Movie Title: Criminal
Language: English
Duration: 1 hour 26 minutes
Release date: 2024
Streaming platform: Prime Video
Director: Dolapo Adigun
Cast: Segun Arinze, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Uzor Arukwe, Taye Arimoro, Miriam Peters, OG Tega.
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Love alone is often not enough to make important life decisions, especially when those decisions have long-term consequences. While the bond of family can be powerful, helping a criminal, even out of love, can ultimately lead to a person's destruction.
This is what Chima is in. Driven by loyalty and family love, he breaks his older brother Uzor out of prison and offers him a job on a government contract he secured.
However, what seemed like an act of brotherly support quickly turns into chaos, emphasizing that the wisest option might have been to leave Uzor in jail, as he has been repeatedly involved in criminal activities.
Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi and Uzor Arukwe in Criminal
Directed by Dolapo Adigun, Criminal depicts a tense day in the life of an ex-convict and his gang as they take a doctor and her team hostage in a desperate attempt to save his brother, who is dying from a severe gunshot wound.
Plot
Uzor, with the help of his brother Chima, is released from prison. The next scene briefly shows Uzor sitting on the hospital floor with a gun in his hand and looking frustrated.
Six hours earlier, Dr Amara Nwachukwu admitted seriously injured patients, including a pregnant woman, who was taken to Greenleaf Hospital after an accident occurred nearby.
Just as they try to get the situation under control, Uzor and his two friends rush Chima to Greenleaf Hospital, claiming that he was shot by the police and needs immediate attention. Because the hospital is overwhelmed, they refuse to treat Chima and advise them to take him to another hospital.
Uzor Arukwe in the criminal field
Uzor becomes enraged and insists that his brother receive treatment at the hospital despite his gang's suggestion that he try another hospital. In his rage, he beats up Dr. Gbadegbo and, after taking the patients and doctors hostage, shoots the security guard, who refuses to close the hospital gate.
Things get even more heated when Dr. Amara, the doctor they asked to operate on Chima, comes downstairs and openly defies them. She refuses to save Chima's life and tells them to transfer him to another hospital because she has to operate on the injured pregnant woman.
The police intervene, but are careful not to risk the lives of the hostages in the hospital. Okafor, the police commissioner, calls Dr. Amara to treat Uzor's brother. She and other doctors come up with a plan to perform two surgeries at the same time to save Uzor's brother and the pregnant woman.
They perform the surgeries successfully, but Uzor and his gang are killed after the police trick them.
Character analysis
The film employs well-known professional actors such as Uzor Arukwe, Segun Arinze, Funlola Aofiyeb-Raimi, Taye Arimoro and OG Tega to achieve an amateur action drama.
Funlola Aofiyeb-Raimi plays Dr. Amara, a skilled surgeon whose professionalism is needed to save Chima's life. Her strong will and bold actions add to the suspense. However, the film feels overly scripted and unrealistic.
Uzor Arukwe plays Uzor as a criminal and ex-convict who puts his brother’s life at risk after he and his gang steal his truck full of merchandise. Watch the character and his efforts are evident in the film’s denouement. As usual, the audience can see an outpouring of energy.
Austine Onuoha in Criminal
Taye Arimoro plays the police officer who disguises himself as a driver carrying the blood for Chima's surgery in order to have a chance to see the hostages and handle the situation inside. His role is essential to the film as he helps free the hostages.
Nollywood star actor Segun Arinze plays Police Commissioner Okafor. Although he did not appear several times in the film, he played his role professionally.
Analysis of the film
“Criminal” is an action-packed hostage drama set in a hospital. It was written by Niyi Akinmolayan and directed by Dolapo Adigun. The film follows the story of a criminal, Uzor, who takes a hospital hostage to secure treatment for his injured brother.
Bryan Okoye in Criminal
The central themes of survival, family and bravery add meaning and depth to the film’s plot. The film highlights the strength of family ties, and Uzor’s desperation to save his brother leads him to risk his own life and that of his gang while Chima struggles to stay alive.
The film's result was marred by a lack of proper direction and professionalism. The plot could have been more extensive and developed properly.
Furthermore, beneath the film's polished video quality, the narrative fails to impress. While visually stunning, the film lacks depth and a broader scope, which hinders its full potential.
Some questions confused the audience, such as, what crime did Uzor commit before his brother rescued him? Was Dr. Amara trying to make himself a saint or a hero at the expense of people's lives? People's lives were at risk if Chima was not treated, but Dr. Amara decided to act like he was a good person. The pregnant woman looked completely different after the C-section, which is very unprofessional.
Obehi Aburime in the criminal field
The part of the movie where the police waited for Uzor to try to pull the trigger and then shot him dead even when he was already weak from the injection given to him by Dr. Amara, shows a hole in the plot.
However, the producer's research and application of medical terminologies are commendable.
Additionally, flashbacks were cleverly used to connect the past with the present, giving viewers an insight into Uzor's past and what happened between him and Chima.
A film without suspense can have a poor script, but “Criminal” is rich in suspense, which helps keep the audience on its toes. Uzor and his gang delivered an intense performance, full of action and energy.
The cinematography is exceptional, with lighting and camera angles appropriately used to deliver an engaging result.
'Criminal' is streaming on Prime Video
Verdict
4/10