The Last King of Scotland

A decent film from an exotic setting with a young James McAvoy as a doctor and Forest Whitaker as a dictator in Kampala. I was expecting something grittier and more intense due to the theme and the harsh setting, but thankfully I didn't slip into boredom. Still, the film left me somewhat cold. 65% (11/16/2017)

I expected it to mainly focus on Forest Whitaker's performance, which is partly true, but the film has a story that actually surprised me. I didn't expect anything from it, but it's not that bad. At least at first. It seems like several interesting storylines are unfolding here, but in the end, attention almost blindly focuses only on the insane dictator portrayed excellently by Whitaker. It's a shame because story-wise, it's a missed opportunity. Surprisingly, the film isn't even as gritty as I expected. Or am I really that numb to it by now? (04/02/2014)

An ordinary low-budget film with a serious and interesting theme, a captivating performance by Forest Whitaker, and a few rougher scenes, other than that, it is uninteresting. The linear plot has many dull moments, it is quite predictable, and only occasionally does a more intense scene ruffle the waters. I understand the Oscar nomination, but otherwise, this film doesn't have higher ambitions. It's nice that it's based on a true story, but that doesn't guarantee success, although I have no doubt that this symbolic “guarantee of an interesting spectacle” will find its fans, who will defend it to the death. Honestly, it didn't entertain me. (08/04/2008)

When the best thing about a whole movie is the main character's shirt, something is wrong. To be fair, though, there are two scenes that make this nonsense is survivable: the initial disposal of Castle's family has a certain amount of impact, and the fight with the Russian muscle-head to the accompaniment of an operatic aria, which is not without its comic exaggeration. The rest, full of ridiculous, pathetic poses, does not do credit to the creators, nor to the fluffy and dynamic comic book premise itself. Although I think Travolta shouldn't climb in front of the camera anymore, here he was mysteriously tolerable, while the mediocre Thomas Jane might not need a Shakespearean training for such a role, but I resisted the onslaught of my diaphragm every time I saw his badass face. But during the scene when the elevator goes up and there's Thomas turning on it, with a taut body under his tattered tank top and a harsh look on his face, I burst out laughing, I really couldn't help it :) (07/06/2007)

A film I had been eagerly anticipating, and one that I believed in as much as only a handful of other films even before seeing it. I think the film's potential was fully realized here—when you take such a gripping real-life history with actual characters and pair it with an experienced director, there’s little chance the final result would fall flat. Forest Whitaker is hands down the best part of the film; his portrayal of the general was unpredictable, and when you add the undeniable charisma this actor possesses, it’s clear that the Oscar was already in his pocket that year. And the casting nailed the physical resemblance! At first glance, it might seem like James McAvoy was playing in his shadow, but don’t be fooled, as he also delivers a performance worthy of a full ten out of ten (though he might have been even more convincing in Split). The film boasts captivating locations where it was shot. When you combine those with the actors and a story full of tense moments and twists, you’re guaranteed an excellent two-hour experience. I give it 86%. (09/01/2017)