AllNews Movie Reviews

David Leitch, Brad Pitt, and the rest of the stars who make up the ensemble cast in this movie make it one of the most memorable action flicks of 2022.

The first trailer of Bullet Train did not pique my interest and I only decided to see it because of Brad Pitt (the dude has a way of making most movies he appears in awesome).

A few minutes into it and I was already regretting being in the cinema as the exposition on some of the characters almost muddled things up.

A few minutes after the above, things became clearer, kicked up a notch, accelerated and went full throttle, sending me into an ecstasy of non-stop entertainment.

The plot is brilliantly written and every character brings a new unique input to the overall progression of events as they unfold.

Director David Leitch (known for the first John Wick film) fuses style with an engrossing storyline, spectacular action and a mind-blowing finale to get you so involved in this fantastic feature that nothing else matters.

Brad Pitt is amazing as usual and all the other supporting actors bring flair and wonderful acting chops to what becomes a dream come true for action lovers.

The antagonist was really made to be as scary as possible and the myth was only reduced when he was finally unveiled.

As for the action scenes, I found them quite enjoyable even though some of the punches and kicks obviously don't land in a few sequences.

The sound is perfect and the special effects are out of this world.

All in all, I say Bullet Train blew me completely away, taking me to places that I never expected it to. It's a genuine crowd pleaser for sure.

Hey You Movie follows the story of Abel (Timini Egbuson) and Bianca (Efe Irele) who meet on a sex link-up website called “Fans Alone”.

They meet in real life but Abel is an extremely shy and nerdy person.

Meanwhile, Bianca is a pro: an absolute expert on the Fans Alone website where she makes the sexual wishes of her clients come to pass as she meets them online.

However, things begin to take a drastic turn when Abel (Timini Egbuson) falls in love with Bianca (Efe Irele).

The acting is the spice of the movie. Timini has grown so much as an actor and it is beautiful to see.

Also, the connection between him and Efe Irele cannot be ignored; they made the sex scene look real.

Stan Nze is a brilliant actor; he was the comic relief in the movie and did it well for the overall plot development.

Additionally, the set pieces are gorgeous and the costumes add to the aesthetic appeal. The cinematography is also top-notch.

Hey You proves to be the most sexual Nollywood movie in 2022. 

Viewers who find sexual scenes disturbing on TV are advised to ignore this one as it is rated 18.

Finally, the fourth chapter of Thor Odinson is here. While it certainly isn't as spectacular as netizens are making it out to be, those who loved Ragnarok will have a total blast with this one.

Director Taika Waititi is one crazy and creative dude; his comic genius is all over the place yet again. He employs the wacky comic element that most fans loved about the previous film and takes it up a notch here.

Thor: Love and Thunder will make you fall in love with its heroes, laugh at its almost endless humour, almost tear up when it gets emotional and cheer after its awe-inspiring second end-credits scene.

But while it has all the above, it somehow fails to ascend to the heights that I expected it to due to a somewhat lacklustre beginning, disappointing fight scenes in the first battle sequence, and some unexplained plot details.

I am a fan of both Marvel and DC Comics and Thor as a character is my favourite from the former brand. For me, no other actor embodies the superhero like its lead star Chris Hemsworth.

Talking about Hemsworth, the dude's amazing body is something to behold (fans are no doubt looking forward to that infamous Zeus strip scene).

Every gigantic muscle and the insanely buffed-up physique is a testament to the hard work the actor put in to go beyond how big he was in Ragnarok.

But more than the physical, Hemsworth as Thor once again drives this movie; as the hero, he has never been more conflicted, more vulnerable, and more lovable.

Despite the jokes that often come out of his mouth (the character has become a comedian apparently), I was glad to see that his fiery temper and rash nature shined through yet again. It is the last two that make him imperfect.

Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie is adorable and badass when she fights but I was disappointed that she wasn't fully utilised as I expected. 

Taika Waititi's Korg is just there to mostly provide the comic relief as usual. While that is acceptable, I hoped to see him be more than just the funny guy.

As Jane Foster/Mighty Thor, Natalie Portman is one of the best things in this film. She easily blew away whatever doubts I had that she would make a compelling fighter besides Thor.

At a time in her life when she needed something to make her feel alive, the hero's former lover becomes so much more than his sidekick, eventually stealing the spotlight in the final battle scene.

The antagonist Gorr is one scary and powerful dude made believable and layered by Christian Bale's remarkable acting.

When I first saw him in the trailers, I asked myself what a guy with a sword could do to harm Thor and his formidable allies. The first fight he had with them made me see him in a totally different light.

