The Last King of Scotland

[ruthy]

This is the most powerful film I've seen in many a moon. Go and see it. That is all.

[britfan2]

Okay sweetie, you've sold me! I don't have to watch Idi eating people do I?

[rosenrot]

I really want to see this, but I probably will have to wait for the DVD release.

I am glad that it is as good as its trailer suggests.

Thanks

A
x

[ukelelehip]

I am dying to see this!

[mcr5137]

I'm just hoping it opens here!! I've been wanting to see this since I first heard about it a year ago!

[ruthy]

No eating people, Denise, just references to it but mainly in the context of dispelling propaganda. It's brutal in places but not gratuitously and it is quite shocking, but you do get time to avert your gaze. I did as I loathe violent scenes, especially cruelty.

Forest Whitaker is fabulous and really makes you see that even Idi Amin was a human being with frailties. James McAvoy, if you can get over him being cute Mr Tumnus, is fantastic as a clever yet gullible and vain young doctor with an eye for the ladies. I loved it from beginning to end. Hope you enjoy it too

[britfan2]

Thanks Ruthy, I am going to try to squeeze it in along with Babel. I was aware of the violent nature of the regime that Idi ran so that made me a little nervous. I love Forest Whitaker & think he is very underused & underrated as an actor, & from interviews, it would seem he has an enormous heart. I hope he wins the Oscar for this one.

[ruthy]

I think he will, all the smart money's on him. He certainly deserves to, but a little bit of sentimentality in me also hopes that the gorgeous, wonderful Peter O'Toole wins, as he's now been nominated 8 times but has never won and he'll probably never get another chance.

[britfan2]

I agree totally, but where is that Lifetime Achievement award for Peter? Certainly he is due one.

[ruthy]

He's amazing. I saw 'Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell' three times and he was incredible. Now there's an example of a stage play making it on to video/DVD.

[pendarim]

There's a blurb in today's IMDB Movie and TV News that says O'Toole may not attend the Oscars because of fragile health. Same blurb also says he received an honorary Oscar in 2003 for lifetime achievement. I hadn't heard this before...

Pen

[ruthy]

I think that's true, but it would mean so much more to receive one on merit for a particular piece of work, I mean, have you ever seen 'Lawrence of Arabia', and do you suppose the board did before they gave the doorstop to someone else?

[ree]

I actually remember seeing Peter O'Toole receive his Honorary Award & being amazed that he didn't already have an Oscar or two on the mantel!

[britfan2]

I loved Laurence of Arabia!!!
I have heard other actors say that the lifetime achievement is nice, but they really would like to be recognized for an individual role. Can't blame them for that. Peter is an actor's actor, & from the recent photos I've seen, looks really frail. It will be difficult to see either one of these men lose this year in the category they are in.

On a side note I saw Babel over the weekend & it was good. Kind of felt like I had just gone to church as I felt the director & writer were constantly preaching at me of the foibles of humans. The Departed is still at the top of my list for best movie. I will try to see Last King next weekend. Looking forward to it.

[ruthy]

Ooh, Ray Winstone. I haven't seen The Departed (my hatred of violence again), but I have a huge soft spot for him ever since I saw one of his early films as a B-movie, when he was about 19. Not my usual type, a bit rough around the edges, but that voice!!! Add to that the good-natured banter between him and Rufus about the possibility of having a scrap; Ray as Henry VIII and Rufe as Charlie II and that adds up to a fantasy not enjoyed quite so much since the one about Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward as good and evil in The Wicker Man (my favourite film ever).