Movie Review of Nollywood Feature Film ” A Place in the Stars “

It is one of the most talked about feature films, that is a given considering the fact that it took 6 years to be produced. It is literally a “much anticipated” movie.

Co-Produced and directed by Steve Gakus, the Million dollars budget movie stars Gideon Okeke, Segun Arinze,  Dejumo Lewis, Yemi Blaq, Femi Branch, Matilda Obaseki, Julian Mcdowell, Armajit Deu and Amaka Mgbor.

Inspired by the tenure of the late Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili, and  set in 2006 ‘A Place in the Stars’ tells the story of Dakim, a young lawyer who is in possession of vital information that can save many lives if he passes it on, but make millions of dollars if he doesn’t.

A Place in the Stars focuses on “how fake and adulterated medical drugs are being traded for billions of dollars”.

‘A Place in the Stars’ begins with a little boy (Dakim) asking his father “Papa, how are stars formed?”, his father replied “The one who is good, honest, and unselfish in all their dealings, they are given a place in the stars, and they go on to be a guiding light to all of us on earth, so that we do not err from the good path” and Dakim said to his father “I want a place in the stars”.

• Story

Dakim(Gideon Okeke) is an ambitious, young and brilliant man who believes that we are in a corrupt country where nobody cares about how you make your money. He has in his possession an information that can send the king of counterfeit medical drugs trader, Diokopa Okonkwo ( Segun Arinze) to prison.

But then, Dakim who would rather die a ‘rich young man, than a poor old man’  sees the information in his possession as a chance to make it big and chooses  to blackmail the ruthless Diokpa who would rather eliminate Dakim than give in to blackmail.

Dakim’s zeal to make it by hook or crook can be traced to his father Pa Dakim(Dejumo Williams) who is portrayed as an unsung hero. Pa Dakim has helped millions of people and made lots of sacrifices for his country, but is still poor and according to his son Dakim “forgotten”.

The plot revolves around Dakim’s fight to make his illegal money, still stay alive, conquer his conscience and everything he was taught as a kid.

The movie a ‘Place in the Stars’ is a story relatable to our country Nigeria and the tenure of the late Dora Akunyili. For a movie set in the year 2006, ‘A Place in the Stars’ made an applaudable  effort at not taking the audience back to a 2006 Nollywood movie screenplay.

• Music and Soundtrack.

The theme song for the film “A Place in the Stars” is by Jeremiah Gyang of Chocolate City Music Label. The music and soundtrack helped the audience understand the emotional depth of the film when dialogue was not available.

• Acting

The cast did a good job of appearing convincing in their roles.

Segun Arinze reminds us of why he is called ‘Black Arrow’. With his facial expression, gesticulations and accent, Segun Arinze is the perfect cast for a drug baron character.

Gideon Okeke once again  did a perfect job of playing the stubborn, arrogant and nonchalant son. It was strange to see him do the ‘emotional son’ scene, but then, that’s what makes him a professional actor-his ability to fit into any character.

Amaka Mgbor plays Vickie, the perfect ”airhead” girlfriend to Gideon Okeke,  and Dejumo Lewis didn’t fail to deliver the role of a  perfect strict and disciplined father.

Matilda Obaseki plays Tara, the gentle, good, prim and proper lady who is attracted to her best friend’s  man. Matilda did a good job of using body language to make the audience aware of her attraction to Gideon.

Let’s talk about the hot and romantic kiss between Matilda and Gideon. The viewers noticed her ‘attraction at first sight’ to Gideon, but there was nothing to imply that the feeling was mutual, which makes one wonder why Gideon was so ‘hungry’ for her kisses.

We would have loved to see Matilda and Amaka play more impactful roles in the unfolding of the main plot. Amaka could have been the ‘scorned’ woman out to destroy Gideon, but then with all the action and intensity, we needed to have some comic relief and the “love triangle” between Dakim, Vickie and Tara helped reduce the tension.

We cannot ignore the ‘attempted murder’ scene which pulled one of the best make-believe stunts in Nollywood, the scene left the audience in awe as it is nothing compared to the everyday Nollywood accident scenes.

The scene where the church and community members who supposedly “forgot” and did not appreciate Pa Dakim’s works, gathered to pray for him was deep, emotional and well executed.

‘A Place in the Stars’ also comes with some deep Quotes that can’t be ignored;

• Pa Dakim to Dakim “Money isn’t worth much if you can’t face yourself in the mirror”
• Dakim to his friend I rather die a rich young man than a poor old man.
• Pa Dakim to Dakim: “If we waited for every other person before we changed, then change would never come.

  ‘A Place in the Stars’ connects with the audience and the society as a whole, it is a conversation starter as it had the audience in the hall trying to predict and analyze the end.

Another thing to love about ‘A Place in the Stars’ is the new a social media campaign which involves people celebrating unsung heroes who they think deserve a place in the stars, with the hash-tag “#APlaceInTheStars”.

Would Dakim give in to the desire to be rich or put an end to Diokpa’s illegal acts, thus putting his life in danger? Is ‘a place in the stars’ worth his life?

‘A Place in the Stars’ opens in cinemas from November 14, 2014. With the perfect cast, distinct story, and excellently directed screenplay makes ‘A Place in the Stars’ a must watch.