When the Heart Lies

-Originality: [2 out of 5] Before “when the heart lies”, I had never seen a movie with this story (well a Nigerian movie at least) and even after 3 years I haven’t seen a movie with a similar story. One does have to note however, that the movie is based loosely on the 1999 American movie “Double Platinum” starring Diana Ross and Brandy. Notice how I said loosely? That’s a word that I can not use for Venus Films… they don’t loosely base their stories. THEY REPLICATE! I also didn’t see any note or acknowledgment during the credits stating the movie from which the idea was gotten… Plagiarism is real folks! Everything needs to be credited, no matter how loosely attached they might be.

-Predictability: [1 out of 5] Without the synopsis? No! I would not call this movie predictable. Not now, not ever. But after the synopsis and after this review… then Yes! It is indeed…. glaring!

-Directing/Editing: [3 out of 5] Allllriiiighhtt! I don’t know what Lancelot Oduwa did to a select group of raving ‘haters’ (as much as dislike that term, I can’t find a more appropriate one). That they decide to choose one aspect of the movie (aka Omo-sexy’s stage directions) and use that as the sole basis of their argument in support of their thesis: “Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen is a useless and unskilled director”. I say, google director. Look up the job description. Find out how Lance performed for each criteria. And then please come up with a better rating or review… or whatever it is you’ve termed those raving rants of yours. So… yes indeed, Omotola’s stage directions could use work. Yes indeed her and her ‘daughter’ do not in any way sound like recording artists (I mean they aint exactly Tiwa Savage). I admit Lancelot should have lip synched their voices with that of actual singers. But… a director does much more… rephrase… there were other things Lance did right. And I try and I try to reward for things done right as much as I deduct for things done wrong.

-Acting quality: [3 out of 5] Asides from the singing, I honestly believe Omosexy did an amazing Job. Omo-T, Des, Uche and Omoni were pretty convincing young’uns as they were adults. Some people had a problem with Uche Jombo’s acting. Describing it with terms such as ‘forced’ and the likes. Uhm… I can’t comment on this because I thought that was what the character was supposed to be like? Omoni Oboli’s acting has definitely improved since this movie (compare with “Jungle Ride“). I’d say that she has learned control over the years. The actors who played Omotola’s parents were ok but could have definitely done better. Now… Lola Shokeye (who played Angel, Omotola’s daughter)! Lola was ok, I guess… she didn’t suck entirely (like the extras did) however she wasn’t that amazing of an actress. My question is between Lola Shokeye who plays Amber the daughter of Omotola in this Vivian Ejike production and Chelsea Eze who plays Genevieve’s daughter in Silent Scandals, who is the better actress?

-Setting: [3 out of 5] Exempting the concerts and performances, the settings were usually good.

-Costume/Make-Up: [3 out of 5] I wasn’t getting the, ‘star-vibe’ from Omotola’s costumes but asides from that, I’d say, Uche Nancy did a decent job.

-Video Quality: [4 out of 5] Pretty good for 2009

-Soundtrack: [5 out of 5] The actual soundtrack, that was not Omotola’s character’s singing, was well done. Song is stuck in my head.

-Musical Score: [5 out of 5] Nicely done