, Sambasa Nzeribe as Victor, Daniel Etim Effiong as Tony, David Jones David as Sheriff, Emmanuel Ilemobajo as Simon, Eunice Omoregie as Linda’s mother, Gregory Ojefua as Sami, Patrick Doyle as Sir Phillip, Pearl Okorie as Peace, Wofai Fada as Vanessa and Yemi Solade as Jubril.
In conclusion, Òlòtūré reveals the reality of millions of girls in the country. The world that many young girls are forced into.
if you’re soft-hearted you’d have to sit this one out as you may not be able to stomach it
Movie Reviews
REVIEW: Femi Adebayo Beats His Own Record With Jagun Jagun (The Warrior)
The most-talked-about movie right now in Nigeria is Jagun Jagun (The Warrior) by Nollywood actor-producer Femi Adebayo. Read on to see my review of the movie, released Thursday, August 10, exclusively on Netflix.
The Synopsis
Centered on betrayal, envy, struggle, love, and pain, Jagun Jagun tells the story of a courageous young man named Gbotija who has lost his beloved father to some group of invaders and resolves to avenge him by learning the ‘work of war’ under a notorious warlord called Ogundiji. The army Ogundiji commands is very gritty, and Ogundiji himself is a powerful fighting instrument used by influential men to destroy their antagonists.
Soon after Gbotija gets to Ogundiji’s camp, and joins his army, he meets the beautiful Kitan, and both of them fall in love. Gbotija is so brave and strong that he stands out in Ogundiji’s army in a short period of time. His fast-rising popularity piques the attention of his master, Ogundiji, who cannot stand an ‘ordinary soldier’ receiving praises under his watch.
Therefore, he puts Gbotija to a series of dangerous tests in order to get him killed, like facing Gbogunmi in a combat. It’s during the tests that his lover, Kitan, loses her life and he finds out Ogundiji is the one he has been seeking to take revenge on.
The Review
Femi Adebayo is changing the narratives about Nollywood, and turning it into an industry that Nigerians can be proud of and one that can compete with the best in the world. He has found a way to tell African stories, particularly Yoruba stories, in a way that resonates with the people—even those who are not of the culture.
His previous movie Agesinkole (King of Thieves) was such a great one that it seemed to people, including myself, that there wouldn’t be another Femi Adebayo’s movie greater than it. He himself was evidently aware of this burdensome esteem in which viewers held, and many still hold, Ageshinkole when, in his first social media post introducing Jagun Jagun, he stated: The dream was to surpass Agesinkole in every ramification. It almost seemed impossible because people kept asking ‘what else could be bigger than Ageshinkole’?
As a producer, Femi Adebayo is in his own league, on a different creativity level; and he, clearly, should not be compared! Don’t take this as meaning his works are perfect, without any flaws. No work of art, as the popular saying goes, is perfect. But, I must point out here, Jagun Jagun’s possible flaws are overshadowed by its storyline, educative, informing, entertaining, but also emotive; by its star-studded cast who masterfully protray their characters; and by its cinematography that’s nothing like I have seen in Nollywood before. If it is safe to say, Femi Adebayo has beaten his own record!
The script is fascinating; the story is straightforward, with great lessons taught; the acting is a master class, as expected of a movie with some of the best in the industry; the effect is virtuosic; and the stunts are top notch. This is a movie you want to see, I assure you.
I give it a 9/10 rating.
The Cast (Main Characters)
Femi Adebayo – Ogundiji
Lateef Adedimeji – Gbotija
Bukunmi Oluwashina – Kitan
Ibrahim Yekini Itele – Gbogunmi
Movie Reviews
Shanty Town Review: A Tale Of Crime, Deceit And Dark Politicking
Shanty Town: A Tale Of Politics, Crime And Deceit
The series starts at a brisk speed and from a powerful position, establishing tension from the opening scenes. We see a ghetto or community being overrun by gunmen; smashing people’s head, shooting sporadically with no mercy while an odd upbeat war song play in the background.
Shanty Town is about a group of female sex workers (Mercy Eke, Nancy Isime and others) who are trying to escape the slum of the Shanty Town in Lagos, where they are subjected to the brutal rule of a kingpin named Scar (Chidi Mokeme). Scar, though, won’t give the girls up so easily as they are part of his money making machine.
Just like the ladies, Scar is not a free man. Scar is subservient to Chief Fernandez (Richard Mofe-Damijo), a wealthy politician whose run for governor necessitates the suspension of some of their unlawful activities. And if that weren’t enough, Scar also has to deal with Dame Dakota (Shaffy Bello). And she’d like to be governor, too. So, using the Chief’s own son, Femi (Mr P), as bait, she forces Scar to join her in bringing down the Chief.
Shanty Town tells a story about human nature by weaving a story of lies and deceit within a story of crime and romance. It shows the Nigeria political scene and many wild things happening underground.
The series makes use of good cinematography, however, there are too many unnceccesary fighting scenes. It is good that Nollywood is leaning towards making crime thriller but Shanty Town relied so much on monologue than dialogue, especially its heavy repetition, makes for a tedious viewing experience.
At the end, Shanty Town still remains what it is. Nigeria is still “Nigeria”.