Movie Title: The Black Book
Release Date: 22nd September, 2023
Director: Editi Effiong
Runtime: 2 hours
Cast: Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sam Dede, Alex Osifo, Iretiola Doyle, Patrick Doyle, Femi Branch, Olumide Oworu, Bimbo Manuel, Boki Ofodile, Nobert Young, Shaffy Bello amongst others.
Plot
The Black Book which is currently airing on Netflix, shows a notorious hitman Paul who resurfaces after 24 years of silence to avenge his son’s death in a quest for justice. The story unfolds with Professor Craig, CEO of Nigeria Energy & Oil Company, battling corruption in her community, drawing the ire of powerful individuals who orchestrate the kidnapping of her husband and baby. General Issa controls the gang responsible, and they frame an innocent man, Damilola Edima, to divert police attention.
Damilola, also Paul’s son, had once worked for General Issa before going into hiding. Paul, now a deacon, had turned his back on his criminal past and handed over a black book containing incriminating evidence to General Issa. However, when his son is killed mistakenly, Paul is spurred back into action, fueled by a desire for vengeance and justice.
Determined to take matters into his own hands, Paul embarks on a relentless pursuit of his son’s killers, risking everything to make them pay for their actions. The suspense builds as Paul’s quest for retribution unfolds, leaving viewers wondering if he will succeed in his mission for justice in the face of formidable adversaries.
The Review: Positive
The movie’s storyline is unique compared to typical Nollywood action films, but it could have been told more effectively. While the cinematography is impressive overall, some outdoor scenes lack the same quality as indoor and nighttime shots.
The film features a stellar cast, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Alex Osifo, Patrick Doyle, Sam Dede, Ireti Doyle, and Shaffy Bello, who deliver standout performances.
Richard Mofe-Damijo’s acting, reminiscent of John Wick, is particularly noteworthy, especially considering his age. The production design, especially in flashback scenes, adds to the film’s realism and enhances its storytelling.
While the dialogue effectively moves the story forward, it could have been more polished. Overall, the movie has many strengths but also room for improvement in certain areas.
The Negative:
The problem of trying to do too many things at once is a big issue in Nollywood movies. Sometimes, filmmakers want to explore lots of different ideas all at the same time. This can make it confusing for the audience because instead of focusing on one main story, the movie jumps around to different things.
For example, let’s look at the movie “The Blackbook,” which is supposed to be about Paul Edima seeking justice for his son’s death by taking on a corrupt police gang. But instead of sticking to this main story, the movie starts introducing lots of other stuff, like Paul’s past with the gang leader and his efforts to save a journalist named Victoria. This makes it hard to keep track of what Paul’s really trying to do.
Also, the relationship between Paul and his son isn’t shown enough for the audience to really care when the son dies. We only see them together a few times before the son is killed, so it’s hard to feel the emotions that Paul goes through. And even though Paul is supposed to be this tough hitman, we don’t really get a sense of that because his character isn’t developed enough.
In summary, “The Blackbook” could have been a better movie if it focused more on one main story instead of trying to do too much all at once. And by building up the relationship between Paul and his son, the audience would have been more invested in the outcome.
