World Reviews Now!: English

Showing posts with label English. Show all posts

Book Review: Desperate in Dubai

Monday, July 4, 2016 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek

So for years I’ve searched the lands of the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for a book like Girls of Riyadh. Luckily, on a recent trip to the Middle East, I found Desperate in Dubai fabulously flaunting itself on a centre shelf in Kinokuniya bookstore. It was lust at first sight! And my fleetingly superficial feelings turned out to be spot on and even better!

The Rundown

Country: The United Arab Emirates, 2011

Author: Ameera Al Hakawati

Genre: Novel, Fiction

Languages: English & Arabic

Publisher: Random House India

Pages: 551

Love it or Hate it? Love it!

Synopsis in A Sentence: What do a rich Emirati-British heiress, a Maghrebi-British housewife, a successful Lebanese bombshell, and a British-Indian school teacher have in common?—They all have dirty little secrets and they can’t wait to unravel eachothers’ stories; which of these desperados will outdo the others in this fabulous city called Dubai?

Think: Desperate housewives for the unmarried

The Good: It’s a packed story reflecting the modern challenges of girls in one of the world’s most luxurious cities! It’s layered and honest and diverse and complex and light and true-to-life! Frequent visitors to and residents of Dubai alike may learn a thing or two about a city they perhaps have not completely known all about.

It also does not shy away from touching heavy subjects like cultural clashes, stereotypes, women’s rights and national prejudice, while managing to discuss them fairly. Books that touch on these subjects typically do so from a singular cultural lens, but with this we are exposed to a multi-dimensional exploration of the life and culture of real people. The plot is based on real women’s stories and this is a refreshing outlook into lives of men and women so many of us know too little of.

The prose is quite direct and conversational, making for a light read, but of course the subject matter delves into deeper issues without dowsing its reader with the typical trite stories of restrictions in the Middle East from a foreigner's perspective. What I especially appreciated about the book was that it explored the experiences of diverse people; Africans, Asians, Middle-Easterners and Westerners. Very few Western books explore stories of different people with diverse perspectives (and in fact I cannot think of a recent one right now that does so). Our lives and experiences are shaped by our racial, gender, religious and socio-economic features and this book somehow almost comprehensively covers many of these bits and more, so this is indeed a rare gem!

The Bad: Because the story is so layered and interwoven, it may be hard to keep up with all the different characters and their stories and the details that go with them. If you’re not ready to take this down in one go, get ready for a bit of back-tracking and mind-juggling because the details are important for the juicy conclusion unravels!

Also, guys, don’t be intimidated by how girly the story line seems. Haven’t you always wondered what girls in the Middle East have going on? Well this is your guide!

The Verdict: Deliciously ambrosial, yet a complex and comprehensive pleasure! A fun, enlightening, honest read!

4.5 stars!

Memorable Quotes:

1. “’I never ask for a lady’s number,’ he explains, ‘and a real lady will never give it anyway. So here you go, Princess, the ball’s in your court.’ With that, he shakes her and Leila’s hands gently, bids them farewell and disappears, leaving both girls in complete awe but also surprised. It’s not normal for a decent Arab guy to just leave two girls alone without offering to drive them home, or at the very least, seeing them to a taxi…”

2. “I spot him standing outside the cinema, by the big wooden ship in the China Court of the mall and wave at him. Although I prefer Mall of the Emirates to Ibn Battuta as the atmosphere is friendlier and warmer, there is no doubt that the latter is stunning to look at, especially for first timers…”

3. “Lady Luxe lazily opens her eyes and stretched out on her bed, enjoying the sensation of the soft, 100 percent pure Egyptian cotton sheets against her skin. For a moment, she forgets who she is, who she is expected to be, as she relishes the warmth of the glorious morning on her arms. The fear she felt when falling asleep has faded away entirely and she is already wondering what devlish acts she should commit after sunset…”

Posted In 2011, Arabic, Book, Desperate in Dubai, Dubai, English, Female, Fiction, Novel, The Middle East, UAE, Writer | 0 comments |

Review: Being Mary Jane Seasons 1-3

Monday, February 29, 2016 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek

For Black History Month this February and with Women’s Month in March, why don’t we merge both celebrations in one three-part TV series? So here’s Being Mary Jane, the Season 1-3 review!

