Let’s Talk About the AMVCAs

I read an article recently by  our very own Richard Odilu in which he touches on the viewer’s choice nature of the AMVCAs. He brings up a valid argument which is, are the winners of this year’s AMVCAs going to be the best or the most popular? He uses the analogy of the just concluded Oscars in which the not so popular choice came out ahead.

If the Oscars were a viewer’s choice award it would be a whole other matter but most importantly it would lose respect. This is because it’s very hard to respect a viewer’s choice award ceremony at least in comparison to panel-chosen awards.

But in the spirit of the season, the following are NR’s choices and predictions and hopes about the upcoming AMVCAs:

[toggle_box title=”Best Movie 2013 Nominees List” width=”Width of toggle box”]Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Udoka Oyeka & Orode Ryan – Living Funeral
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro & Ken Attoh – Contract
Michelle Bello – Flower Girl
James Omokwe – Awakening[/toggle_box]

The nominees for best movie 2013 are Last Flight to Abuja, Living Funeral, Contract, Flower girl and Awakening. Of those five, I saw all exempting Living Funeral (now making a personal note to see that) and Flower Girl. Of the three that I saw, I think the Awakening deserves it for best movie. I say this because the Awakening was the one movie that seemed to be different and daring without completely falling on their faces. Even without seeing Flower Girl I don’t think I’d think differently if I saw it.

[toggle_box title=”Best Movie – Drama Nominees List” width=”Width of toggle box”]Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Edwin Maina Kariuki – Nairobi Half Life
Udoka Oyeka & Orode Ryan – Living Funeral
Frank Rajah Arase – The Groom’s Bride
Jumafor Ajogwu & Chris Eneaji – Murder at Prime Suites[/toggle_box]

For best movie – drama, I only saw “The Groom’s Bride”, “Last Flight to Abuja” and “Murder at Prime Suites”. I could take the coward’s way out and say that for the simple fact that the other two were neither made nor released in 2013, Murder at Prime Suites should win. But then, even without taking the coward’s way out, I still think MAPS should win. The odds of that happening however are pretty slim but fingers crossed.

[toggle_box title=”Best Movie Comedy Nominees” width=”Width of toggle box”]Uche Jombo – Lies Men Tell
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro & Ken Attoh – Contract
Elvis Chucks – A Wish
Martins Onyebuchi Onyemaobi – The Fighter
Martins Onyebuchi Onyemaobi – The Hero[/toggle_box]

Of the nominees for best movie comedy, I saw Lies Men Tell, Contract and A Wish. And if I hadn’t seen Contract I’d have thought “Lies Men Tell” should have won but I did see contract so I do in fact think that Contract should win. What can I say? I’ve caught the Hlomla Dandala bug. Plus, I still hold that Yvonne Okoro is a grossly underrated actress.

[toggle_box title=”Best Director Nominees” width=”Width of toggle box”]

Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Tosh Gitonga – Nairobi Half Life
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contact
Udoka Oyeka – Living Funeral
Frank Rajah Arase – Price
Amil Shivji – Shoeshine[/toggle_box]

I was going to skip over the best movie director category because personally I don’t think I know what makes any one film director good (that plus the fact that they tend to be amazing in one movie and then do another movie that throws you off completely). Of the nominees, I’ve only seen LFTA, Contract and the Price. Obi Emelonye attempted to do something that had never been done before in Nollywood with LFTA however he fell short as many vocal critics didn’t hesitate to shout out. But looking at the entire complete work, considering the movies that I have actually seen, I think Shirley Frimpong-Manso should win.

[toggle_box title=”Best Actress in a Drama Nominees” width=”Width of toggle box”]Stephanie Wilson – Living Funeral
Veronica Waceke – Higher Learning
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Journey to Self
Nkiru Sylvanus – Kiss And The Brides
Ivie Okujaiye – The Volunteers[/toggle_box]

For Best Actress in a Drama I have only seen Journey to Self and The Volunteers, and love Ivie as I may it’s a simple fact that Nse Ikpe-Etim wins that one hands down.

