One Night in Vegas is a 2013 Nigerian comedy drama film directed by John Uche. It stars Jimmy Jean-Louis, John Dumelo, Yvonne Nelson, Sarodj Bertin, Van Vicker, Michael Blackson and Koby Maxwell. The film focuses on a Ghanaian couple who attempt to better their relationship by taking a trip to Las Vegas. The film was created by the same team that produced Paparazzi: Eye in the Dark in 2011. Produced on a low six-figure budget and filmed over the course of 19 days, the film has been noted in the Nollywood USA market as poised to raise the bar of African films by utilizing a more western approach to production quality and standards. It notably employed the experience of an American filmmaker (Tim "Black Magic Tim" Wilson) who served as cinematographer and editor. The film's official release in Ghana had one of the largest turnouts in the history of Silverbird Theater at Accra Mall.
The film has been screened at the United Nations in New York City, the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., the Pan African Film Festival, Dublin Ireland, Haiti, Nigeria (on July 18, 2014), Maryland, Virginia, California, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Sierra Leone.
This film was written by Hollywood screenwriter and actor B.J. Winfrey, an Atlanta, Georgia native, whose credits include Army Wives, Sabotage (with Arnold Schwarzenegger), and Tyler Perry's The Haves and the Have Nots, and who in 2014 became the first American to win the Nigerian and African Film Critics Award (NAFCA) for the short film Five.
Contents
Plot
James Foster is a man at a crossroads with himself and his marriage. Coming out on top after a high-profile case with a band of thugs, James has been sober for 18 months. He decides that to take a trip to Vegas with his wife Genie would be a good way to rekindle their relationship as well as an opportunity to employ his bodyguard friend, Nick, a few more days as a holiday "thank you" for their security in the case.
Genie's mom, Barbara, is skeptical whether or not the trip will help Genie strengthen her relationship with James or resolve the intimate issues between them. Sometimes weakness is the opposite of strength, but sometimes weakness can be the pathway to strength. Sometimes addiction is the opposite of sobriety, but sometimes addiction can be the pathway to sobriety. Sometimes what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but sometimes it doesn't.
Cast
Jimmy Jean-Louis as Nick
John Dumelo as James Foster
Yvonne Nelson as Genie Foster
Sarodj Bertin as Ashely Johnson
Michael Blackson as Mr. Roland
Van Vicker as Tony
Koby Maxwell as Pat
Sahndra Fon Dufe as Mildred
Fatima M Cisse as Gladys
Sinota Odu as Mrs. Roland
Moses Efret as Therapist
Claudio Oben as Vincent
Princess Manka as Barbara
Joy Kingsley-Ibeh as Nurse
Cintia Diamond as Ashely's friend
Rasheed Shobayo as Doctor 1
Sheri Holder as Doctor 2
Accolades
Nominations
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Film in the Diaspora
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Film
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Sound
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Director in the Diaspora
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Cinematography in the Diaspora
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Cinematography
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Screenplay
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Screenplay in the Diaspora
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Editing
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role
2013 NAFC Awards: Best Visual Effects
2013 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Editing/Sound
2013 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Music
2013 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
2013 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Picture
Awards
2013 NAFCA: Best Cinematography
2013 NAFCA: Best Film in Diaspora
2013 NAFCA: Best Actor in a Supporting Role