Look out for the intelligent film review, Is the Perfect Picture a Flop? . This article addresses the soundness of an article which appeared in The New Star newspaper that shred Shirley Frimpong Manso's last piece of work.

B y E d w i n K w e k u A n d o h

I had the opportunity, just like many of the teeming fans worldwide, to witness with delight and intrigue, the personal and career evolution of Sir Michael Jackson. Come to think of it, it is a marvel that he was performing with his brothers when he was only 6, took over lead-singing duties of the Jackson 5 at 8 and chalked his first prodigious eminence at 11. His talent is indeed legendary and his musical prowess unparallel. I was grief-stricken when I was confronted with the shocking breaking news carried by CNN and the enormous pressure to put voice to my sadness, burst at my heart’s seams. In the process of coming to terms with the world’s loss, I elect myself as the unofficial chief-mourner for Ghana.

I recall having his magazine cut-outs on my door at Ringway Estates and my beloved Metal TDK cassettes on which his greatest were recorded by the Prime Cut Studio. As Catholic as I wish to be, I cannot swear to my youthful penchant for his music but then Mark Okureku Mantey (Ghanaian Simon Cowell act-alike) can bear me out. I really thought the CNN correspondent had her news script misread but then in theory and practice, it is almost full-proof to say that no one could ever make a mistake about Michael’s demise. So rod, spiky hook and sinker, I had to swallow the bad news.

I am still holding my breath to learn of the coroner’s initial post-mortem report. Perhaps I am eager to know if my megastar died out of some untoward circumstances. What prompted the massive cardiac arrest that sent him at 50 to his deathbed at the UCLA Hospital? I can buy the release that the King of Pop died from a surfeit of junk food and pills but I am not interested in the views of amateur pathologists in the entertainment news industry who are flooding the media with lurid stories. I'd say they should look into the authentic toxicology report. It is however no news that his troubled life ended with troubling death, full of questions, allegations and rumors. Incompetence should not be leveled at his physician, Conrad Murray for his restorative action in applying CPR. He has denied injecting Mickey with Demerol, which happens to be a powerful pain killer. However Reverend Jesse Jackson has raised reservations over Murray’s bizarre actions before and after Michael’s death. I can see an eminent criminal prosecution but as I have previously alluded to, Brace Yourself for the official release. Ultimately a medial officer’s ability to ‘fix’ a human being ends when God decides to finally make claim to the soul.

In my own dignified way, I mourned his untimely passing by wearing traditional all-raven-black for two dreary days with his Blood on the Dance Floor serving as the score for those difficult 48 hours, nursing the deep sense of loss. It would have been my while to fly all the way from my Republic over to New York City and then to the Apollo Theatre to share the loss with the crowd out there observing his passing. I was constrained but knew for sure that the level of networking on Facebook as a reaction to his passing may even supersede the activity during Obama’s election so I advisedly kept away from that maze. Obviously, Mickey’s passing is more like when Elvis Presley, Princess Diana, Bob Marley, Grace Kelly, Martin Luther King, Jimi Hendrix and Marilyn Monroe died.

My tribute is not born out of obligation. It is a heartfelt but summarized treatise of Michael’s contribution to music, compassion and the greatness of the human spirit. His death is indeed a tragedy. When you meet such a perfectionist, you are inspired to sharpen your own potential, to let your light shine. We’ve lost a genius and there is really the need to express the devastation and magnificence. Ghana shares this grief with people all over the world especially MJ Lovers in Asia. Of significance is the group of 1,500 prisoners at the Philippines Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Centre who reenacted special dances to honor Michael’s memory. They have had twenty-four million people hitting their YouTube posting since my last observation.

The King of Pop surely did not live in vain. He underscored the point that life is fragile but we all need to perform as legends in our fiefdoms to make this whole existence count and to make progress. He brought to us a new voice, new identity, and new expression. Michael is indeed a fascinating global brand with a string of potent cultural accessories, identity and personal philosophies: the moonwalk (still one of the most unique dance moves ever.), the crotch-grab, single sequined glove, white socks, black moccasin, Neverland, Bubbles the chimp, penchant for Peter Pan, private ferris wheel, an ever changing appearance etc. He took very simple things and made them explosive. He cut across all boundaries; truly a global icon and he continues to endure. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, and it doesn’t matter if you are Black or White. His contributions to the global causes of poverty, world peace, the environment etc. is phenomenal. He raised $60 million for famine relief in Africa and sent out a clear message not to forget that We are the World.

