CINEMA SPICES

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 by : @black_pen_magic

Oré mí!!!!! Welcome to another episode of "Cinema Spies" with Stage Voice. This week we will be taking you on a Journey of Political Thuggery, Religious Bigotry, Betrayal, Determination, Brotherhood, Corruption... with Jadesola Osiberu's GANGS OF LAGOS (I'm supposed to have gunshots effects with drumrolls, Igbo flute and  a touch of talking drums in the background). 

SPOILER ALERT!!!⚠️

BACKGROUND

"Gangs of Lagos" is a Nollywood crime action thriller. The first Nollywood movie to be officially premiered On Amazon Prime after Jade Osiberu successful sealed a three-year deal with Amazon Prime(clap now it's not easy). According to Jade Osiberu, she got the inspiration for the movie 12 years ago while shooting a Series "Giddy up" at  "Isale Eko". She said, looking from her window, she saw a mother cooking and feeding her kids and just then she began to think of how it actually felt like living in "Isale Eko". 

        Looking from Sugar Rush, Brotherhood and now Gangs of Lagos, one would can easily guess Jade's interests in storytelling. Be it comedy or tragedy, Jade seeks to dig out political dirt's in the society. But guyyyyyy, 12 years to come up with "Gangs of Lagos"? Was the movie worth 12 years of planning? Well let's find out.

ACTING

       You see, PERSONALLY I have a problem with casting celebraties for a movie (I mean what was Peter Okoye doing in Shanty town). Okay, it's even fine if they are given movie roles but can they at least do some research? 

      Seeing Chike Ozebuka (Ify) in the movie at first wasn't so exciting, I was literally waiting for him to mess up but omo I nor see any mess up ooo. He killed it! Zlatan (Kash)  to me was still Zlatan. I don't know how Black Kamoru (Terrible) managed to be funny and serious at the same time, BOSS. Mr Macaroni did Justice to his only scene mannn. Those kids, Young Obalola (Maleek Sanni), Gift (Small Mumm), Ify (Oluwanifemi Lawal) and Teni (Pamilerin Ayodeji) deserve any award given to them especially Young Obalola and Gift and please no one should argue with me when I say Chioma Chukwuka's (Mama Ify) monologue at Ify's burial scene raised the bar for the whole movie, WHATTTTT!!! When I say Chioma Chukwuka you say LEGEND. 

THEMES

       Like I said in my "Background" Gangs of Lagos is theme packed ranging from Struggle, Love,Brotherhood, Political Thuggery, Determination, Betrayal, Greed, Violence etc.

SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF

       Honestly I cleared my throat here. Hmmmmm. NA SO LAGOS BE TRUE TRUE?! Before you answer that question, I particularly LOVED the very first scene for one reason, after Young Obalola and Ify stole at the traffic and the "Isale Eko" woman  (Eniola Badmus) came down shouting "Ole", the fact that no-one moved an inch not even the Police Woman who was bust taking bribes was an highlight for me. One cold malt for Jade Osiberu for that detailed scene cause actually, if you scream "Ole" for some areas for Lagos, NOBODY go answer you. 

         Bamidele (Toyin Abraham) ran for Governorship in the movie with the sole aim of pushing out the people that have ruled the state for over 20 years. This past 2023 elections, we saw agitations just like in the movie to push out a particular circle of leadership that have been ruling the country for over 60years now but Toyin Abraham playing that role looked more like  a Political Sarcasm to people than a Political Statement, "if you know you know" and am I the only one that is going to be looking at the EYO MASQUERADES with  side eye when next I see them? Over the past week, the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Lagos State released a press statement heavily critising GANGS OF LAGOS for painting Lagos in a negative light to the world but who's going to tell our TRUE stories and how? Abeg how we want take paint negative truth for positive light?  She also insists that the movie insults tradition by using Eyo Masquerades as political playthings, hmm. 

           Least I forget, one thing I will give Jade a thumbs up for was the busy scenes. There was always one activity going on in the background among the Extras. Most directors don't make out time for such details but again I felt the killings would have been more detailed, like come on I want to see how the knife pierced through Mr Macaroni. 

       Well with all said and done, Gangs of Lagos goes home with an 8/10 from me. You don't agree? Well you always know you can leave your opinion is the comment section below. Bye now!! Have a great week...

        



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