Hello people, yo yoh yoh wassup! Me and my backyard crew are back again with our list of top Nollywood films.
Okay, I think I've almost exhausted the list of "New Nollywood" films that were released at the time I haven't started paying attention, so my list this year is populated with 2014 films, cos I tried not to miss many films (I can't wait ten years for DVD release
). This year had the release of many highly anticipated films to keep us glued to the screens - just that, a huge number of them were disappointing.
What we can't deny however is the fact that, a lot of films were released to the cinemas this year (for the first time, there's no month I opened a cinema's website and atleast 3 or 4 Nollywood films were not showing....infact, it significantly increased towards the end of the year). Same way,
Nollywood had the lowest number of video/idumota releases this year (thanks to pirates wey don helep us spoil their marketu finish! *apologies to the professional filmmakers out there that this piracy issue affects, but maybe its just God's way of cleansing the film industry
*). Personally, I wasn't that impressed with most Nollywood films I watched this year; not because they were worse than the ones I watched last year (infact, they improved significantly), but because the movies I watched last year made my expectations for the coming years to be raised abnormally. Back to business of the day, here are the top 10 Nollywood films I watched this year,
I also considered some factors in my ranking like critical reception. Enjoy! And don't forget to add yours
:10. Mother of George
Starring: Isaach de Bankole, Danai Gurira, Bukky Ajayi, Tony Okungbowa, Yaya Alafia
Release Year: 2013
Production House: Parts & Labor, Ajiwe Fun Orisha
Director: Andrew Dosunmu
Genre: Drama
Budget: N130 million ($750,000)
NOTES: Okay... if I am to list my top Nigerian films, this probably won't make my top 50! But it received critical acclaim....so you might just check it out. If you are a filmmaker, this film is definitely a must for you, cos it is artistically nuance! But as an audience, we are not just in the theatre to watch the artistic nature of a film....we want to be entertained!....well, you just might like this film or probably hate it! If you are a western audience, you may like the story....but Nigerians and Africans in general have seen this story one million and one times! So the plus point should be on how its told....I don't know if its told well or not...just check it out! BTW.. if you hate slow films, just don't bother yourself to watch this...cos this film has a sleep-inducing slowness!
9. Render to Caesar
Starring: Wale Ojo, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Omoni Oboli, Bimbo Manuel, Dede Mabiaku
Release Year: 2014
Production House: Mighty Man Entertainment
Director: Onyekachi Ejim, Desmond Ovbiagele
Genre: Crime thriller
Budget: N50 million (I think I read somewhere like that)
NOTES: This film has a nice premise that could turn out great, but somewhere in execution it fails.....maybe in the directing, maybe in technical details. Despite the flaws, it is still worth watching. It was nice to see Wale Ojo on the big screen once more! where did you go to after Phone Swap?
8. A Place in the Stars
Starring: Gideon Okeke, Segun Arinze, Yemi Blaq, Matilda Obaseki, Dejumo Lewis
Release Year: 2014
Production House: Native FilmWorks
Director: Steve Gukas
Genre: Crime thriller
Budget: N160 million
NOTES: This film has been in production for 7 years now, and its kinda obvious. Maybe if this film was released like 4 years ago, it would've been "brilliant". But, at this point in Nollywood, I feel like the industry has passed certain lapses that exist in the film. Overall, this film has a good story, a good message and a great music score!!! Make sure you watch it! A friendly advice to Gideon Okeke
, better up your game in 2015. You're becoming a critical disaster already, when you've barely started your big screen career! Why? Not good.7. Contract
Starring: Hlomla Dandala, Yvonne Okoro, Joseph Benjamin
Release Year: 2012
Production House: Sparrow Productions
Director: Shirley Frimpong Manso
Genre: Romantic comedy
Budget: N/A
NOTES: This film is a very nice film! funny and realistic sort of. Yvonne Okoro was brilliant and convincing as usual! Joseph Benjamin was being the usual Joseph Benjamin in his acting. This film is just a feel good movie that will have you laughing out loud while watching.
