Is Òlòtūré worth watching?
There was this hype around the movie when it was teased last year for being a different kind of EbonyLife film when you factor in the normal star-studded feel-good movies we’re used to from the studio, and Oloture didn’t disappoint in that regard.
It’s a movie about a reporter who goes undercover to expose a sex trafficking ring, no matter the cost.
Now for starters, most of the cast did good but the standout person for me was Omowunmi Dada. Her portrayal of Linda was the best.
I saw what they tried doing with the story and I honestly commend everyone involved in bringing it to life, but for some reason, I didn’t feel as good after watching it. I felt a little underwhelmed.
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad movie. I put myself in the shoes of the director, writer, and producers and the story they told was good, it just missed out on a few things that could have made it better.
For instance, how does one go that deep undercover without an exit plan or strategy in place? I tried wrapping my head around why all that happened to her, happened, and it didn’t add up… It seemed extreme. It was like up until we saw that first-person view of a terrible c*mface, she wasn’t committed to the undercover gig and all the darkness that came with it. Like she wasn’t prepped for it.
Next, you were clearly warned that if you don’t bring the stipulated number of girls agreed upon, you and everyone involved in the operation will be killed, but what do you do when one of them goes out of line? You murder the person. Then you lose another and still cross the border with less than the agreed number.
I know they say “half bread is better than none” but in this case, based on the story and what we were told, that wasn’t good enough.
Other than that, again, I really do commend the headspace everyone involved in making Òlòtūré was at. It was a good story and started out that way, but went astray with mini-arcs, characters, and storylines that didn’t add up.
I guess the important thing is what the movie, as a whole, was going for; to shed light on a grave societal ill and how there’s no justice in the world, and the movie did well to show it.
Is Òlòtūré worth watching? Yes, it is, for the kind of story they tried telling. it’s different from what you’re used to.
If, on the other hand, you’re heavily invested in the Your Excellencys and Chief Daddys, then I strongly suggest you skip it