Most Nollywood films still suffer under the misconception that the more celebrities you cram into a film, the better it is. For that reason, this list chooses to ignore the glitzy roll call of stars that appear in each film. Here we will list films for their originality and content instead. On that note, and in no particular order, we’ve drawn up a list of the most noteworthy Nigerian films released in 2019. Underneath each title is a short description, as well as an audience review pulled from the internet.

Kasanova

A romantic comedy featuring Ireti Doyle and Wale Ojo as the lead characters. In typical romantic comedy fashion; the two meet, have a nasty but hilarious altercation, and then somehow fall in love later on.

“A Nollywood romantic comedy not focused solely on making the audience laugh, but one that’s gunning for a charming love story…”

– Daniel Okechukwu, Culture Custodian.com

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Love is War                  

A successful and sophisticated couple face potential problems when both husband and wife find themselves in opposing political parties, campaigning for the same post. The two main characters are Hankuri Phillips (Omoni Oboli) and Dimeji Phillips (Richard Mofe-Damijo).

“It gets love for the relative originality of its political theme but loses the war for its rather pedestrian treatment.”

– Esosa Omo-Usoh, Medium

Elevator Baby

A privileged and ill-mannered young man (Timini Egbuson) learns a few things about patience, humility and empathy when he and a pregnant, illiterate woman (Toyin Abraham) are trapped together for a few hours in a faulty elevator.

“The dramedy is highly entertaining, forgivably melodramatic and nothing like most recent releases in this category.”

– Mamazeus.com.ng

Living in Bondage: Breaking Free

A young man, Nnamdi Okeke (Swanky JKA) comes face to face with an evil that almost killed his father.  In the end, he has to choose between saving himself, his best friend, or the girl he loves. Living in Bondage: Breaking Free is a reboot/sequel of the 1992 original: Living in Bondage.

“Despite an overly familiar story, Living In Bondage: Breaking Free separates itself… with a cast who brought its A-game and a director who had a clear vision of what he wanted…”

– Astor George, Zikoko.com

Seven

Efa Iwara plays Kolade, a thoughtless young man who loses his father to cancer and then has to spend seven days in Ajegunle to fulfil his father’s dying wish. Other actors in the film deserving of honorary mention are Richard Mofe-Damijo and Daddy Showkey.

A personal source tells us this one is worth watching because of its unexpected plot, convincing effects, and impressive picture quality.

The Set Up

A sleazy man (Jim Iyke) hires a con artist (Adesua Etomi) to help him trick a wealthy socialite into marrying him. The con artist, Chike, soon realizes that she has bitten off more than she can chew with this job.

“With ‘The Set Up’, Niyi Akinmolayan is giving us some of the brilliance we enjoyed from his previous works like ‘The Arbitration’.”

– Oluwatobi Ibironke, Themoviepencil.com

Mokalik

A coming of age film about Jaiye (Tooni Afolayan), an 11-year-old boy who discovers lessons and new perspectives on life when he spends a day in a mechanic village.

“Mokalik is a better film than many that have strolled into the cinema this year but a few things could have been better…”

– Segun Odejimi, TNS.ng

4th Republic

An intricate political thriller that follows the struggles of Mabel King (Kate Henshaw) as she and her team try to prove the sabotage that cost them an election. A film that attempts to capture the chaos and danger of Nigerian elections.

“A perspective-broadening movie with potential to have an impact which goes beyond just giving a powerful cinematic experience to Nigerians and making some change at the box office.”

– Oluwatobi Ibironke, Themoviepencil.com

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The Bling Lagosians

A conceited socialite, oblivious to her husband’s financial anxiety, decides to throw a massive birthday party. Her husband struggles to protect his business and keep a low profile as the Asset Management Corporation closes in.

“Overall, ‘The Bling Lagosians’ is not a bad effort for Bolanle Austen Peters’ directorial debut.”

– Gbenga Bada, Pulse.ng

Gold Statue

Adewale Esho (played by Gbenga Afolayan) and his best friend Chike (Kunle Remi)set out on a mad hunt for a gold statue that Adewale believes is somewhere in Ilesha.

“While the screenplay has moments of comic gold, the end result is marred.”

–  Wilfred Okiche, Ynaija.com

Sources:

Culture Custodian

Zikoko

Mama Zeus

Medium

The Movie Pencil

TNS

Pulse NG

YNaija

Featured Image Source: The Net Naija

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This article was first published on 30th December 2019

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