The Thriller album, one of my favorites, can be described as the proverbial bomb. The chemistry between Quincy Jones as a conductor, Frank Sinatra as an arranger and Michael doing what he does best was just right to create this masterpiece. Thriller took elements of rock, R&B, soul and pop and developed one of the most influential albums of all time. Madonna and Paul McCartney share my conviction that Michael is indeed a true genius, a musical god and simply, the Greatest. The man’s lifetime record sale is believed to be 750 million albums with a record sale for the legendary Thriller. He has 13 Grammy Awards under his belt and several appearances at the Hall of Fame to boot. Although his CDs have sold torpidly in the past, they have again become best sellers. It is not surprising that generation after generation of artists look back to Michael for inspiration. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs (hip-hop mogul) affirms that Michael “started the change in the world about how African Americans are perceived.” Michael Legend urged us to break the glass ceiling and like Obama, to think bigger and to challenge the status quo with a strong conviction in our deeds.

I recall during the 80s at Ghana’s golden league school, Mfantsipim (aka The School), my pal and classmate Riad Sangari was the quintessential Michael near-clone and performer. He took Michael’s videos and reassembled them into his own practiced moves and delivered them to us during our coveted Entertainment Nights. He rendered us screaming, gawking and feeling up-close and personal to The Legend. Well, for your timely information, I shared the one and very same stage with Riad, Marwan, Shergée, Buzzles, Emmaruz, and L’autobus , on a reenactment of Beat It at the Cape Coast University and we received all the verbal rave reviews for our splendid performance. Emmaruz and I recently reminisced about subsequent glorious days of our success with Bad and Smooth Criminal choreographies after our Beat It (with a flee-don’t-fight message) debut. We even have a faulted attempt at ‘Thriller’ in which we planned to emerge out of the stage of the auditorium as boogieing zombies. I can recall the instructions that timed our Michael inspired moves: “1, 2, 3, … 1, 2, 3, … now kick … turn …” Oh my word! I had a huge cathartic laugh recalling all of this! At this point, I can confidently say I once moved in Michael’s dervish dance steps. Finally and with relief, I have stepped out after being so long In the Closet.

Michael’s appearance anywhere was euphoria-provoking. He received mass adulation for his nonpareil showmanship and pandemonium was predicted wherever he performed. It was obvious that the stage brought him comfort (watch his performance for the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards) because he was a complete entertainer and his vibes fed our very being with elation. He affected everyone and he was the musical poster-child for the world as Kwame Nkrumah is politically for Pan-Africanism. He had the personality and the character to support his King of Pop / Super Mega star cult status. Earlier than many could lace their shoes, Michael was a future king recognized by father, Joseph Jackson and the agents of pop and groomed him for us. It is also obvious that Michael is an old soul who seems to have had all the training in a former life. Smokey Robinson thinks so too.

Michael had a calamitous ending of a troubled life played out by the media. The King of Pop was a man of greatness and controversy. Any commentary on his life will not be complete without mentioning the apparent paradox of his life: a child who lived as an adult and an adult who struggled with infantilism. In Oprah’s famed and top-rated interview, Michael considered “slumber parties” as what he missed most during his youth. It is not surprising that he bunked with kids who shared the same emotional age. He had a tumultuous existence with its highs and lows. The lows included newspaper exploits of sharing a bed with kids, wearing face masks, child-swinging over the famous hotel balcony, bad pajama-day-in-court, obsession with Joseph Merrick the Elephant Man, etc. His penchant for plastic surgeries raised my own bushy brows but as this cosmetic world evolves, that penchant no longer seems bizarre as it used to. The whitening of his skin as a result of the pigment-depleting disease vitiligo is apparently only a dermatological condition. I had been skeptical in the past until a friend began turning white right in front of my eyes over the years. Mickey J also became dependant on prescription medication after suffering from second and third degree burns when his hair caught fire while shooting a Pepsi commercial. In the light of his personal tribulations, Michael hoped to star in Steven Spielberg’s Peter Pan which was going to play out his needs, dreams and scars. Probably it would have helped him to deal with some of his emotions but it was not to be.

I have heard some individuals considering the news of Michael’s 14-carat gold casket as ridiculous. Well, who are we to frown at this after-life peck? The super-mega star deserves to travel off in style. How dare they? When the man was alive he indulged on antiques, houses, helicopters, more than $100 million in annual upkeep of his Neverland Estate and kept his parasitic hangers-on, questionable business partners and pseudo advisers. Simply put, he earned his keep and a golden casket is certainly befitting. I surely agree with Alicia Keys that we have to remember Michael in a “respectful, positive way.” We all deprived Mickey of his childhood as we incessantly demanded appearance after appearance, to entertain us since being introduced as a member of the Jackson Five. As I previously stated, he had his arguable short-comings and quirkiness but then he was strong in always bouncing back in the face of numerous criticisms and insults. I salute him for that and it is therefore not surprising he succeeded in securing the love and admiration of billions. Whatever weaknesses he was overshadowed by, Ghana still loves him.

