The Black Book, released on September 22, 2023, revolves around a former military officer turned deacon. His son is falsely accused of kidnapping and tragically dies at the hands of a corrupt police gang. This film serves as a platform for both seasoned and emerging stars in Nollywood to unite and collaborate. Notable veterans such as Richard Mofe Damijo, Sam Dede, Bimbo Manuel, and Alex Usifo brought their talents to the forefront. In recent times, Nollywood has demonstrated a commitment to improving movie plots and scripts, and this film was no exception. With anticipation and heightened emotions, I embarked on watching the movie.
The movie began impressively with an intense opening scene set in the heart of Lagos, involving a kidnapping and shoot-out. From the start, I was engrossed. However, things quickly became confusing when the son of the former military officer was targeted and killed. Leading to the uncovering of a much larger conspiracy. Initially, I expected the film to focus on the “Endsars” theme, given the profiling of the son and the manner of his death. But the movie swiftly veered into different plot fragments, making it hard for me to follow. Eventually, there were fight scenes and parts where Denola Grey played the role of a skilled assassin, reminiscent of something from a Jason Statham film. The plot then delved into RMD’s mission, which kept changing— from clearing his son’s name to protecting a journalist lady and obtaining a black book that revealed political secrets.
The visuals in the movie were stunning and had a cinematic quality. However, I found the fight and chase scenes to be lacking in Nigerian authenticity and originality. Although the actors delivered their performances exceptionally well, there were several scenes that raised concerns for me. For instance, the scene where RMD goes to search for Shaffy Bello in a supposedly secure hideout was unrealistic as the guards lacked vigilance and were easily killed. Additionally, it was disappointing to see Denola Grey, who was portrayed as a highly skilled hit man, being killed in such an unremarkable manner.
The producers of the movie appeared to draw inspiration from a myriad of sources, which was evident in the numerous storylines they attempted to explore. As a result, I found it difficult to form an emotional connection with the father who suffered the unjust loss of his son, or with the wife who endured the tragic loss of both her child and husband. It left me wondering whether the producers had intended to create a revenge movie, an action-packed film, or perhaps a story centered around retribution. The whole experience felt rather disjointed. In summary, I would give this movie a rating of 5, predominantly due to the outstanding performances by the cast and the visually stunning cinematography. However, I cannot recommend watching it a second time. While it served as a decent way to pass the time, it fell short of its potential and left much to be desired.
