Emeka Nweze
The Set Up was officially released in theatres all over Nigeria last Friday. It promised to be a thrill, and it delivered on its promise. The film was produced by Inkblot, Filmone and Anakle films, and directed by ace director Niyi Akinmolayan.
Walking into the theatres, my heart was filled with optimism and excitement. It had all the makings of a great movie, it had an absorbing premise, incredible cast, captivating trailer and a competent production team behind it.
The Set Up didn’t exactly hit the ground running, but its slow start eventually transformed into a “blink and miss” spectacle. That is not to say that the movie was faultless, but The Set Up was worth the time and almost all my expectations were met.
Here is a spoiler free review of The Set Up.
Story
The premise was compelling and intriguing, it offered something refreshing and exciting. The main plot was however kind of hard to believe, but in the end, it is all just fiction.
Script
The script was decent, well written and a bit too ambitious. The goal was to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, and it did so with aplomb with countless twists and turns. While the unending twists made the movie generally intriguing, it also made it confusing at times, and often times the audience got lost. In the end however, the script was efficient and definitely did justice to the story.
Acting
The acting was flawless, but what do you expect from such an impressive cast. The stand out performers were Adesua and him Jim Iyke, and I think it’s safe to say that the former has established herself as a very consistent and stellar actor. For Joke and Tina, two veterans in Nollywood, their performances were effortless and routine. Ayoola and kehinde, also delivered solid performances.
Sound and Music
Sound was crisp and superb, there were no glitches and every thing was synchronised, this highlights the consistent improvement in Nollywood. However, what impressed me the most was the use and choice of music, maybe its because I’m one of those who prefer the use of music over a conventional score. I’d say the music on The Set Up impressed me as much as Keneth Gyang’s Confusion Nawa.
Themes
This is where the script really excelled. The three major themes were revenge, redemption and family, and each of them were treated excellently with attention, thanks to the expert and precise writing.
Directing
Niyi Akinmolayan took the audience on an exciting emotional ride. He didn’t try to do too much as there were no elaborate camera angles or unnecessary shots (except for one time). The director was skillful and precise in his story telling and was able to keep the audience invested right till the very end, which is the goal of every director. He however sometimes failed to pay keen attention to detail, especially with the flashbacks that didn’t really feel authentic. Despite that, Akinmolayan did justice to the story and script.
Verdict
The Set Up is a fantastic caper flick with several memorable moments, that will keep you glued to the screen from start to finish. Niyi Akinmolayan has gradually but surely established himself as one of the most dependable directors in Nigeria. While The Set Up isn’t flawless, it is definitely a good watch and a pleasant roller-coaster ride.