There is some major character development with Thor and Jane here, and that makes the plot far better than the previous Thor movies.

The action in the second and third acts is a major improvement from that of the first, with Waititi sparing no expense in delivering some of the best set pieces ever seen in the MCU.

In terms of visuals, Thor: Love and Thunder delivers and while it certainly ranks as the best of the Thor films, it doesn't climb to the lofty heights I thought it would.

Play Network once again produces an unnecessary remake and the final result is a film that could have gone somewhere but ends up being all over the place.

While Glamour Girls isn't as bad as the critics are making it out to be, it embraces style over substance, with too many subplots and different threads that fail to tie into a satisfying conclusion.

The title pretty much sums up the movie; girls who want a taste of a better life use what they have to get what they want. 

It's all fun and games until a murder threatens to destroy them and everything that they have built. 

The storyline is basically a rehash of every 'runs girl' film ever made but the script is elevated a bit by some impressive acting from Nse Ikpe-Etim and Sharon Ooja.

The cinematography is okay; good shots, camera angles and scene transition work well. The music which comes across as distracting occasionally majorly helps to set the mood and tone as the plot unfolds.

The film's undoing is its inability to focus on some of the many subplots it has. Some characters are never quite developed while others are more or less one-dimensional.

Perhaps the movie's greatest flaw is the issue with the flash drive(s) in the end. For the life of me, I still can't understand how one flash became two without any plausible explanation.

Play Network's remake is flashy and stylish but gets sapped into its own convoluted plot.

Ikpe-Etim and Ooja are the best parts of the film but even they aren't enough to stop the movie from sinking into an abyss of its own making.

 

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 behind their two daughters (Adaolisa and Cecilia) whom Rolake takes upon herself to care for. While Rolake is on the business trip, Adaolisa also narrowly escapes being raped by a sexual predator. In the midst of these events, selfless Rolake has to be there for the kids while dealing with her own trauma and searching for justice. 

At last, a movie that deals with real-life Nigerian issues. The Wildflower properly captures the life of common Nigerians and the harsh realities faced by vulnerable women whether at home or the workplace and the effects it has on them and the people around them.

Director Biodun Stephen is able to bring the script to life without unnecessarily complicating the story. The idea of showing the two focal rape events at the same time works well and lets it resonate better although there are issues like incoherent scene changes and over-extended scenes, especially the scenes with Rolake and her boyfriend. 

It’s always great to see stories like The Wildflower’s, in an industry where it is rare to see films without sensationalist tendencies. The main plot and subplots are well detailed and structured with character developments explored to reasonable extents- the plot goes straight to the point without taking unnecessary twists and turns.

The writer intended to pass a message and they succeed, although the story is rushed towards the end, so some details are left out:  how can Gowon still give Rola’s boyfriend a job in a company he has been suspended from? and we are left wondering where Rola’s family is in all of these? 

With the film having not so many low or high points, the cast put in average but convincing performances. Deyemi Okanlawon plays the villain again in a role similar to his character in Blood Sisters; Damilare Kuku, author of “All The Men in Lagos are Mad” and Toyin Abraham (The Prophetess) embody their roles well.

While the quality of cinematography has improved generally, it seems like Nollywood might not be getting out of the scourge of pointless drone shots anytime soon. Cinematography is an important tool of storytelling in filmmaking and every shot should have a purpose in order to capture moments meaningfully. 

Although The Wildflower gets boring towards the end, it proves to portray common Nigerians’ realities without shying away from local nuances; it makes good drama and the film’s intended message is passed. 

Colin Trevorrow's latest entry into the blockbuster franchise is arguably his best; the action and dinosaurs make for spectacular sequences and the return of the original cast members is the icing on the cake.

As a fan who revers the first two films by Steven Spielberg, I have never expected Trevorrow to be able to capture that first magic and wonder and that has helped me accept the latter's flawed but commendable interpretations.

In Dominion, Chris Pratt returns as dino handler/trainer Owen Grady, the protagonist who finds himself at the forefront of a fight against a bioengineering corporation called Biosyn after his foster daughter is kidnapped.

Owen and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) fight their way to Biosyn's facility in the attempt to rescue their daughter as the world seems to collapse around them following the dinosaurs doing what they do best.

Jurassic World Dominion is first of all an action sci-fi so those expecting something more than the predictable would be sorely disappointed.

There isn't much to expect in terms of acting but that is pretty decent. The script has several plotholes and the science mumble-jumble comes across as annoying, but all that is forgiven when the viewer is treated to some over-the-top action scenes.

