Scan and Pan
Thursday, January 25, 2007
The Last King of Scotland
The film tells the story of Nicholas Garrigan, a young Scottish physician who travels to Uganda to work in a rural medical clinic. Entirely by chance, he's called in to treat an injured Amin, who is impressed by the young doctor and asks him to become his personal physician. Over the next five years, Garrigan becomes Amin's most trusted advisor, closing his eyes to the horrors perpetrated by the regime. When his affair with one of Amin's wives is discovered, the horror becomes personal.
Director Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void) creates a taut, character driven film that, while fictionalized, manages to convey the truth about Idi Amin's regime through the eyes of a character who is an amalgamation of three of Amin's actual advisors. He skillfully negotiates the film through several changes of direction without missing a beat. Screenwriters Peter Morgan (The Queen) and Jeremy Brock (co-creator of the British television show Casualty) adapt the novel by journalist Giles Foden into a satisfying blend of personal drama and political thriller.
Anthony Dod Mantle (28 Days Later) keeps it real with cinematography that is practical and professional but never slick, focusing the attention on the actors rather than on itself. Production designer Michael Carlin (Wallis & Edward) uses the Ugandan shooting locations to bring the country's past vividly back to life. Composer Alex Heffes (Imagine Me & You) provides a solid, unobtrusive score.
Forest Whitaker was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar and won a Golden Globe on the strength of his performance as the by turns charming and menacing dictator. He allows the audience to see why Amin's charisma made him so popular at first and why he was so terrifying to the victims of his regime. Whitaker so thoroughly inhabits the role that he disappears inside Amin's skin. In an interview, the actor said that even after shooting was done, he found himself talking like Amin.
James McAvoy is also strong as Garrigan, a cocky but idealistic Scot looking for adventure after graduating from medical school and finding more than he wanted. Gillian Anderson is good in a small role as the wife of the man who runs the medical clinic. Kerry Washington as Amin's young wife Kay, Simon McBurney as a British official, and David Oyelowo as Garrigan's predecessor also deliver good performances.
Forest Whitaker's performance alone would be worth seeing the film for, but The Last King of Scotland is also a very good film on its other merits. Recommended.
This fictionalized film about Ugandan dictator Idi Amin is a compelling drama turned thriller, with a brilliant performance by Forest Whitaker as Amin.
The film tells the story of Nicholas Garrigan, a young Scottish physician who travels to Uganda to work in a rural medical clinic. Entirely by chance, he's called in to treat an injured Amin, who is impressed by the young doctor and asks him to become his personal physician. Over the next five years, Garrigan becomes Amin's most trusted advisor, closing his eyes to the horrors perpetrated by the regime. When his affair with one of Amin's wives is discovered, the horror becomes personal.
Director Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void) creates a taut, character driven film that, while fictionalized, manages to convey the truth about Idi Amin's regime through the eyes of a character who is an amalgamation of three of Amin's actual advisors. He skillfully negotiates the film through several changes of direction without missing a beat. Screenwriters Peter Morgan (The Queen) and Jeremy Brock (co-creator of the British television show Casualty) adapt the novel by journalist Giles Foden into a satisfying blend of personal drama and political thriller.
Anthony Dod Mantle (28 Days Later) keeps it real with cinematography that is practical and professional but never slick, focusing the attention on the actors rather than on itself. Production designer Michael Carlin (Wallis & Edward) uses the Ugandan shooting locations to bring the country's past vividly back to life. Composer Alex Heffes (Imagine Me & You) provides a solid, unobtrusive score.
Forest Whitaker was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar and won a Golden Globe on the strength of his performance as the by turns charming and menacing dictator. He allows the audience to see why Amin's charisma made him so popular at first and why he was so terrifying to the victims of his regime. Whitaker so thoroughly inhabits the role that he disappears inside Amin's skin. In an interview, the actor said that even after shooting was done, he found himself talking like Amin.
James McAvoy is also strong as Garrigan, a cocky but idealistic Scot looking for adventure after graduating from medical school and finding more than he wanted. Gillian Anderson is good in a small role as the wife of the man who runs the medical clinic. Kerry Washington as Amin's young wife Kay, Simon McBurney as a British official, and David Oyelowo as Garrigan's predecessor also deliver good performances.
Forest Whitaker's performance alone would be worth seeing the film for, but The Last King of Scotland is also a very good film on its other merits. Recommended.
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