Author: Ayodele Olawumi

A white woman looking for penance for her father’s sin, an unlikely love story and a love triangle are the main features of this racially charged film by Nigerian-born South African filmmaker, Adze Ugah. Tyra (Michelle Botes) is struck by a local lady, Siya (Nqobile Nunu), when visiting the Sharpsville tragedy memorial. Tyra falls in love with Siya and a romantic saga is initiated between Tyra, Siya and Tshepo (Senzo Radebe), Siya’s boyfriend that devolves into violence as ugly memories are revived. Jewel, South Africa’s latest on Netflix, is fuelled by love, tragedy and revenge. ‘Silverton Siege’ Review: An Average…

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Glamour Girls is a remake of the 1994 Nollywood classic of the same title albeit with a different plot and set in contemporary times. There are too many parallel plots in this movie to be able to really grasp what the story is about. A hustling Lagos girl, Emmanuella (Sharon Ooja), loses her job as a stripper and is desperate to find a new way to keep making money and make her big break. “I don sleep everywhere for this Lagos…, I don fuck pass my age,” she says as she pleads with Donna (Nse Ikpe-Etim), a pimp who runs…

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Just before the release of his new film, Ile Owo, which will open on the 24th of June, 2022, in cinemas, director Dare Olaitan spoke to ShockNG in an interview where he discussed what he describes as more of a psychological thriller than scary horror, future projects, his love for the horror genre, his working relationship with Kayode Kasum and the challenges he has faced as a filmmaker in Nollywood. Olaitan fell in love with the horror genre when he was a kid after watching a Nollywood horror movie that was so good, that it gave him nightmares. When asked…

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Here we go again, another improperly adapted Hollywood plot. The Order of Things tells the story of a geeky nerd’s search for love in the messy dating pool of Lagos. Tunde (Timini Egbuson) has his life planned out, with a set age for every milestone event in his life. Now he is 30 and ready to get married but his mother vehemently refuses. His immature and socially awkward elder brother, Demi (Obi Maduegbuna), has to get married first. “That is the order of things” she says, that’s how it has been all their lives, Demi has to come first in…

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Crushed Roses is a tale of two friends whose feelings fail to meet halfway; although they get their hearts in the right place, their timing is inaccurate. Zainab (Toluwanimi Osaile) and Wale (Temilolu Fosudo) are best friends: Wale is the handsome playboy, “God’s favourite creation” as Zainab describes him and all the ladies want him. Being his best friend and poet, she is an important ally in his romantic conquests, a wingman (wing woman if you please). She writes heart-stealing poetry and delivers gifts for Wale. They work in tandem with each other, inseparable, looking out for each other and…

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36 years after the release of the first chapter of Tony Scott’s Top Gun, Tom Cruise returns in the sequel— flying planes, flashing smiles, flaunting his ageless body, and defying orders. Pete Mitchell/Maverick (Tom Cruise) has now spent 30 years of distinguished service in the Navy without rising from the rank of Captain, “one of the great mysteries of life” he calls it. In a world with less need for fighter pilots, Maverick now tests aircrafts for the Navy, a venture he keeps alive by sticking his neck out for his team (Same old Maverick). Popular for not following rules,…

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Spoiler alert!  Two narratives drive the plot of The Wildflower, Bright and Enterprising Rolake (Damilare Kuku) gets a chance to work at a leading architectural firm as a personal assistant to the CEO Gowon Williams (Deyemi Okanlawon) whom she looks up to and comes to totally worship, but it turns out he has an ugly side; he is a serial rapist and he takes advantage of her on a business trip. On the other hand, Rolake’s neighbour, mama Adaolisa (Toyin Abraham), endures domestic abuse at her husband’s hands until tragedy strikes one day and he kills her and flees, leaving…

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Earlier this month, Tunde Kelani’s 2021 semi-biopic on the legendary Apala musician from Abeokuta, Ayinla Omowura, eponymously titled Ayinla was re-released on Netflix. It has received a mixed reception. Some consider it a masterpiece, while some describe it simply as boring. Ayinla might be considered by viewers as not exciting enough, probably because the film doesn’t have an overriding conflict that drives the plot, rather the plot progresses from one minor conflict to the next as it chronicled the life of Ayinla.  Movie Review: ‘Ayinla’ and “Chronicles of a Death Foretold” Best Nollywood Directors in 2021 Ayinla premiered in cinemas…

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Inkblot’s latest cinema release, The Perfect Arrangement, features a love triangle, politics, high-class living, a fake wedding, a sex tape and two families’ struggle for survival. Seeing her family’s fortunes go down the drain, Tade (Sharon Ooja) decides to take it upon herself to save the day by proposing marriage to her ex-boyfriend, Chidi (Bovi), a union that would guarantee her family’s survival and save Chidi’s political ambitions. But there are some snags: a persistent journalist on a mission, her feelings for two brothers and her personal ambitions.  ‘The Blood Covenant’ Co-writer Chiemeka Osuagwu on the Film’s Inspiration, His Television…

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Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta) and Issa Rae (Insecure) star in this somber romance flick. Written and directed by Stella Meghie (Everything, Everything), New York journalist, Michael Block (LaKeith Stanfield) goes to Louisiana to interview Isaac (Y’lan Noel) about the effects of an oil spill but the story takes a different turn when he sees an interesting picture of successful photographer Christina Eams (Chante Adams), Isaac’s old flame who had left Louisiana to make a name in New York. Michael decides to look up Christina when he gets back to New York, he finds out that she’s dead and he meets her…

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