Brotherhood film poster

Brotherhood, Reviewed: A Policeman and a Robber

Aided by Tobi Bakre’s AMVCA Best Drama Actor-winning turn, director Loukman Ali and producer Jade Osiberu’s shot at telling a memorable story prioritizes spectacle over relationships.
2.9/5
Brotherhood, Reviewed: A Policeman and a Robber

The tragic death of their parents launches twins Akin and Wale into a life of petty crime on the streets. Their paths diverge when Wale joins the police force, and Akin remains on the other side of the law, shuffling in and out of prison throughout his adult life. By the time Akin is released again, Wale is promoted to the elite SWAT team. And as Akin joins the Ojuju Boys, a feared group of robbers, the brothers’ unsteady truce erupts.

A crime drama with estranged brothers, high-stakes heists, and the standard hype that accompanies big budget Nollywood movies naturally requires that one approach with a healthy dose of skepticism, but Loukman Ali’s Brotherhood, surprisingly, is a blend of heart and capable storytelling.

As Akin and Wale, respectively, former Big Brother Naija reality TV star Tobi Bakre and rapper-cum-actor Folarin “Falz” Falana make a fine pair even though the film does not feature much of their past. Instead, we get peeks woven into the dialogue, in arguments and reminiscence — a welcome style that nevertheless is not adequate as scenes of Falana and Bakre are tragically scant. There are snide remarks, each brother seeking to land the last jab, but these only form the surface of an unexplored tension. It is a lack that would have made for excellent character work — especially with the mediation of their aunt (a competent Ronke Oshodi Oke) — and rendered the final scenes more powerful.

Falana does passable work outside his comedic comfort, as his Wale juggles a place on the SWAT team, a romance with his boss’s daughter, the growing notoriety of the Ojuju Boys, and his brother’s re-entry into his life. He is mostly collected, except when interacting with his brother.

Bakre, who won Best Drama Actor at the AMVCAs for his work here, has the much showier role. He leans into Akin’s charisma and snark. He becomes the brains behind the Ojuju Boys’ operations. Sparks fly in his relationship with Toni Tones’ gunslinging Goldie. O.C. Ukeje, as Akin’s old friend Izra, matches Bakre in both light and prickly exchanges; his is a noteworthy performance. Against stronger takes on the crime boss archetype, comedian-turned-musician-and-actor Bright Okpocha’s Shadow is predictable and wanting. But unlike with Wale’s tepid SWAT bunch, the conflict within the Ojuju Boys make for some of the best parts of the film.

Brotherhood is one for spectacle, and while the action scenes don’t quite cut it, they achieve a fair sense of thrill. The relationships that should be at its center often take a backseat to the plot, which manages to be well-paced. Despite the riveting enough drama and sometimes snappy dialogue, there are holes in the story: a member of the crew forgotten in jail, the elusive tactics behind the heists, the deaths of the twins’ parents.

One can’t help but wonder how much more Brotherhood could have said about the enduring bonds of family, the strengths of siblinghood, how they could be strained but not broken. Nonetheless, Ali takes a worthy shot at telling a memorable story. ♦

If you love what you just read, please consider making a PayPal donation to enable us to publish more like it.

More Film Reviews from Open Country Mag

— Shanty Town, Reviewed: Crime and Punishment, Fate and Freedom

— A Sunday Affair, Reviewed: A Stumbling Story of Romance and Tested Friendship

— Prophetess, Reviewed: A Modernist Portrayal of Faith

— Blood Sisters, Reviewed: A Rousing Murder Thriller

— La Femme Anjola, Reviewed: An African Neo-Noir Titillates in Crime and Lust

— Swallow, Reviewed: Perturbance in Ordinary Lives

— Ife, Reviewed: Lesbian Love in Bourgie Lagos

— Nne, Reviewed: Two Mothers and a Son

— The Men’s Club, Reviewed: A Charming Depiction of Male Friendship

...

Paula Willie-Okafor, Staff Writer at Open Country Mag

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommendation

Bolanle Austen-Peters’ meaty biopic and historical epic about Bashorun Ga’a succeeds in keeping audiences perched on the edge of their seats, aided by good production and Femi Branch’s charisma.
With the Igbo culture of stakeholder capitalism as backdrop, Kayode Kasum tells a riveting story of friendship and success, powered by Anyanwu Sandra Adaora’s authentic screenplay and a compelling cast with Stan Nze, Alexx Ekubo, and Kanayo O. Kanayo.
A story with significant potential, BB Sasore’s AMVCAs-winning film succeeds in positioning the lives of these two men separated by class, religion, and belief systems, even as it fails to probe the depths of their characters.

“An ambitious new magazine committed to African literature”

— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Join 23,000+ subscribers to essential, in-depth stories in African literature, Nigerian film, & culture: inspiring Profiles, incisive reviews, thought-provoking features & conversations that happen nowhere else. It's premium access to the visions of changemakers, from icons to emerging voices. Plus key industry stories from Folio Nigeria by CNN.

We respect your privacy and will never send you Spam or sell your email.

Search

Top