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” – Oscar Wilde on an MJ note

The Rundown

Behind the name: Original title—Single Black Female—to spotlight what it means to be a single black female in the USA

Country: USA, 2015

Genre: Drama, Romance

Network: BET

Director: Salim Akil (most episodes)

Cast: Gabrielle Union (as Mary Jane Paul/Pauletta Patterson), Lisa Vidal (as Kara Lynch), Margaret Avery (as Helen Patterson), Latarsha Rose (as Dr. Lisa Hudson), Aaron D. Spears (as Mark Bradley), Richard Brooks (as Patrick Patterson), B. J. Britt (as Paul Patterson, Jr.), Raven Goodwin (as Niecy Patterson), Richard Roundtree (as Paul Patterson, Sr.), Stephen Bishop (as David Paulk)

Compare to: Can’t think of anything right now or the more serious, older version of The Mindy Project

Hate it or Love it? Love it

Synopsis in a Sentence: Mary-Jane, a television news anchor navigates social issues in America as she works to balance family, career racial, and social issues as a fabulous, endearing, and relatable Single Black Female—but she’s just being Mary-Jane.

On Writing: The Plot

The plot is interesting; it’s deep and hard-hitting, it touches on subjects from singlehood to marriage, to female and racial issues and even more. The writing is well done and very well executed. Since this review covers 3 seasons, here’s a very, very quick run-down of the general plot of each season:

Season 1: The Single Lady Story – Season one was all about the story of the single girl, our introduction to Mary Jane and here persistent balancing act between her single life—which can be both a blessing and a curse—her family drama, and her professional challenges.

Season 2: The Black Story – Although an ever-present theme in this series, season two delved deeper into the issues of being black in America, with of course, Mary-Jane’s singlehood and search for a baby, professional growth, and of course, all the juicy family drama.

Season 3: The Selfish Story – In the latest season, we see a more layered and compley plot, but overall a self-interested MJ. The plot focuses on her as an individual, and delves into LGBT issues, racial and inter-racial issues, and spotlights on various US, such as the “Black Lives Matter” movement, and even a small focus on international issues. But more generally we see a more selfish MJ. She’s mad at everyone, she seemingly doesn’t take time to mourn a best friend nor does she take any sliver of responsibility she may have played in her decision to commit suicide. Still, at the same time, Mary Jane is more centred and focused. We find a character who is determined to get what she wants and we can’t completely blame her for that!

This is a black show—more accurately—it is an African American show, which is fabulous, because there aren’t many shows at all that go this genuinely deep into Afro-American issues, especially from a female perspective. Very importantly, it highlights a good section of African-American experience that arguably has not been effectively covered in modern television. At the same time, from some perspectives, it seemingly unwittingly has done so at the expense of putting down another section of the black community—the African community—in America. More than once, and over more than one season, BMJ has, in reference, put down Africa not in an overt way, of course, but in a condescending way that is handed down so inadvertently it is simply insulting! And that is alienating. It’s great to celebrate brown people on television and in media, but that should not come at the expense of another set of brown people.

For a show that seeks to highlight issues faced by a minority in society, it’s slightly putting down another minority on the world stage. But this is a Single African-American’s story to tell. Africans will tell their own story, and Africans are rooting for you, Mary Jane Paul!

(4/5)

On Acting: The Cast

Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union is Mary Jane Paul and there’s almost nothing more to say about that! Can you imagine if, one day, Production pulled a “Days of Our Lives” and switched the actress for Mary Jane with another actress? Would you care to watch? Union relays her characters assertive confidence and complexity with ease and intrigue!

Love watching Lisa Vidal as Kara Lynch in Being Mary

Lisa Vidal

Jane! Her drive and passion and expertise in her work is great! And Vidal does well to relay all of that!

