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The Last King of
Scotland
Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Starring: Forest Whitaker
Genre:
Drama/Action-Adventure
Run Time: 123 min.
Release Date:
September 2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
When an actor gets “into” a role, it can
often make or break a film. If they’ve researched and prepared and are
ready to give 100% to the production, then you’re more than likely going
to have a successful movie. Movie-goers saw this with Phillip Seymour
Hoffman in his portrayal of
CAPOTE which won him the Oscar, the
Golden Globe and so many other accolades that it’d take up half of a
page to list them all. Not surprising, Forest Whitaker (FIRST
DAUGHTER) has mirrored
Hoffman’s success with last year’s astounding THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND.
When you don’t see the actor and only see the character, the person
doing the portrayal has bottled solid gold for viewers, and Whitaker
certainly did this. His breathtaking performance as the deranged
dictator General Idi Amin, former president of Uganda, was perfect.
Mannerisms, voice, those strangely vacant eyes, they were all eerily
present.
Although a fictional representation on real events, The Last King of
Scotland holds more fact than fiction. Even though one of its main
characters (James McAvoy as Dr. Nicholas Garrigan) never really existed,
the film inserts him in order for us to see what it was like being on
the inside of this bizarre man’s government. The brutality of 300,000
slaughter Ugandans is never seen but only hinted at because Dr. Garrigan
and the rest of Amin’s advisors are never privy to such information,
being held tightly to the General’s chest. As Idi Amin’s paranoia begins
surfacing more and more, Dr. Garrigan realizes how dangerous a position
he’s in — that being so close to such an unstable figurehead.
The cracks in Amin’s persona are brutally and perfectly presented by
Whitaker. His mood swings from friend to foe happen in the blink of the
proverbial eye, and Whitaker makes it all completely believable. The
stress Dr. Garrigan (Jame McAvoy,
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA) feels is ratcheted up as he realizes he’s
not really the President’s doctor but the prisoner of a genocidal
maniac. This added an excellent level of texture to the film, giving the
audience someone to care and worry about.
Probably the strangest thing about this entire time in history is that
many Ugandans still view Idi Amin as a “great President/leader.” This is
focused on in the extra features of the DVD, making many watchers
scratch their heads in dismay, no doubt.
Regardless of your views on the man, Whitaker’s portrayal of Idi Amin is
so impressive you won’t be able to take your eyes off the screen.
(back to top) |
Image from The Last King
of Scotland
DVD cost: $24.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
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Yes.
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Newsworthy:
The Last King of
Scotland is the first Western production shot in Uganda since The
African Queen in 1950.
Movie Quote: "Do
you have any idea what's going on in this country? They're not even
bothering to dig graves anymore."
Other Actors/Actresses
from The Last King of Scotland
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