I watched The Last King of Scotland last Friday night, a film that I have incessantly looked for during my trips to the pirated DVD havens. One of the screenwriters is Peter Morgan, the one who helmed the screenplay for The Queen. I wondered then whose royalty will he enliven next.
The Last King tells the rise and fall of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin as seen through the eyes of Dr. Nicholas Garrigan, well-acted by James MacAvoy (he's that dwarf in The Chronicles of Narnia). Forest Whitaker who plays Amin -- who comes as no surprise given the accolades he's been receiving throughout the entire awards season -- explodes with murderous rage and a sickening charm and media-savvyness.
(There is one particular scene that will make you cringe, depending on how much violence and gore you can take.)
However, it was MacAvoy's character that shines in this movie. Aside from being the lens through which Amin's leadership is viewed, his character is in every way pivotal throughout the course of the movie. Garrigan's character is also most developed among the cast: he starts of as a testosterone-driven adventurer whose sense of dedication is shaky as he is quite even uncertain of himself and ended as disillusioned victim who has to learn it the hard way. This transformation was made possible as he became appointed as Amin's personal physician and later political advisor. MacAvoy is definitely the biggest miss in the Best Supporting Actor race.
I also saw The Good Shepherd. It's the first directorial job of Robert DeNiro. For all the good intentions and the superb casting, I just thought it was too tedious and overbearing. I can't even make do with all the intricate details and the murmurs. Practically almost all conversations in the film was done through murmuring voice. I think this drives home the point how secretive the CIA really is. I think I need to re-watch it.
photo credit: darkhorizons.com
4 comments:
i haven't seen any of the royalty-themed movies. parang boring ang dating nila. marie antoinette was cool, though.
the two films written by morgan can be a bit talky, but then its supposed to be. but then the writing is smart and the performances are superb. i'll try to check marie antoinette.
I vaguely remember Idi Amin when I read back in elementary this book owned by my aunt. It was written by his health minister Henry Kyemba unlike the Last King where it was from a POV of a fictional doctor MacAvoy. I read that he used to challenge his enemies to a boxing match where he would pummel them to death. He was a heavyweight champion after all.
Wish Whitaker would take home the nude gold dude though, it's long time coming for him
In the film there was this health guy which the character of MacAvoy replaced. He was killed though. I dunno if it was loosely based or what on the same person. Whitaker is explosive but I like MacAvoy's character better.
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