6. Being Mrs Elliot
Starring: Omoni Oboli, Majid Michel, AY Makun, Uru Eke, Lepacious Bose, Chika Chukwu (Phone Swap, The Meeting)
Release Year: 2014
Production House: Dioni Visions
Director: Omoni Oboli
Genre: Romantic comedy
Budget: N/A
NOTES: This is another feel good movie. Very funny!....Kinda slapstick, which I'm not a fan, but still is worth watching! See what the new director on the block has come up with
5. Finding Mercy
Starring: Uti Nwachukwu, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Rita Dominic, Desmond Elliot, Chioma Chukwuka, Biola Segun Williams, Tamara Eteimo
Release Year: 2013
Production House: Denziot Productions
Director: Desmond Elliot
Genre: Drama
Budget: N/A
NOTES: LOL, I can't believe I discouraged Villageboi from watching this film just because it has "Desmond Elliot" on it. Lol okay, to say I hate any Desmond Elliot film is an understatement..based on the fact that, before now, he has never directed any film that turns out sensible...they always reeked "bad directing" all over. "Finding Mercy" is quite different. A friend of mine gave me a DVD of this film in order to try to change my opinion of Desmond Elliot....and for a change, Desmond actually directs a film!!! HALLALUJAH!!! Don't get me wrong, "Finding Mercy" isn't 'brilliant'....just that, it's such a pleasant surprise from Desmond Elliot that you feel its 'brilliant', since typically, you go into the theatre expecting NOTHING from Mr Elliot. Biko, Desmond make a film better than this, and you'd have my heart again!
. BTW, it's not only Desmond, Uti has also grown as an actor! It's kinda cool to see Biola Segun Williams in a different role, where she doesn't have to speak with that her accent. Overall, Kudos to everyone involved!4. Black November
Starring: Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Mbong Amata, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Sarah Wayne Callies, Vivica Fox, Nse Ikpe Etim, Anne Heche, OC Ukeje, Persia White, Akon, Wyclef Jean
Release Year: 2012
Production House: Wells and Jeta Entertainment
Director: Jeta Amata
Genre: Action drama
Budget: N2 billion
NOTES: Now this film has a story that could turn out to be very gripping, with a powerful message....but somehow somehow, the story telling kinda disappoints. It seems they spent more of all that budget paying the "Star-studded" cast and crashing vehicles, than they did in investing in a good screenplay. However, "Black November" has some Nollywood-never-seen-before car stunts. Anyone who thinks "A Place in the Stars" is the first (Nollywood producers and always claiming false firsts) car crash stunt in Nollywood has definitely not seen "Black November"...Not only does "Black November" precede "A Place in the Stars" (even though I won't still say Black November is the first Nollywood film with car stunts), it also has more extensive car stunt sequences, which are arguably better than the chase scene in "A Place in the Stars". This film is worth watching, it exposes the plight of the people in the Niger Delta...the people feeding the rest of Nigeria with their oil, while they suffer the poverty and water pollution.
3. Half of a Yellow Sun
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Rose, Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, OC Ukeje, John Boyega
Release Year: 2014 (theatrical)
Production House: Shareman Media, Slate Films
Director: Biyi Bandele
Genre: Drama
Budget: N1.6 billion
NOTES: Okay, where do I start? This film is obviously the most popular Nigerian film of 2014...many controversies here and there (Casting bruahaha. Producers claiming its the first Nollywood film to premiere at TIFF, also flagging the film as the most expensive film from Nigeria; both claims turning out to be false. etc....) Well, I like this film, not because the story was WELL TOLD - far from it! Rather, I commend its ambitiousness. It also has very high production values (Atleast we can see where all that money went to, since it obviously didn't go into a brilliant screenplay, neither did it go into a good business/distribution plan)! The film is worth watching anyway....It's actually kinda okay, especially when you try not to take any expectations along with you into the theatre....or consider all the chest beatings of the filmmakers.
