Dazzling Mirage

Director- Tunde Kelani

Writer- Olayinka Egbokhare with screen play adaptation by Ade Solanke

Cast- Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Kunle Afolayan, Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Seun Akindele,Yomi Fash Lanso, Carol King and Bimbo Manuel

Time: 1:25:45

Year: 2014

Genre: Drama

Yes, yes, I was the selfish one that insisted in keeping you... Mummy Funmi

I had the privilege of attending the LAGOS premiere of Tunde Kelani's ‘Dazzling Mirage’ last year and since it premieres tomorrow, I decided to post my review. "Dazzling Mirage" an adaption of a novel of the same name, focused on the plight of a sickle-cell patient Funmi who's only need was to live a normal life without being labeled a sickler.

Funmi played by Kemi 'Lala' Akindoju, was on point. It was good to see her on the screen as one could feel the discipline she has put herself through to get to this point. As a workaholic who didn't want to be pitied and relegated to the back ground, nice. Her frame helped in adding to the believability of the plight. She came off as too desperate to prove her point that she could do everything but I guess that was what was required and she pulled off her role well.

Soya, the indecisive mama's boy also did a good job. While it felt like his mother was to blame for his indecision, there were parts of him that showed his true nature. I liked the way he took things in, soaking up information and refused to give in to jabs of his status with Funmi (that’s a man with a plan).

For Dotun and boss of Funmi, Kunle Afolayan, i would love to sugar coat it, but Lord knows I can't! From sentences to body language, Kunle felt pretty calculated and flowed like a very reserved lover. Chemistry between Funmi and Dotun felt pretty awkward and strange. As a director he's brilliant, as an actor, he doesn't rock my boat.

I believe I am beginning to sound bias, or better still, people believe I am biased, always looking out for the veterans of the industry like a production would be nothing without them. And maybe I am, because the actors sell the movies, please remember that but having said, I am totally fine with a movie that has only the newbies, the veterans just seem to have a flair that I enjoy and can probably relate with. Anyway I digress. Ms Ajayi-Laycett, Bimbo Manuel and Carol King, I say kudos. My love for Carol King just double after this production as I was moved by her in the melt-down scene with her and her daughter. As a mother who took a risk despite all odds (I'm trying to avoid spoilers) I basically levitated to that and even had goose bumps.

Production quality was quiet rich and clear, knowing that we watched it at the Muson center, the sound was impeccable. Costumes were on point, as Adebimpe Adebambo was on hand to delivered to the numerous costumes we saw in the production. I am glad that the industry is taking costumes seriously and hiring professional to do the job properly. Directing was pretty basic, with no major out of this world angles and after taking time to put this production together, it was well done. Being that it was an adaption, I was worried as to why we had a brigade of unnecessary scenes (film editor oh! We aren’t expecting the whole book). There was a marriage, pregnancy, a delivery and then a birthday party, why now!

Dazzling Mirage was commendable, I call on our various directors and producers to use their platforms as a means of creatively educating and informing the general public on the varying plights that affect the citizens of our nation.  Having said that, more adaptations are indeed welcome, I can't emphasize that enough and this production earns a 5.5/10 from Xplorenollywood.

Dazzling Mirage premieres  in cinemas tomorrow 

Worst & Best Nollywood Posters

Movie posters are an integral part of a film’s promotional campaign even though; it might not necessarily translate to sales or quality of production. I know we have fallen victim to not judging a book by its cover and gone ahead to purchase a movie with the hopes that by God it would be interesting, but in the course of running this blog, I have come across movie posters or should I say film jackets and thought out loud, do film producers really take themselves seriously? As in, ‘they are supposed to be a creative engine what’s with all this half-baked non-creative jackets that annoy one rather than encourage us to grab a copy’.

Knowing that we produce our movies a dime a dozen, I couldn't go through all the movie posters, so i present to you the best and the worst posters of 2014.

