There isn’t much we can say on this end, but it would have been wonderful to truly sense the threatening presence of Paul Edima. Richard Mofe Damijo as Paul Edima ON THE OTHER HAND … We highly applaud Editi Effiong for this not-so-subtle message. The northern women we know to be the most disadvantaged and overlooked are the ones holding the gun at the end of the day. The final exchange between Angel (Sam Dede) and Big Daddy (played brilliantly by Shaffy Bello) made a bold statement for women in a society where women are mostly undermined and underrated. We see an apparent reference to the gruesome activities of the former anti-robbery squad, SARS, Dele Giwa’s assassination via a letter bomb, corruption, greed, oppression, women as a disadvantaged minority group, and injustice, just to name a few. ‘The Black Book’ fearlessly confronts themes that are not exactly easy to discuss due to sentiments, emotions, and, some, trauma because of their reference to several actual events that have gripped the nation. Every word and dialogue exchange is significant in driving a point. The scripting and dialogue also surpassed the unfortunate, mediocre, and unrealistic conversations that have come to be expected. Such dedication is not commonly seen in Nollywood productions. What truly stood out was the meticulous attention to detail displayed in every aspect, from props and costumes to sound design and music. Director Editi Effiong confirmed on his social media platform that over two hours of footage from the movie didn’t make it into the final cut. Watching the plot unfold and following the story’s progression, it was evident that the movie had undergone multiple edits to condense it to its running time of two hours and four minutes. The awe-inspiring set design, the various locations showcased throughout, and the seamless transitions in colour grading adapted to each scene and time period-all these elements combined to give this movie an edge over its counterparts released this year. In terms of its visual presentation, it was a sight to behold. Every choice was made with storytelling at the forefront, from the smallest gestures to the grandest actions. Bold and risky choices were made to give us the thrill of a lifetime!Įvery scene, character, and dialogue was carefully considered when it came to camera angles, shots, and movements. Production design and cinematography were nothing like we’ve seen in Nollywood. The bulk of these actors brought their A-game and gave gripping and believable performances, totally immersing the audience in their world. Other notable mentions include Kelechi Udegbe, Ade Laoye, Femi Branch, Olumide Owuru and Denola Grey. The movie features stellar performances from some of our favourite Nollywood veterans, including Richard Mofe-Damijo as the lead, Sam Dede, Shaffy Bello, Alex Usifo, Bimbo Akintola, Bimbo Manuel, and many more. The movie draws inspiration from popular films like John Wick, The Equalizer, and possibly Sicario. It accomplishes its objectives through its unique storyline, captivating action scenes, innovative camera angles, and engaging dialogue. ‘The Black Book’ is a daring film that successfully breaks new ground in Nollywood by pushing boundaries. Their motives were clear: to evade law enforcement after kidnapping and killing the family of the Nigerian Energy and Oil Company’s DG (Bimbo Akintola).Įdima finds himself in a situation where he must confront his past and go against former allies to clear his son’s name. Previously, he had renounced his life as a top hitman, only for the very men he once served to murder and unjustly frame his son for their nefarious deeds. The plot follows the story of Paul Edima (Richard Mofe-Damijo), a devoted church deacon forced back into a life of crime. We have been blessed with many daring and game-changing movies from Nollywood this year, but ‘The Black Book’ has arrived to remind us that there is still more to come before the year concludes. Since its release on Netflix on September 22nd, the movie has risen to become one of the top five films in various countries, such as Nigeria, Brazil, the United States, South Korea, France, Argentina, and more. The highly anticipated movie displays a remarkable amount of courage on the director’s end, which seems to have paid off. This quote from Editi Effiong’s directorial feature-length debut, ‘The Black Book,’ is not only a testament to its expert scriptwriting but also a logline of one of the many prominent themes in this film. That is the natural order of things.” -General Issa (Alex Osifo), The Black Book (2023) “We allow them a sense of democratic freedom but retain power and knowledge so their delusions of liberal society do not lead to anarchy.
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