Permit me to make a request to all my readers and co-fans: someone help me get to the bottom of the matter of truth as a concept and the enigma of Michael Jackson by sending me the book, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, (translated by C.K. Ogden, 1922, reissued 1983; translated by D.F. Pears and B.F. McGuinness, 1961). This is the most influential piece of work of the twentieth century. I am not (currently lack the skills) going to employ mathematics to decipher what is lodged in the book to help me get to the core of Michael’s being although I reckon math is an immutable language free from the emotions of human beings. I dare not digress but please send me that book.

This Is It: the final curtain call is a disappointment because it would not commence on July 13th as slated! Jackson and his music promoter AEG announced he would perform 50 concerts at London’s 02 Arena but June 25th nipped this dream in the bud. The tickets sold out adding up to over $90 million. I guess it shouldn’t be refunded or the options of acquiring a souvenir or commemorative ticket offered. I certainly think it presents an opportunity for AEG to turn the string of concerts into a mega festival in Mickey’s memory. It could be a unique opportunity for Michael’s products to be marketed to all his fans across the world to help resolve all his outstanding debt issues. I will suggest that the rehearsals for This Is It be creatively marketed. Although Michael’s estate will forever spew cash, I guess his wonderful kids will not see their inheritance before the creditors are paid.

I have been a true Michael fan right to his end: 2:26 p.m., local time on June 25 at the ER of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Ghanaians have had the benefit of enjoying him and we appreciate his unique contribution to the world and we have stopped weeping because he is off to see King-God. We will continue enjoying him forever and pray that The Almighty receives his soul.

Take Michael Jackson’s ‘last words’ to his fans for just what they are: “I love you, I really do.”

By Edwin Kweku Andoh

We only lined up against Barcelona but couldn’t put up a fight. We were clearly off colour and got deposed as Kings of Europe, losing the coveted chance of snapping the cup.

It was sadly a messed up mess with Lionel Messi messing us up. We lacked our proverbial courage and resilience so we cannot blame our misfortunes on the absence of Fletcher.

I did not expect my Reds (turned Slow Whites) to be strapped and ready for this bullish battle when before the match, Commander-in-chief Sir Alex Ferguson ‘wimpily’ invoked luck to be on our side.

As we lick our wounds and prepare towards the next Champion’s League, he could borrow Mfantsipim School’s motto ‘Dwen Hwe Kan’ (Think and Look Ahead) in the light that our heads are bloodied but unbowed.

He must build a formidable defense, get our gladiators to face and charge on our opponents, get Edwin to learn how to shield low shots, sharpen and utilize mid-field bulls like Ji-sung Park and O’shea and grease the Ballistic launchers Tevez, Ronaldo and Rooney. Ultimately, a sniper like Steven Gerrard (deadly long-ranger) NEEDS to be signed up or created.

MAN UNITED. UNITED FOREVER TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY! ONE UNITED!

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: A SOCIO-CHRISTIAN COMMENTARY.

(Devil’s Advocate – Presented by Warner Bros. Pictures in Association with Regency Enterprises. A Kopelson Entertainment Production. A Taylor Hackford Film.)

AUTHOR: Edwin Kweku Andoh B.A. (Hons.) MPhil. M.A.

DURATION: March 2005 to 2007

Preface

The preface enumerates how the movie with its incredible plot serves as an eye-opener to the alluring ways of the devil and the extent to which the book commentary serves as a practical tool for discerning the relevant truths presented in the movie by the use of symbols, innuendos, imagery and language. Acknowledging the nominations and awards accrued by the movie, the preface comments on the book’s goal of encouraging the human resolve of committing to God and morality rather falling for the wiles of evil or the devil. The convenience of this learning experience is uniquely achieved by embedding the DVD of the movie in the inside front hard cover of the book.

The book consists of eight chapters and the first seven chapters consist of the commentary of a conglomeration of chosen scenes. Chapter 8 consists of two sections; Taylor Hackford’s commentary and the second section consist of the full length of the movie credits. The titles of the commentaries of the first seven chapters follow a uniform structure and the specifically named scenes are arranged in the same order as presented in the movie. Also included in this chapter are sins committed and recorded in scripture that will serve as reference material for readers.