[toggle_box title=”Best Actor in a Drama Nominees” width=”Width of toggle box”]Juma Rajab Rashid – Siri Ya Mtungi
Majid Michel – Somewhere in Africa
Hlomla Dandala – Contract
Majid Michel – House of Gold
Tope Tedele – A Mile From Home[/toggle_box]

I have not seen “A Mile from Home” but yet I have a feeling that the actor, Tope Tedele, will be the winner for best actor in a Drama. But since I cannot exactly claim that since I haven’t seen that I will select one from the pool of movies that I have seen. Of the nominees, I have only seen Somewhere in Africa, Contract and House of Gold. And even though since I saw Contract I practically swear by Dandala now, I still think Majid Michel did a hell of something in Somewhere in Africa. By the way, did I mention that that’s not even a 2013 movie? Just saying.

[toggle_box title=”Best Supporting Actress Nominees” width=”Width of toggle box”]Valerie Kimani – Higher Learning
Jazymn Batchan – Still Standing
Liz Ameye – Living Funeral
Lance Handabile – Love Games
Tamara Eteimo – Desperate House Girls
Bikiya Graham-Douglas – Flower Girl[/toggle_box]

And again, even though I haven’t seen Flower girl, I get the feeling that the actress Graham-Douglas might win it for Best Supporting Actress. Having said that though, I have only seen Desperate House Girls out of that list and as cliched and completely non-new-nollywood that movie was, I still think it was a really good movie and Tamara Eteimo did a really good job.

[toggle_box title=”Best Supporting Actor Nominees” width=”Width of toggle box”]David Mulwa – Higher Learning
Ian Mbugua – House of Lungula
Desmond Elliot – Finding Mercy
Bimbo Manuel – Torn
Chris Attoh – Flower Girl[/toggle_box]

Before I even say anything about the best supporting actor nominees, I must say that I completely agree with Segun Arinze in saying that Blossom Chukwujekwu should have been nominated, at least for Flower Girl (was he supporting or leading in that movie? Oops). However, as he is not nominated, and as I have only seen Finding Mercy in that list of movies I’ll have to go with Desmond Elliot. To fulfill all righteousness though, I must mention that I get the feeling that Bimbo Manuel might win for “Torn”.

[toggle_box title=”Best Actress in a Comedy Nominees” width=”Width of toggle box”]Funke Akndele – The Fighter
Funke Akndele – The Hero
Funke Akndele – Return of Sheri Koko
Mary Ogbonna – Clinic Matters
Jackie Appiah – Cheaters
Yvonne Okoro – Contract[/toggle_box]

How many of those movies were even made in 2013 that were nominated for best actress? Exactly! Now even though we all know that Funke Akindele will probably take the cake for Return of Sheri Koko or one of those kind of movies, the fact is that I’ve only seen Cheaters and Contract of those nominated movies. And here’s hoping that some magic happens and Yvonne Okoro gets it for Contract. Don’t judge me. 

[toggle_box title=”Best Actor in a Comedy Nominees” width=”Width of toggle box”]Hlomla Dandala – Contract
John Okafor – Return of Sheri Koko
Osita Iheme – The Hero
Osita Iheme – The Fighter
Chinedu Ikedieze – The Hero[/toggle_box]

For best actor in a comedy, I have only seen Contract of the nominated movies. But come to think about it, even if I had seen any of the other movies, I would still be inclined to choose Hlomla Dandala. The fact however is that he is the least likely to win in that pool of funnies. But I have not seen nor do I have any intentions of seeing any of the other movies therefore I must stick with Mr. Dandala.

And I will stop here because going further is venturing into unfamiliar territory for me. Regardless of what may be, here’s wishing all the nominees at this year’s AMVCAs the absolute best – Good luck from all of us at NR!