The Last King of Scotland

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 14 Jan 2007, 20:51

I'm surprised we've not got a thread for this one.

I saw it earlier tonight and it's excellent.

Forest Whitaker is a real powerhouse and larger than life, he's a real marvel. He not only looks like Idi Amin but IS Idi Amin. I heard reports Ugandan's thought he was Idi Amin I'm not surprised.

I hope he at least gets nominated for an Oscar. The Scottish doctor played by James McAvoy is very good too (actually the lead), so is Gillian Anderson in a smaller role.

A lot of it is shot in a documentary style with cameras not "quite" in focus, it works really well.

The Last King of Scotland is not a violent film and for the majority of it's running time the violence is spoken of but not seen. There are two graphic scenes however one of which I personally thought was gratuitous and came as a shock to me.

If I have one complain I thought it could've been a wee bit shorter, not much just some tighter editing.

One guy left just before the credits were rolling when the film was still going on and one women sat through the majority of the film and then left about 20 minutes before it was over. I guess she couldn't stomach the (brief) violence, fair enough but to spend all that time and then leave. I've never understood why people leave after spending so much time on a film.

Oh and there are a few hot African ladies too.

A solid 8 out of 10.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 14 Jan 2007, 20:53

Dammit I wanted to be the first to watch this... at least to see it before you. Well played Brad............

I'm gonna watch this next weekend hopefully.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 14 Jan 2007, 20:56

I aim to please

I meant to go last night.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 14 Jan 2007, 22:08

Gillain Andersons in it, thats the only reason I am defo seeing it

dont need another reason, but I do love Forrest, een with that extra dark makeup he has in the film, looks scary.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Jan 2007, 01:05

They made him look darker, really?

It is true many/most African Americans aren't half as dark as Africans. I didn't find the colour of his skin scary (it's skin) but his weird eye flinch and persona certainly were.

Gillian's part is not a big part but a reasonable one.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 15 Jan 2007, 08:12

He plays Idi Amin (sp?) right?

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 15 Jan 2007, 17:13

Yup.

His skin colour seems to be darkened somehow, either make up or digital colour correction I would guess

Forrest isnt that dark skinned normally, and yes from what I saw his face does some funky things, quite disturbing looking mental face

but he has always been able to do things like that, quite an actor really and its amazing to think he has been around for so long now.

He said in a recent interview that "Van Damme isnt hard at all and would get his arse kicked in a street fight"

as Forrest is apprently a long time martial artist so they should have gave him a fighting role in Bloodsport then

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Jan 2007, 19:17

If they have it would be make up, much cheaper than putting CG on to every frame.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 15 Jan 2007, 19:32

bradavon wrote:If they have it would be make up, much cheaper than putting CG on to every frame.

Its not CG, its colour correction, and most films do it now and it can totally change what a person or part of a person looks like (or a complete scene). You would be suprised what they change in some films for no reason other than they can, it costs cash and they are ignorant and flash it about I guess. It doesnt look that hard to do either in the documentaires I have seen about it

But hey I would guess it is make up, but you never can ytell sometimes as studios are thick as pigshit when it comes to their cash.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Jan 2007, 19:59

Well many Africans are black whereas African Americans are really dark to very dark brown so it make sense.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 15 Jan 2007, 20:51

Fingers criossed I see this on Friday or Saturday with another film maybe

depends on how long its gonna show, as knowing my local they will take it off and put some big crap film on it.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 17 Jan 2007, 20:07

The Last King of Scotland 4/5
Great propaganda of Uganda.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 17 Jan 2007, 20:13

well versed.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Jan 2007, 22:54

Why do you reckon it's propaganda?

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 18 Jan 2007, 23:04

I don't. I just felt like saying that at the time.