Author Topic: Last King of Scotland (Read 448 times)

Curval · « **on:** May 02, 2007, 02:54:38 PM »

Anyone seen this yet?

I've rented it and plan on seeing it tonight.

It is of particular interest to me because one of my biggest clients was booted out of Uganda by Amin (after the principle had been jailed and darn near executed) but they were able to regain their assets in the mid 80s.

Last summer my wife and I visited their estate and safari lodges. It is incredible what they have achieved in such a short time.

I had an exchange of emails with one of the family members about the movie earlier today. He says "worth seeing but for what it is...a _fictional hollywood interpretation _against a background of what took place".

Downer....I'd like to see a more accurate representation.

Thoughts or impressions?

JB73 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2007, 02:59:29 PM »

I liked the movie... though I couldn't buy the plot of the Scottish guy becoming his "top" adviser.

I vaguely remember Amin in my youth, and didn't know a ton about the story, after watching the special features and learning how the Scottish guy is a completely fictional character I was not surprised.

Forrest did a great job acting though.

VOR · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2007, 05:53:14 PM »

I enjoyed it. I understand the Scottish character was there to illustrate Amin's charisma and the gradual realization that he wasn't what he appeared, but I still thought it could have been approached differently or more historically.

Other than that, good flick.

culero · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2007, 07:27:56 PM »

Idi Amin was my yardman.

Curval · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2007, 08:10:47 AM »

Well, I didn't fall asleep watching it, so it can't be too bad.

All in all I think it was pretty good but the Scottish guy was waaaay over the top.

They didn't go into much of the violence (I have heard stories of Amin chopping up the daughter of one of his ministers in front of the guy and many other horrible acts committed personally by Amin) and they didn't mention the wholesale slaughter of Uganda's wildlife.

But, not a bad effort considering it was Hollyweird.

Dago · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2007, 09:36:20 AM »

I live down the road from Idi Amin when he was exiled in Saudi Arabia. Used to pass the place he stayed on the way to the grocery store.

Curval · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2007, 09:44:03 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dago
I live down the road from Idi Amin when he was exiled in Saudi Arabia. Used to pass the place he stayed on the way to the grocery store.

Seriously?

What was his place like...a palace?

Bodhi · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2007, 09:52:03 AM »

Curval, Sorry for the hijack, but did you make a decision on that yet?

Curval · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2007, 10:04:28 AM »

I'm trying to book the tickets to go to Atlanta on May 30th today.

I will be in touch

Bodhi · « **Reply #9 on:** May 03, 2007, 10:17:02 AM »

cc thx

Dago · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2007, 11:31:50 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval
Seriously?

What was his place like...a palace?

Naw, he had some rooms in a small exclusive hotel place. Never paid much attention to it much. He did have a support staff, saw that entourage a couple times. He was kept pretty low key. Palaces and fancy places were kinda common though.

Sandman · « **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2007, 12:40:46 AM »

I'm not a big fan of Forrest Whitaker.

That said, he was awesome in this movie.

evenhaim · « **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2007, 12:47:25 AM »

movie was good but i needed something else felt like i was left hanging...

Sandman · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2007, 12:48:50 AM »

Boobies?

-CodyC · « **Reply #14 on:** May 09, 2007, 05:25:48 AM »

I read that Giles Foden, the author of the book Last King of Scotland based the Garrigan character on a guy named Bob Astles.

http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=502&fArticleId=210731

That is an article about Astles, you can just search the name in google and find quite a bit about him.