2. When Love Happens
Starring: Weruche Opia, Gideon Okeke, Oreka Godis, OC Ukeje, Beverly Naya, Shaffy Bello, Bassey Ekpeyong, Desmond Elliot, Bukky Wright, Wale Ojo
Release Year: 2014
Production House: Future Gate Pictures, PHB Films
Director: Seyi Babatope
Genre: Romantic comedy
Budget: N/A
NOTES: I saw the trailer of this film, and I was impressed already! The good thing about this film is; you get exactly what you expect from watching trailer. There are certain things I was super-impressed with watching this film - one is SOUND!!!!!!! Mehn! well mixed and balanced. This is an aspect even many new Nollywood films don't pay attention to....yeah, we can hear what they say now (unlike years of holding on to our remote control), but there is a good feeling you get when a film sound so pleasant to the ears. The saving grace of this film is also the fact that it doesn't try to outdo itself.....it's just in its comfort zone and didn't slack....I hold this believe that it's not exactly the boundaries you've pushed, but how well you've done it - whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. Apart from being one of best Nigerian films of 2014 for me, WLH is arguably the best romcom I watched in 2014 (Hollywood, Nollywood, and anyother woods). My initial concern about this film was the performance, but I was pleasantly surprised. the performances were not brilliant, but definitely up to par, kudos! And The girls!!!! They are such eye candies! Oreka Godis! *Sighs* I'm in love with you
....I no know sey you fine reach like this in "Gidi Up" ooo....more of Oreka on screen please ....Point of note though, I don't know why I keep feeling this may be the type of roles you'd be able to pull off, and you may slack in emotionally driven roles....but who cares anyway? We want Oreka! A very very nice feel good movie. Predictable as with all romantic comedy, but watch!1. October 1
Starring: Sadiq Daba, Demola Adedoyin, Kayode Olaiya, Kehinde Bankole, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Fabian Lojede, Femi Adeboayo, Bimbo Manuel, Ibrahim Chatta
Release Year: 2014
Production House: Golden Effects
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Genre: Psychological thriller
Budget: N330 million
NOTES: Well, I guess many people would agree this is the best movie out of Nigeria this year. It's like a compensation for all the BS-to-average films I've been watching through the year. This film is arguably the most popular Nigerian film of 2014, after 'Half of a Yellow Sun'; but unlike HOAYS, it lived up to its hype. very good storytelling. brilliant costume and set design. On point direction. infact, salute to everyone involved...Kehinde Bankole, I was kinda keeping a tab after seeing her in last year's thriller film "Awakening"; now she's finally proven that she's a very very good actress! Demola Adedoyin is good! and a first timer for that matter...I expect to see more of him
. This movie is for everyone.... you just can't hate it! You may not like it, but you can't hate it!looking forward to:
Heaven's Hell by Katung Aduwak (coming January 2015)
'76 by Izu Ojukwu (coming soon) - can we atleast know wetin stalk the release of this film? abi dem don shelve am?
The Department by Remi Yaughn-Richards (coming January 2015)
Dry by Stephanie Linus (released 2014)
Dazzling Mirage by Tunde Kelani (released 2014)
Criteria - As usual; Superb story/plot, Excellent Production values (Visuals, Sound, Directing, Music Score and 'attention to details' etc) etcetera.....
ACTORS OF THE YEAR!
Criteria: My actors of the year refer to the stars who acted quite a number of movies between year 2012/2013....well....it might also translate to good acting Qualities.
MALE
Blossom Chukwujekwu
Actually, OC Ukeje still leads the pack in this aspect, but I didn't want to pick him this year again! but sha, I need to meet the guy's manager! He keeps getting roles; the three films that has been announced for January 2015 again has OC in it, kilode?!!!! There's Godu o! Moving on away from OC; I was torn between choosing Alexx Ekubo and Blossom, but I chose Blossom anyway for whatever reasons. One thing common with these two that I should probably note is that I've only seen them (especially Alexx) in mostly Royal Arts Academy movies. I always have this notion that if you are getting roles only in a particular production house, it's probable that you get roles for other reasons other than acting skills...eg longleg. Anyway, I actually chose Blossom cos I think he is a better actor (hope Alexx fans won't cut off my head).....one to watchout for!
List of Movies featured in year 2013 through 2014 - Flower Girl, Finding Mercy, Knocking on Heaven's Door, When Love Happens...He also featured in TV series like "Shuga Naija" and the upcoming "A Taste of Love". Way to go!
FEMALE
Kehinde Bankole
Last year, after watching "Awakening" my eyes were kinda on Kehinde Bankole....and boom! She got her big break on the big screen this year! She acted well in the film "Render to Caesar", but she's amazing in "October 1". This girl is good and I think she's here to stay! And she's soooo beautiful!!! Fyn geh no pimple, I love your dimple
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