| Product: |
The Last King Of Scotland (DVD) |
| Date: |
21.06.07 (148 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Acting and story
Disadvantages: None at all
Nicholas Garrigan is a young man, recently qualified as a Doctor and set to join his father in his flourishing practice in Scotland. Rebelling against this set plan for his life looks at a globe of the world and spins it while recanting the mantra ‘where it stops I’ll go’.
This is how he ends up in Uganda in the early 70’s, working in a hospital looking after the poor of the country. He arrives in the country at a time of joy, the incumbent president, who had been stealing money from his people, has been removed in a coup organised by the man of the people… General Idi Amin.
An accident brings Garrigan into contact with Amin, the president needing a doctor and Garrigan being the only one around. Amin is impressed by Garrigan and wants him to become his own personal physician.
Amin is an affable and charming man so Garrigan warms to him, they become good friends but as we all know Amin wasn’t always the pleasant, cheerful orator and statesman and that his demeanour would change, to the horror of his country and the world at large.
Last King of Scotland is a three-tiered tale. It is the story of Amin, of Garrigan and of course of Uganda itself. While Amin is the obvious reference point for viewers Garrigan is the main protagonist for the story. His connections with Amin and his descent from a fairly normal person into a brutal dictator filled with paranoia and distrust of all those around him. The power of the Presidency he forcefully acquired leading him to think everyone will do the same to him.
This is cleverly shown by the subtle change in the look of the film. As Amin’s mood get darker so does the film, as the film progresses more and more of the scenes are night time ones or set in dark offices.
The most impressive thing about Last King of Scotland though is that is doesn’t just concentrate on the Amin we all know about, that it introduces us to a very likeable man, a man who has his people’s interest at heart, at least at first anyway. By telling the story this way you get to see a bit more of the man, from the eyes of someone who knew him.
Foress Whitaker has always been a great actor, Ghost Dog of The Samurai anyone?, and this is the part he has been waiting years for. He is perfect as the ruthless dictator. He conveys both aspects of the president without missing a beat. Charming one moment, paranoid and viscous the next. At times you wonder how anyone stayed friends with him, unless it was because they were scared for their lives!
Garrigan, played by James McAvoy, shares Amin’s charming persona and thinks about himself all the time, putting his own wants above common sense. He has very few morals, sleeping around, not considering the consequences of his actions. This could just be because his is just Naïve but I don’t think so.
Last King of Scotland is a engrossing film, powerful and dramatic. It draws you in as you watch the Amin/Garrigan friendship grow in relation to the power Amin possesses. Did Amin really want to drag his country to its feet? Maybe he did but the paranoia power got to him and he started to put himself above his people.
The film certainly isn’t one to watch if you are not in the mood to concentrate. There are a lot to keep up with and to follow to get full enjoyment from the story, but if you do it is well worth your time to do so.
The one downside to the film that I can think of is it’s complete lack of any time frame to reference things to. You don’t really have any idea of how long a period of time has passed. Not a terrible problem but it would have been appreciated to have had some time gauge to see how long it took for Amin to change from all around nice guy to evil genocidal dictator.
On the other hand it was great seeing this hulk of a man, the president of his country sitting in his room reading the British boys comic ‘Bullet’ and watching ‘Deep Throat’ on video, its not especially important but it did give me a little chuckle and made me wonder whether that was taken from documented proof or eye witness statements.
Last King of Scotland is a great film, and once more the Best Actor Oscar went to someone who truly deserved it, that you really should find time to view.
Summary: The 'truth' behind Amin??
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