The CGI or animatronics (it's possible both were used, I don't know) are pretty convincing. I particularly enjoyed a scene where one of the creatures stalk Owen and another person by navigating the freezing waters beneath some thin ice.

The return of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum had the expected nostalgic effect. A scene where they meet Owen, Claire, and their daughter gave me goosebumps as it obviously symbolised the convergence of the old and the new.

The one thing that seems to be an issue with these kinds of flicks is how all the people you root for always find a way to make it out alive despite the countless threats they face while the big bad dude always gets his comeuppance.

Die-hard fans of the Jurassic World films and those who love big-budget action movies or dinosaurs will also get a kick out of it as I did.

While Jurassic World Dominion was fun for me, I sincerely hope this is where the popular franchise ends as I have a feeling the producers wouldn't want to make fans get tired of it by churning out more movies.

Marvel movies rarely disappoint and I came out of the cinema with a feeling of immense satisfaction. The second chapter of the eponymous character is dark, pulsating, emotional, and spectacular.

There is no need to go into the plot as the different trailers have already given fans a glimpse of what to expect. However, let me state that there are many surprises in store for them.

One of such surprises is the villain; the person is someone I didn't expect and the unfathomable power displayed by that individual was just awe-inspiring.

Strange (Cumberbatch giving yet another impressive performance) is now more powerful but even his magical skills pale in comparison to the threats he faces this time around. Added to that are some of the issues from his past that confront him at different times.

Benedict Wong as Wong gets a bigger role here and gets a chance to shine even more than he did in previous MCU films.

The young actress who plays America Chavez does the role justice but I was disappointed by the range of her power (which was teased as something great but ended up being limited).

As is Marvel's custom nowadays, several major characters from the comics appear here (I assure fans that they will be delighted), albeit for a brief time.

Strange's love interest Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) has a more important role here and comes to his aid at a crucial moment.

Also, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) who wowed fans with the WandaVision show goes even a step further, embracing her Scarlet Witch alter ego.

Director Sam Raimi knows how to make films of these kinds, splashing in a little dose of horror while keeping you glued to the screen with mind-blowing spectacle after mind-blowing spectacle.

The plot is well-written and even though there is humour, it is very minimal compared to the overall dark tone.

All the actors give their best in terms of role interpretation; Cumberbatch and Olsen are amazing and should be applauded for their remarkable acting.

The action is engaging, the visual effects are jaw-dropping, and the score is hauntingly surreal.

I lowered my expectation so as not to get disappointed but after seeing this film, I believe even if I hadn't, I would have still given a positive review.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is undoubtedly one of the best of the recent MCU films, packing a lot of punches in terms of entertainment value and having an emotional resonance that many fans will relate to.

Good job, Sam Raimi. Good job.

 

The Man for the Job movie is a crime drama that follows the adventure and trials of Joseph (Uzor Arukwe), a hardworking  young man who navigates his family and work life which folds up by the plot of an overly optimistic startup CEO.

It is set in modern Lagos where the fintech era is blooming and really gives insight into the life of crime and betrayal led by financial tech groups.

Joseph, a driver for a popular ride-hailing service, meets a beautiful tech guru like himself Zinnat (Temi Otedola) and offers to help her with a tech problem from work that has been plaguing her for a while. 

He solves her issues only to find out his code was the foundation of this tech product and Zinnat works for a company he had once rejected.

Not much is clear at first but mysteriously, funds begin disappearing from customers' accounts and now they are plagued with a new dilemma and headache.

Who is stealing the money?

The storyline is intriguing as it probably is one we haven't quite gotten before. Unfortunately, it just suddenly falls below standard..

I believe the production team could have done better, especially with the wealth of talents at their disposal. 

Ini Edo is grossly underused and she doesn’t quite show the diva aura we all know she possesses. Same for Uzor Arukwe.

The only two laudable cast members are Temi Otedola and Ali Baba; they naturally upped the game. 

But if the foundation is destroyed what can the righteous do?

All in all, I quite enjoyed the scenery, costumes and cutting edge cinematography.

I'd recommend you all to watch, I can't wait to be proven wrong. Sincerely, I want to be proven wrong because I believe they did all they could and I'm only just being a grumpy know-it-all

 

Director Bolanle Austen-Peters takes on a societal issue revolving around the Christian religion in Nigeria. To a large extent, she succeeds and the actors deliver, with only the ending almost ruining the good work.

As the layered protagonist, lead star Akah Nnani does a fine job, making you see the world through the eyes of someone whose distaste for the faith seems to haunt his life.