Stephen Bishop is the on-again off-again

boyfriend so we have to keep him as a male rep on here. He plays his character so well I’m almost exasperated writing about it right now!

Our other male rep. is BJ Britt, MJ’s lil brother, and the smart young man. As the actor skilfully portrays, book smart, but I wouldn’t say life smart as I am sure his not-so smart decisions will come back to bite him. Just wait for season 4!

(4/5)

On Production: The Creativity

Oh production is almost everything! The music is lit! The set design—MJ’s house is one fantasies are made of! #LifeGoals #ProductionKillsIt

(4.5/5)

On Resolution: The Conclusion

Each season ends well, hinging on an incomplete story willing you to come back for more. Season three takes its newly found greater focus on social issues to the next level, daring you to come back for season four. Ratings show Being Mary Jane steadily dropping despite its previously earned accolades. Are shows like Empire proving more competition, or is Mary Jane as a personality becoming just too grating and overbearing? Will you watch to see more or will you, of whatever reason, ditch Being Mary Jane?

(3/5)

The Verdict: An interesting look into social issues in America, and an entertaining watch too.

Overall Score = 15.5/20

Posted In 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, African American, Black, Drama, English, Female, Female Director, Gabrielle Union, Romance, TV Series, USA, Women | 0 comments |

Review: Fifty (2015 Film)

Sunday, January 24, 2016 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek

In celebration of Nextlix’s launch in Nigeria — not actually— but I found this Nollywood movie on Netflix and dare I say it was my fave Nigerian movie of 2015? Yes, I dare say so! The movie was sold out during its first screenings in Lagos and London and celebrated at the 2015 London Film Festival!

“Fifty is the new 25”

The Rundown

Behind the name: What happens when women turn age 50 (on TV)

Country: Nigeria, 2015

Genre: Drama, Romance, (The opposite of coming-of-age)

Produced by: Ebony Life Films

Director: Biyi Bandele

Cast: Dakore Akande (as Tola), Ireti Doyle (as Elizabeth), (Omoni Oboli as Maria) Nse Ikpe-Etim (as Kate)

Compare to: Sex and the City: The Movie (with more depth), Flower Girl

Hate it or Love it? Actually, love it

Synopsis in a Sentence: Four friends, about 50 years old, share their successes and failures on-screen as their lives unravel before them; One’s a primadonna diva, another a successful business woman, another's a prayer-loving party planner, and the last a celebrity gynaecologist, but between these successful women, one of them gets preggers for her friend’s husband, frolics with boys half her age, has a chronic illness, and the last has a deep, dark secret; which one of them out does the others with her dirty little secret?

On Writing: The Plot

The plot is quite layered and goes deeper than the surface, unlike most movies like these appear to portray. You know the wannabe ‘modern’ Nigerian movies that try so hard to appeal to the international audience that they loose their originality? Well this is not quite one of them! It’s real and as authentic as ‘shine-shine’ movies like this can be. The plot is fresh and the characters are round and multi-faceted. Forget the “good girl” vs. “bad girl” (or in this case, good woman/bad woman) story that so many Nigerian movies are known for. This one is new and actually, a bit profound, especially at the end.

And I must add, Nigeria is on of those few places in the world today where being older is a good thing. And this movie just celebrates that. (4/5)

On Acting: The Cast

Dakore Egbuson

The cast is quite spot on! Shout out to Dakore Egbuson, who plays the prima-donna-diva reality TV star. Her character is multifaceted and she plays it quite well. It’s great to see Egbuson in productions once again.

Ireti Doyle

Also cheers to Ireti Doyle who plays Elizabeth, the sophisticated, but apparently loose obstetrician whose personal life is a mess. Her character is lovable-hatable and Doyle nails it to a T!

Omoni Oboli

Omoni Oboli plays Maria, the accomplished businesswoman who has everything down but love. At 49 her “time is ticking out” and so she gets intertwined with a married man. Oboli does a good job of it.