Dialogue Transcript

Sins Committed in Scripture

During the extensive research on acts that are ungodly, it was realized that many acts have not been succinctly defined to Christians as sinful meanwhile have been recorded in the Bible. The Ten Commandments provides the main themes of things that God instructs his people not to do. However arising from these broad instructions are myriads of acts that contravene his wishes that can be extrapolated from these main themes. Others are presented in the New Testament. Considering that this book seeks to promote morality and good Christian values and to some extent serve as a reference material, the list of all kinds of sins committed and recorded in scripture found in the Dake’s Bible (1989: NT324) have been reproduced. Specific verse references are also attached to each record for reference and further study. Moreover the need for this presentation primarily flows from the section of the movie commented on titled Beware of Vanity.

Bibliography

Instead of references, a bibliography is presented and it is the listing of all books, articles, magazines, and publications consulted and used in researching this book as well as other materials not specifically consulted but which are relevant to the study. Ideally, this more comprehensive listing offers the reader the convenience of further study of issues and themes mentioned and addressed.

UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION (Why it should be published.)

The Devil’s Advocate is not simply a moral tale with religious overtones but critically, also a brilliant piece of work that is intellectual in concept and content. It is crucial that the movie is promoted to further earn its place as an all time classic, an intellectual piece and an instrument for the development of human morality. This book is an important contribution to this promotion process especially when 2007 happens to be the tenth anniversary since the release of the movie in 1997. This book, as an anniversary piece counters unflattering views epitomized by Todd McCarthy’s comment that “the Devil’s Advocate is a fairly entertaining supernatural potboiler that finally bubbles over with a nearly operatic sense of absurdity and excess.”

INTENDED READERS

The first line of intended readers of this book are those who have watched the movie, are unclear about scenes, themes and issues raised in it and wish to be enlightened. The second line consists of the herd of Christ and especially pastors, shepherds across the world for teaching purposes, personal meditation, insight, spiritual inspiration and knowledge. Thirdly, it will be useful for people of non-Christian following who are curious about the extensive religious and moral interpretation of the movie. Lastly it will be invaluable for students, especially of film, religion, ethics and literature and the increasing international following of the movie commentary genre.

TRANSLATION AND COMMERCIAL VIABILITY

It is apparent that a wider readership will be reached when the book is translated into other international languages. Suggested languages for translation are Spanish, French, German and Italian. The commercial viability of this work is significant and considering its extensive appeal and the inclusion of the DVD, a million copies can be sold only in the U.S. with adequate promotion and publicity.

AUTHOR’S SKETCH

In 2004, he was one of the contributors to the encyclopedia, West African Kingdoms and Empires, 500-1590 C.E. This was edited by Pierre-Damien Mvuyekure, Associate Professor of University of Northern Iowa. Edwin Andoh is yet to publish his 30-chapter novel titled Oscillation of Uncertainty.

DESIGN CONCEPT

1. The full back-cover with the front and back designs that includes the gist of the movie as well as that of the book, and
2. The conceptual design for the inside front-cover groove for the DVD.

POSSIBLE TITLE REVISION

The evolution of the idea into writing this book has afforded the author the opportunity to consider titles other than the one currently proposed. Further consideration of the publication of this work may include the revision of the said book title.

FOREWORD: STRATEGIC REFORMATION OF GHANA'S FILM INDUSTRY (2008 - 2016)

B y D a v i d D o n t o h

To write a foreword to a wide and encompassing document on film is almost like writing a précis on life. Yet doing it for this proposal document gives me one motivation I hardly find to do things because of its own meticulous diligence in execution and my undying interest and wish for a vibrant and developed film industry in Ghana.

Edwin Andoh’s handiwork here belongs to the genre of excellence: the thoroughly researched expose on the history and background of the industry; the peer onto the status quo in Ghana today compared to the larger industry globally; the ferment of the growing industry in the West African sub-region, with particular reference to the Nollywood of Nigeria and the economic windfall with all the clout politically associated with it; the analyses of information and statistical data; and the eye-opening projections on the future of the industry, many times supported with graphic illustrations and very appropriate references to Hollywood in U.S.A, Bollywood in India, and Golden Harvest of Hong Kong and China, attest to the meticulous diligence.

Crucially hinged to Ghana’s Gollywood project, is the Centre of the Earth Platform project in the Gulf of Guinea which holds the keys to the rapid development of the film industry and related industries, epic promotion of tourism, vast employment opportunities, and the envisaged socio-economic visibility in the global market place.

To recommend this proposal to any government or consortium of investment houses would be a huge understatement. Anyone who wishes both Ghana and its film industry well should not hesitate anytime, anywhere to stick their neck out to put a finger on the proposal as the panacea to our economic woes.