Let's start with "The Last King of Scotland."
Summary: Taking place during the turbulent transition of power from Milton Obote to British-trained Idi Amin in 1970's Uganda, the film follows a fictional Scottish doctor and his involvement with the new "president" as his personal physician. At first the doctor, although mostly altruistic and good-hearted, enjoyed the benefits of having access to the most powerful man in Uganda; however, he quickly and tragically learns that Amin, in addition to being unpredicatably eccentric, is essentially an ethnic cleansing, dissident disappearing, woman-multilating son of a bitch.
Review: Forrest Whitaker's performance is as large as Idi Amin's presence in the movie. I really believed that at times Whitaker's Amin genuinely believed in his own delusions and visions of grandiosity. James McAvoy and Gilian Anderson also have solid performances, although I didn't think they got anywhere near Whitaker's. And you can't really fault them. Idi Amin, the actual person, is a captivating character and it only make sense that a viewer would be sucked in to the portrayal.
The movie also does a good job of maintaining suspense, tactfully handling the horrors of Amin's crimes, and highlighting the unstable governments.
My own gripe is with the plot arc involving Dr. Garrigan and his various love interests. I won't divulge much here, but I just felt that they were kind of thrown in there haphazardly. Not terrible, but not terribly compelling, either. Still, they weren't so offensive to me that I wouldn't give the movie an A-.
Now, next one:
"The Constant Gardener"
Summary: Justin Quayle, played by Ralph Fiennes, is a British Diplomat. He meets, falls in love with, and marries an activist, Tessa, played by Rachel Weicz. She follows him to Kenya, where she pursues her passions. She ends up murdered amidst accusations of infidelity, and Quayle begins to unravel her mysterious death.
As he learns that she was nothing but loyal to him, he also begins to see the work that she was involved with to expose corrupt politicians and pharmaceutical giants experimenting on Africans.
Review: As you'd expect, once Qualye begins to scratch at the surface, the movie picks up in intensity. Like "Scotland," it does a great job keeping you invested and is well supported by Fiennes'. The movie wasn't overly confusing, as is the case all too often with conspiracy movies. While one may argue that that made it predictable, I find that it was still compelling enough to enjoy a lot.
I'd give it a B+/A-
THE DRINKING GAME:
I know, I know- it may be in bad taste to make a drinking game to two movies that highlight the plight of the developing world, but fuck is it depressing! And what makes depressing things better (or more depressing)? Alcohol!
The rules (some apply if you're only white- sorry!):
1 drink every time you feel guilty that you're white
1 drink every time you think about doing some kind of humanitarian work in Africa
7 drinks every time you tell someone you're thinking of doing some kind of humanitarian work in Africa
1 Gin and Tonic every time you see a mosquito or other insect
1 drink every time you repeat a word said with an African accent in your head
1 drink every time you try to think of where is country is located and can't remember
1 drink every time a group of children runs along with a bus
1 drink every time a British person says something condescending about the developing world
10 drinks every time you research the Peace Corps after you have really have yourself convinced that, "I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna go and do the Peace Corps."
1 coffee after you realize you don't have the constitution to commit to two years and a new set of vaccinations.
1 drink for every time you are glad you don't live in any African country :P
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