If you're afraid of dying, it shows you have a life worth living.

The Last King of Scotland

This riveting historical fiction film of Ugandan president and tyrant Idi Amin has sentimental value; it rescued my mom and I from a boring and windy New York afternoon. It takes an intimate look at a slice of Amin's life, from the perspective of fictional Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan. The film is a standout biography, due in large part to Forest Whitaker's portrayal of Amin.

When an actor abandons his public persona and himself for a role, that's the mark of an amazing performance. Tom Cruise is always playing Tom Cruise. It's as if he winks at the camera a couple of times throughout a movie, reminding us that he's Tom Cruise. Forest Whitaker comes off as warm, inviting, and gentle. He's like a giant teddy bear. But he shed his public image and transformed into a childish, erratic, monster. His portrayal is incredibly realistic and terrifying to watch. He turns the charm on and off like a light switch. He bewitches with stories of his humble upbringing and his pledges for prosperity and freedom and suddenly instills fear into the heart of those close to him. Whitaker is utterly chilling; Amin is one of the most insane characters in film history.

Though this film belonged to Whitaker, not be ignored is James McAvoy. He turned in a realistic and generous performance. Part of acting is making one's scene partner look good and McAvoy is an excellent buffer for Whitaker's antics as Amin. He provides excellent motivation for Amin's charming and horrifying outbursts. Though his character is fictional, one would think Nicholas Garrigan was a real man as seen by McAvoy's commitment to the role. He plays him with such a sense of purpose, like McAvoy did not want to disappoint the "real" Garrigan. McAvoy realistically begins as a wide-eyed womanizer who is enchanted by Amin to a complacent, broken, and scared young man.

Director Kevin Macdonald creates a wonderful sense of urgency throughout the film, as if any tense scene were an action packed chase scene. In the film's final scene, Macdonald weaves together Garrigan's slow escape with Amin's men quickly and frantically searching for him. He builds unhealthy tension as bloody Garrigan waits for his plane to take off and Amin's men race towards the runway. Each time I see this film I must remind myself that Garrigan escapes because it is so easy to forget when his escape is just barely thwarted.

Macdonald only alludes to Amin's crimes, as the film is told from Garrigan's point of view. I see where some might have problems with this choice, but that would be an entirely different movie. The Last King of Scotland focuses on Amin's seduction of Garrigan and others, and the slow realization of his madness. Well done all.


Marion Cotillard in Nine

Thank you for being one of the few positive parts of this disappointing film. Thank you for so brilliantly playing a long suffering and supportive wife, who was so much more complex than just the spouse of a famous director. Thank you for singing two of the three good songs in the film. Thank you for that amazing performance of "Take It All" where you dangle yourself in front of your husband and find the strength to leave him. Marion Cotillard, you're a Christmas miracle.




Netflix

In the Heat of the Night-Continuing to brush up on classics.
Lost in Translation-Haven't seen this for a while. Would very much like to see it again.
8 1/2-Netflix Instant. Classic. Has to be better than Nine.