Nollywood - The Price of fame

I like to watch Nigerian movies. I like to consider myself an expert now....Having been on hiatus from Nollywood for a while, i eased back in with a few that i will be reviewing in the next few posts.

The Price of Fame stars Ini Edo, Gloria Anozie, Uche Jombo and Michael Ezoronye (sp). Story revolves around a star actress Stephanie James (Ini) dealing with rape issues from her past, a child given up and the emotional loss of her parents. Gloria Anoze plays her manager that has to help mop up a scandal that breaks. Uche Jombo plays Uju a no nonsense mother dealing with health issues. Her child is adopted and is actually Ini Edo's daughter she gave up. Michael plays the role of Jude, Stephanie's childhood friend dealing with paternity issues on his own.

This is a pretty decent movie by our standards. Ini Edo overacts as usual but not as bably as in other movies. The script is well developed and i didnt even cringe at all. The issue of rape and the perception of the victim was addressed without it being preachy and i really felt Stephanie's pain. Jude was wonderfully played by Michael and the fact that he stood by her through everything made my heart warm.

I would give this a 7 out of 10. Worth seeing and one of our better efforts.

Olivia Goldsmith - The Switch

A piece of fiction that was such an easy read. This book i absolutely loved. Its an old title but i found this book on sale with a few others so i couldnt help myself.

Where do i begin? This book is hilarious, heartbreaking and serious all at the same time. A suburban housewife who thinks she has it all is excited that her 2 kids are off to college leaving her and her husband alone for the first time in many years. They have everything - house in the suburbs, husband works at her father's BMW dealership so they have twin BMWs in the 2 car garage. She doesnt work but teaches classical piano since she went to Julliard. She is close to her mom and dad. Her brother is a nutcase and his ex wife is an even bigger nut.

Her plans include romantic dinners, fabulous getaways to Mexico, sexy lingerie and rekindling sparks. Until, she realizes her husband is not interested in any of those things. Not with her anyway. He has a mistress that lives in a Condo across the way. A confrontation leaves both stunned. The mistress is a carbon copy of wife. 20 years younger. Wife is what the mistress will look like in 20 years. Capisce?

After a lot of crying and smashing of dishes and even driving a BMW into the pool, wife realises that she wants to be the mistress. To get the roses and the hot sex. Mistress just wants to be a wife and plan the perfect thanksgiving dinner. Therein: The Switch. A nip and a tuck and a strict diet for wife. Mistress darkens her blonde hair and piles on a few pounds and voila.

Hilarious consequences. But underneath all this, as a woman i felt for both parties. When i wasnt smiling and giggling, i was saddened at the potential prospects of being an old married woman. I breezed through this book in 3 days. 9 out of 10

Casino Royale!

Okay. As a huge fan of James Bond and all things Bond related, i was distressed at the choice of Daniel Craig to be my James. I just didnt get it. He is blond and has blue eyes. He is unknown to me and during shooting of this movie, i read he lost teeth and got hurt. James Bond does not get hurt. So i was prepared to hate this movie and Daniel Craig some more.

Daniel Craig is intense. It took me almost 30 minutes while watching the movie to let go of images of Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton and Sean Connery and appreciate Daniel. He acted the hell out of this movie. Since this is a prequel, Bond is very crass, rough around the edges and hasnt achieved that suave debonair thing that is soooo James Bond. I am still a bit weirded out by the blond thing (there was a scene with a close up of his eyes and the eyelashes and eyebrows just got to me) but i will take back all the words of disdain i threw at Craig. Logically, i know that subsequent movies will have James evolving into the character we now love so i shall give Craig a break.

The plot of this movie is plausible. The bad guy Le Chiffre is one very weird fellow (as Bond villians shoud be), the Bond girls are alright and the theme song doesnt have the words "Casino Royale" in it (By the way, i believe there are only 3 Bond theme songs that dont incorporate the title of the movie in some way).

The gadgets - well seeing as James Bond had just gotten double 0 status, he didnt have access to any of the fun stuff. I mean, he started out driving a Ford. But the movie goes on to give background as to the reason why Bond has a thing for Aston Martins. The pre-requisite product placements (done tastefully of course) were there for Sony Ericcson phones, Sony Vaio, Jaguar etc.

The stunts in this movie are pretty brutal. Breath taking but not outlandish like Bond movies of old. Stunts are more along the lines of Mission Impossible type movies. And another thing: In this movie, James Bond bleeds and hurts. I mean he is roughed up good and it shows. There are some breathtakingly beautiful scenes shot in Europe - so amazing.

All in all, i have to watch this movie again. Just because i feel ready to drop all my pre-conceived notions and appreciate this movie for what it is. I would give this a 7 out of 10. Its a good flick. Its just really tough competing with Bonds of old.