And then there’s the party-planning prayer-warrior, Kate, played by Nse Ikpe-Etim. Her life may seem like a paradox, but there are struggles in there, and Ikpe-Etim is cast and shot well for this role.

Overall a fabulous cast! Great work, Mo Abdu, on getting this set-up together! But might I add, because I know I would if I were fifty, that most of these women (according to publicly-disclosed records, ahem!) are actually in their late forties. Would have been great to have actual about-fifty year-olds or older play these roles. How about Liz Benson, or Patience Ozokwor, or Eucharia Anunobi, or the countless other older and talented Nigerian actresses that could have brought these characters to life?

Then of course, there are the celebrity appearances and performances from Waje to Tiwa Savage to Nneka to Femi Kuti to the Minister of Enjoyment himself, King Sunny Adé! How cool?

(4.5/5)

On Production: The Creativity

Production is almost #Flawless! And speaking of the music, I once went on a mini-rant about terrible sound production in Nigerian movies. In the last decade, video quality in Nollywood movies have improved significantly, while sound engineering fell behind. In this film though, the sound is quite perfect; sound pairing, musical performances, and sound effects were spot-on! Great job with audio editing and mixing! (And this is coming from a DJ)

And of course, video production is fabulous as well. It’s well directed by Biyi Bandele, who also directed the movie, Half of a Yellow Sun. Production was so good, this movie was featured in the 2015 London film Festival. Yayy! Go Naija!

(4.5/5)

On Resolution: The Conclusion

Alright, the movie is almost perfect but like all things in this world, there are a few flaws (which is why no movie in this review blog will ever get a 20/20 score—If we were perfect, we’d be in heaven, but we’re on earth, so…) This movie is almost perfect; it’s excellently produced, and the ending of the film is also seamless too, but at the same time, I find—in the unravelling of events in this movie—a reluctance to delve into the deep and get dirty with all the nasty discoveries that we find here.

First, the movie seems to condone this idea: Man cheats (due to no complete fault of his own, but still) the woman gets her ‘bashing,’ but the man doesn’t quite get the same. Why so?

Second we see that: Woman’s life is a mess so she goes after little boys and gets played on, and then we discover a little-dark secret that’s quite disturbing. It warrants a “what’s behind this kind of behaviour thought” but we get nowhere near that. What we get is an attempt to smooth out relationships, which is fine, but still…

Third: Struggling lady has to deal with a life-threatening illness, a gambling husband, and all the bills on her plate, and so goes to God in prayer—the endless Night Vigils, the pastor visits; this is Nigeria, we can all relate, but we get a brushing over when it comes to exactly how she deals with this, and the role of God and prayer in a struggling believer’s life. I found a little caveat that could probably better portray how and perhaps why so many Nigerians turn to religion for help. And then

Fourth: Seemingly fabulous Lady has some deep-dark secrets that could make Tamar in the Bible weep for her in pitty, and all we get is a sweep-over of a resolution. These are some Precious—the movie—type issues but you know, life is fabulous and can we just brush over that; the movie’s about to end.

No movie can portray a thorough socio-psychological analysis of a people, but they certainly help with portraying issues and aspects of other’s lives that many (especially international viewers) and even local viewers may never have access to, and may never develop and empathy for. In viewing the not-so-perfect lives of these seemingly wealthy women, through this movie, we develop a deeper understanding for them. No one’s life is perfect, and this movie does well to relay that. At the same time, it does less than it could have to highlight some of the unique fragments of modern Nigerian issues, and as a people who don’t and can’t get the same global airtime with Western and even Asian audiences, it shouldn’t have taken the luxury of sliding over some of the deeper issues. Still, in terms of movie production, the resolution can’t be so easily faulted. Although I wish it had ended in one huge party as the move had been teasing all along!

(4/5)

The Verdict: A good watch! Light, but not so light, deep, but not so deep, original, Nigerian, true-to-self movie! It’s what we’ve been waiting for since Flower Girl, and far, far better!

Overall Score = 17/20