First off, Samuel (Nnani's character) is not Mr. Goody Goody; a fact that he knows after deliberately choosing to be the direct opposite of what his father (a popular cleric) wants him to be.

It is the hero's imperfection, inner struggles, and journey that make him a compelling character, one that is mostly lacking in Nollywood movies nowadays.

Osas Ighodaro and Atlanta Briget Johnson are remarkable as two of the supporting characters who have the most influence on the protagonist. I couldn't fault their performances, especially the latter who displayed a variety of emotions convincingly despite her relatively short screen time.

The theme of religion vs faith is depicted in a way that comes across as naturalistic. Many will no doubt take offense to this rather touchy subject but I feel the director did a commendable job.

The plot progression is good, and we see characters grow (as they should) throughout the length of the film. 

The tone shifts frequently from light-hearted to serious, to comical, and then continues in that cycle. While that is not a bad thing, it would have been better to strike a balance as that didn't happen.

The comic relief is done quite well, and this is where another significant supporting character, Rekya, comes in. 

Played by the talented Dorcas Shola Fapson, Rekya represents the very thing that the hero wants to be. His association with this rather amoral person shapes and defines him.

As Rekya, Fapson is simply amazing, stealing the show every time she appears. Constantly walking the dangerous path, her character is one of the best things about the film.

I have said a lot of positive things about The Man of God and may not have much to say about its downsides. But one is the speedy romance between Samuel and Joy. While there was chemistry between the actors, the love thing felt forced.

Another negative thing about the film is what I would call a lazy and convenient ending (I won't get into details so as not to spoil it for movie fans). 

Besides the two points above, The Man of God makes for a worthy piece of entertainment while being educative and instructive.

 

Movies in the cinema these days are filled with both standard and substandard movies. The fear of many cinema goers revolves around whether or not they get value for their money or they come home with drooping heads and a familiar distaste in their souls. 

A lot of times, you go to the cinema not sure if the movie will blow your mind or leave you angry. 

With this in mind, I matched on to the cinema to either meet euphoria or distaste like old friends.

‘I am Nazzy’ is the story of a female superstar, Lady, who isn’t comfortable with the celebrity life and all the scandals and expectations that come with it.

She decides to visit a therapist, and there, she is advised to take a break from all the troubles and expectations of celebrity life. Unfortunately, her manager isn’t going to have any of that. 

Coincidentally, Lady meets her look-alike, Nazzy, in the bathroom, and although they are both shocked to see how much they look alike, it seems like a perfect opportunity for Lady to execute her plan. 

She makes a deal with Nazzy to swap identities for 24 hours so that she can have the break that she so wishes.

It seems like a welcome idea to Nazzy who had also always wanted to have a feel of the celebrity life; something around the premise of 'The Princess And The Pauper'.

So, the two ladies switch roles, and this becomes the genesis of our tale.

For one, ‘I am Nazzy’ started on a high note as the first scenes were captivating enough. The storyline isn’t a bad one at all. It could hold the audience from the beginning to the end of the movie to a certain extent.

I cannot say the same about the directing because it seems like the director still has a lot of things to learn. 

There are so many unbelievable things in the film that would make you ask if the filmmaker thinks we are too unintelligent to notice. Well, we saw them all. 

To mention a few, with that kind of remarkable difference, how did only the driver and close friend know the girls swapped? Even Naza’s mother didn’t know she wasn’t living with her own daughter? 

The editor of the film sure has a long way to go in mastering his skill. Nollywood has grown beyond an actor playing different roles staying far from each other. We have seen these characters hug in other films, so it was shocking to see that Lady and Naza barely stood in close proximity throughout the movie. 

One thing the director did get right with ‘I am Nazzy’ is the selection of characters. The acting is excellent, and if not anything, it will keep you glued to the screen till the end of the movie. 

Chinonso Arubayi is effortlessly a beautiful actress, and seeing her play those two characters so well is applaudable. 

Jide Kene and Jimi Odukoya also did great. Ada Jesus also deserves an accolade, and of course, IK Ogbonna knows how to hold his characters well. 

Chioma Nwosu is always a delight to watch, and thanks to Buchi the Comedian for giving us the light tone in the movie.

The wardrobe and makeup should also not be left out of commendation as I couldn't exactly point to a scene where they missed it.

Location sourcing did their jobs with premium capabilities as it was refreshing to see the length the Nigerian movie would go to actualise their plans.

Regardless of the flaws in ‘I am Nazzy’, it isn’t so much of a bad watch, and for ratings, it will get a 6/10.