Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm glad you are enjoying my work so far...keep coming back for more, as I have decided to post mini-reviews on all the films I see.
The latest has been "The Last King of Scotland," which we actually caught just before the nominations. Though not seen by many yet, it is definitely one to catch. The film stars AA-nominated Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin, the former ruler of Uganda. The film's main protagonist is Amin's hand-picked physician, and we see the "character" of Amin as he rises from hopeful leader to vicious dictator through the eyes of a Scottish doctor who at first idealizes then despises the man who refers to himself as the titular Last King of Scotland.
There are many things about this film that worked for me, starting with the fine performances by Whitaker and relative newcomer James McAvoy as the young doctor whose intentions seem in the right place, though we know he is in the wrong. What I enjoyed most about Whitaker's performance is his uncanny ability to make us believe in the "good" of Amin when history has already shown us what he actually was. His performance, unlike so many recent caricatures of "real" historical figures (Jamie Foxx's Ray to Helen Mirren's Queen Elizabeth) breathes new, unsettling life to a figure we thought we knew all about without using mimicry to do so. He deserves the award he is likely to win on Feb. 25.
I also enjoyed the cinematography in this film. The manner in which it is shot makes you feel like you are watching a movie that was filmed in the 70's. In this manner, you never feel like the actors are wearing costumes; rather, you believe that they are the very souls they are pretending to be. Best film to do so since 2004's "Badasss!," which you should look into renting if you have not already seen it.
So, should you see this in the theater? Perhaps. If you're at all interested in recent political history, absolutely. If you enjoy fine acting performances, definitely. Otherwise, I suggest holding off and adding this to your "Netflix" queue when it comes out on DVD and focusing on some of the other choices "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Little Children" come to mind) instead.
Cheers! Next up will likely be "Letters from Iwo Jima" in about a week or so.
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