The Last King of Scotland

[Phil Turner]

I was very impressed with Forest Whitaker's central performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in this quality film, which is aimed at a discerning audience and makes no obvious concessions to box office appeal. In my opinion, it fully deserves its critical success.

The semi-fictionalised story centres on the relationship between Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan (played by James McAvoy) and Idi Amin. Without giving too much away, Garrigan is appointed as Amin's personal physician and the pair form a close friendship. Slowly, Garrigan realises that his loyalty may be misplaced.

This was an intelligent and enjoyable film. I thought the story was interesting, and the characters were presented in a rounded, three-dimensional way. Apart from Forest Whitaker, the rest of the cast did a good job, and James McAvoy made an unlikeable character very watchable. Like The Queen, it's the type of film that restores your faith in modern cinema.

Regards
Phil Turner

[David Brent]

Originally Posted by Phil Turner I was very impressed with Forest Whitaker's central performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in this quality film, which is aimed at a discerning audience and makes no obvious concessions to box office appeal. In my opinion, it fully deserves its critical success. The semi-fictionalised story centres on the relationship between Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan (played by James McAvoy) and Idi Amin. Without giving too much away, Garrigan is appointed as Amin's personal physician and the pair form a close friendship. Slowly, Garrigan realises that his loyalty may be misplaced. This was an intelligent and enjoyable film. I thought the story was interesting, and the characters were presented in a rounded, three-dimensional way. Apart from Forest Whitaker, the rest of the cast did a good job, and James McAvoy made an unlikeable character very watchable. Like The Queen, it's the type of film that restores your faith in modern cinema. Regards Phil Turner

I havn't seen the film in question as yet but I see that Forest Whitaker won the Golden Globe Best Film Actor award this week for his performance as Idi Amin.

Dave.

[Marky B]

Although,I haven't seen the film myself,going by the reviews it is supposed to be brilliant. I hope Forest Whitaker gets an Oscar and BAFTA nominations and wins them both - a great actor,but always playing second fiddle.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[Phil Turner]

Originally Posted by Marky B I hope Forest Whitaker gets an Oscar and BAFTA nominations and wins them both - a great actor,but always playing second fiddle. Ta Ta Marky B

I hope he gets the Oscar too. It's true that he often plays second fiddle to bigger stars and he certainly deserves his moment in the limelight. I don't know much about him, but he strikes me as being fairly modest, and his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes was very humble.

Regards
Phil Turner

[D Cairns]

FW is great. James McEvoy is also very strong: nice to see a "naturalistic" actor who actually seems natural, seems to be behaving rather than putting on an act.

I had a problem with the love story, which was rather stupid and cliched: the story where the young man has an affair with the wife of a powerful and dangerous man (ususally a gangster, but African dictator works) is so old, Tarantino parodied it in PULP FICTION. Apparently the romance with Mrs Amin is not in the book, which also goes right up to the end of Idi's reign. Feels like they copped out to make the movie more "movie-like", ie like other movies we've already seen.

[Mr Cosmo]

I saw this on a transatlantic flight - never the best way to see a movie, but the performances were powerful and for me Forest Whittaker IS Idi Amin. I recommend it - but you may find if you are sensitive some scenes make you squirm a bit.

[Hackett]

Is this story truely about Armin or just Drama?. I'v not seen the film but had a look at the cast list on IMDb. There's no Robert Astle part. Which is like a Hitler bio without Martin Bormann. Is there a composite character?.