30 Days in Atlanta – While the movie may have hit the box office for 2014, this poster was just something else. Where do I start from, the New York background when it was meant for Atlanta, the look on AY’s face like he was about to take a shit or Ramsey Nouah’s hairy chest. Also that urge to showcase everyone in the movie on the cover is truly getting old, but hey, they managed to make it neat and as such this poster was sort of in-between for me. 

Finding Mercy – One of the many posters or like I mentioned jacket covers (I think this was a poster sha!), talk about photo-shop looking funny. Another poster that has all the acts on the cover, but asides having all of them on the cover, it was done badly. So it feels the cover creator said Rita bring your picture, then Blossom, Uti, Chioma and then he cropped them and just super-imposed them on each other. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he adds the picture of a home in the bush to probably spice it up bah! This was one of the worst poster for me, but the movie was okay and earned Desmond Elliot a ‘Best Supporting Actor’ win, so I guess we shouldn't judge a poster by its design right?

Forgetting June – Another super-imposition gone wrong. Would it have killed this artist to show one of the acts at a distance looking lost and forgotten but hey it’s got to be easy if we just call for pictures and piece them together on the poster. While I have come across a number like this, did they really have to use Mbong Amata’s face to block Majid’s? Another horrible poster if you ask me.

Secret Room – I was kind of drawn to this movie, not sure if it was the poster or the jacket, but now that I look at it, I wonder why. It was good movie don’t get me wrong, but this poster was all sorts of wrong. What’s with the oily water look on OC and while you can see the fear in Lilian’s look, was having Jide Kosoko in the poster a real necessity? This poster wasn’t horrible, wasn’t great as well, it can be better is where I will place it.

Dark Side – This was a different kind of poster, an eye with 4 characters in it, it gave the thought that the movie would be about an eye but what exactly, remained unknown until you watched the movie. I am still not sure what to make of it, but different can be a good thing sometimes and as such, this was a best poster for me

When Love Happens – The 2014 RomCom of the year, was pretty unexpected and a true breath of fresh air, the poster, not so much.  While it was different from the normal or was it, there was nothing really lovevy dovey or comedic about this poster, but it does get a nod on my impressive list.

Knocking on Heavens Door – Nothing speaks volumes like a poster that has the leads in full blow frontal and then other characters smaller. Now while I believe, this wasn’t too shabby, as one can’t really tell what the plot of the movie was about, I just don’t get why the house and the bridge was place in the poster anyway, is that the way to Heaven?

Half of a Yellow Sun – With several posters to boast of, what I felt for this poster was way better than what I felt for the actual movie. It was an impressive poster, the characters had a glimmer of hope in their eyes like it wasn't the end of the world and maybe the movie kind of portrayed that as well.

One Night in Vegas – While it was a horrible production, it wasn't a bad poster. It was 4 characters above and Las Vegas below, at least this time, it was the correct city in the picture

A Place in the Stars – Since I haven’t seen this movie, heck, I can still say something about the poster! It is  impressive, it oozed this confidence, don’t mess with me kind of look and I totally like it. Nothing out of the ordinary though, but it was smooth.

October 1 – While this physiological thriller earned a whopping 9/10 from Xplore, the poster was erm…. nothing fantastic. Having your characters super-imposed on one corner and then a church and a bell on the other side tells us all we need to know actually (even though it’s after you watch the movie it will add up). But can you imagine a black poster with just the national flag on a pole illuminated?

Dazzling Mirage – All kind of wonderful is what I can say about this poster. I would have loved to remove all the characters on the side though, but it had the creative balance that was appealing, the use of light and color gave it a balanced, don’t get the image far off, but it was an impressive poster for me

 I stumbled on these movie posters on instagram, all produced and staring Uche Jumbo. A Long Night, Oge’s Sister and Almost Perfect

    

      

Facial expressions look similar right? If i missed any poster send me a link or let me what you think in the comments section.