The Amazing Grace

-Originality: [5 out of 5] There are two ways to look at it. For international cinema, we’ve definitely seen a couple slave trade storylines and in fact, I hear that around the same time this movie was released, an European version of the same story was also released. However, as regards to African cinema, this is beyond original. And considering that this is infact Nollywood REinvented… not Eurowood (or whatever it’s called)… I dub thee film very original.

-Predictability: [3 out of 5] The movie was indeed inspired by actual events therefore making the ending a bit set-in-stone per say. Regardless, the writer does utilize some artistic license with the Ansa-Newton ‘almost’ love story (at least I think that was his use of artistic license, because I doubt that that actually happened – but I wasn’t there so how would I know?)

-Directing/Editing: [5 out of 5] Amazing! Amazzzzing! Ah-may-zing! I really am short of words to describe the cinematography of this movie and to think that it’s 2006. Not just 2006, but also considered an African movie? If movies like this are being made then, honestly speaking, we have no excuse (except maybe for lack of funds, corruption, misplaced loyalty etc.)

-Acting quality: [3 out of 5] When it comes to Bollywood movies, Amitabh Bachchan is known for having this amazingly endearing narrator’s voice and I’d have to say that the only person who scratches the surface of an equivalently amazing narrative voice would have to be Mrs. Joke Silva. An amazing actress… phenomenal lady. Job well done but speaking of which, everyone in this movie did an amazing job. I was awfully impressed by the white acts in this movie. Usually, when one sees white people in African movies they are usually (to quote a tweet I saw earlier this week) “homeless looking” and “talentless”. The only person that fell short of ‘awesomeness’ in this movie for me would have to be Mbong Amata. I know at this point it might seem as though I love to pick on her but I’ve only ever seen the lady in two movies: this and “Bridge of Hope“. I thought her work in Bridge of Hope was terrible but in this movie I thought she was ok. She did a pretty decent job but the only problem is that whilst she was decent, everyone else was amazing thereby making her look ‘not as good’ (it’s a bit like Ama K’s performance in “Sinking Sands“)

-Setting: [5 out of 5] Phenomenal

-Costume/Make-Up: [5 out of 5] Loved it

-Video Quality: [4 out of 5] …even for 2006, I must say Jeta is in a class of his own

-Soundtrack: [5 out of 5] Sammie Okposo killed it

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