Movie Review: Last Flight to Abuja

By Olamide Jasanya

Sitting by my table with a half empty bottle of coke and biscuits to munch, I closed my eyes, trying to capture my experience a few hours before at Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, where the Last Flight to Abuja movie premiered. I brood over and over about where and how to start this piece; the easiest way is to summarise the event in 200 words, which I already have done, but my conscience won’t let me rest if I refuse to take my time to analyse the movie, especially not after my lengthy chat with my boss on my way to the premiere.

I settled into my seat, trying not to betray my feeling of nausea at how deep the African time mentality had sunken into our heads, so much that every event must start two hours after the announced time. Whilst trying to contain my anger, I observed an aged man seating a chair away from me. He seemed angry too. But he was luckier than me, as he had a pack of popcorn to vent his anger on. His friends soon arrived and he became alive again, chatting about issues relating to the movie industry. I needed no soothsayer to tell me they were big players, and upon further scrutiny, I recognised them to be producers and owners of movie production lines: Teco Benson, Tarila Thompson and an actor, Bobby. After the usual speeches expected of such event, the lights dramatically fizzled out, and boom, the movie began. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the journey of your life; fly with me as we take our last flight to Abuja.

There may have been a better way to open the movie, but the choice of off-screen voices of Cool FM OAPs played well, bringing the audience to the reality of the hustling nature of Lagos where the movie was set, which I guess was the concept the director had for such a venture.

The story of the movie is no doubt a beautiful one, and the technique with which it was told brought out its beauty even more. The director, realising the need to grasp and retain the viewer’s attention, decided on the ‘back and forth technique’ which played on the viewer’s psyche, as events moved between the present and the past with extra care, to avoid the clumsiness that is usually the case when this technique is employed. In this regard, Obi Emelonye proved his directorial mettle.

However, the movie looked like a mere re-enactment of the workings of a busy mind on the events that happen before aeroplanes crash, which is why I unapologetically feel it was hurriedly written, with an attempt to beat all other producers to its making – especially following the unfortunate Dana air crash of June 3.

Again, the presence of certain characters in the movie seemed unnecessary, as their actions neither reversed nor propelled the story line.

For example, the intern Hycent’s appearance would have been justified if his inquisitive nature had confused or distracted the aircraft controller, but this did nothing for the plot. Understandably, his character was to help get the viewers familiar with aeroplane terminology, but this could have been done in a better manner.

Character Interpretation is one core area of film making that must be given utmost attention and apparently, Obi Ememlonye didn’t seem to get the memo. From the start of the movie, it was obvious there was neither an acting or diction coach, as words were constantly wrongly pronounced.  It was appalling, that a man like Chief Nike (played by Jide Kosoko) could pronounce the word ‘adjourned’ as ‘adjoined’ while trying to close a meeting. Apart from diction, there was a problem with the interpretations of role, which could have been caused either by poor rehearsals/bonding or the actors were simply untalented; a clear case of this was the ‘stiff’ discussion between Efe (played by Uche Odoputa) and his wife. The duo conversed like strangers who were meeting for the first time, which should have been the case between Suzie (Omotola Jalade Ekeinde) and Jim Iyke while talking on the plane. Another case of terrible acting was the Sobifa, the corper who not only looked too old for her role, but was also too laid back.

Although the story line of the movie didn’t call for elaborate costumes, it did call for continuity since the events happened in a day, and the costumier seemed to understand that, as did Gabazinni, who did a great job with the make-up, especially the sweat that broke out on Captain George’s (Anthony Monjaro) face during the distress. However, I do question the absence of blood in a crash of that magnitude. Overall, costumes and make-up blended well and were believable.

The lighting and sound used throughout the course of the movie seemed balanced, except for a few times when the sound became too loud, especially during the turbulence. While it’s understandable that the sound is needed to create the necessary effect, care should have been taken to avoid the sound overshadowing the lines as experienced when Mr Adesola (Hakim Kae Kazim) said certain things I personally didn’t grasp because of the background noise.

SPECIAL EFFECTS: A movie of this nature should have played more with and placed more importance on special effects, which would have covered up other mistakes. The close up shots of Captain George (Mojana) and 1^st officer (Cecil Loader) in the flight deck looked believable, but for the sharp contrast of the picture of the happenings in the air craft. Also, the final explosion of the aircraft was a total mess, especially with David (Jim Iyke) running in front of it. The scene where the fire fighters were putting out the fire was also one that shouldn’t have been included, as it did nothing to enhance the movie.

I end this piece with words from the Director as contained in his note,‘ Last Flight was supposed to take a retrospective but sensitive look at an era in Nigerian aviation that I hoped was bygone, and by so doing, introduce a new technical genre in Nollywood’.

If the beginning of a new technical genre in Nollywood was what Obi set out to do, then he, in American singer Cassie’s words, got a long way to go.