| Author | |
|---|
LadyDay
Super Moderator
| Joined: | Thursday October 2nd, 2003 |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Posts: | 6156 |
| Photo: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |    |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Thursday October 19th, 2006 20:36 |
|
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6062330.stm
McAvoy's African adventure
McAvoy (left) was given the Rising Star award at the 2006 BaftasThe London Film Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this week with a gala screening of The Last King of Scotland to mark its 50th anniversary.
Actor James McAvoy talks to the BBC about his role in the film, which is set in Idi Amin's Uganda.
The film, an adaptation of Giles Foden's novel, centres on Uganda's dictator Idi Amin - played by Forest Whitaker - and explores an imagined relationship between him and his Scottish doctor, McAvoy's character Nicholas Garrigan.
The title refers to Amin's bizarre belief that he should be allowed to become king of Scotland - he was a fanatic about the country, and even took to wearing a kilt.
McAvoy told the BBC that he feels there is a dilemma facing Westerners who wish to make films about Africa, such as The Last King Of Scotland and last year's The Constant Gardener.
"We have to make films in Africa now, because we live in multi-racial societies," he said.
"To thoroughly examine our history and who we are, we must remember that we're multi-cultural, and so we have to look into the histories of other countries."
"However, if you're a white writer or white director, I don't think you can write the story of that African man. But if you are that Westerner, you have to write what you know, and the film is about the British presence in Africa at the time."
Rooted in reality
The actor, who won widespread acclaim for his performance as Mr Tumnus in last year's The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, said he did not initially have much enthusiasm for the role of Dr Garrigan.
 I knew he was a dictator, that he killed lots of people, and that he was by turns a clownish figure and a terrifying, horrific figure, but that's all I knew 
James McAvoy on Idi Amin"What didn't appeal to me was that it was a story of a young white guy in Africa, and I didn't like that," he stated.
"However, then I realised he wasn't a hero - he's actually quite vain, arrogant and self-serving."
McAvoy explained that most of the film's plot is rooted in reality.
Although his character does not exist, he is a composite of three different real people.
"He gets to Africa and realises he's not having a great time, he's not having the African adventure that he thought he would have," he said.
"He bumps into the President, Idi Amin, and gets inducted into his life and becomes his official doctor, eventually becoming his unofficial right-hand man.
"By the time that he sees past his ego and his new empowerment, he realises that Amin has been killing hundreds and thousands of people and that he's actually a monster.
"Then, when he tries to get out, he can't get out."
Clownish figure
McAvoy's co-star, Forest Whitaker, has already described how he became so immersed in playing Amin, he would dream like the dictator.
The film premiered at the Toronto Film FestivalHe has also said that it took him a long time to lose the Ugandan accent he acquired for the film.
In contrast, McAvoy said that, when working on the film, he made a conscious effort to learn as little about Amin as possible.
"The director was very adamant he didn't want me to learn about Idi, he didn't want me to learn about Uganda," he said.
"He let me do research about my character, and who influenced him - but that was it. So he had me coming to it naive, very much like the character himself, so I didn't have any pre-conceived ideas.
"I knew he was a dictator, that he killed lots of people, and that he was by turns a clownish figure and a terrifying, horrific figure, but that's all I knew."
____________________
I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed!
Think outside of the box...Think in spirit
Act as if it were impossible to fail!!!
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
LadyDay
Super Moderator
| Joined: | Thursday October 2nd, 2003 |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Posts: | 6156 |
| Photo: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Thursday October 19th, 2006 20:39 |
|
here is the actual films web
http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/thelastkingofscotland/
its has a time line of his reign
____________________
I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed!
Think outside of the box...Think in spirit
Act as if it were impossible to fail!!!
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Kunjufu
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Thursday October 19th, 2006 20:40 |
|
| Hmmmmmm
____________________
African heart, African mind
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
eskay
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday October 20th, 2006 02:19 |
|
*kissing teet* I am Ugandan. I have had to put up with Idi Amin jokes all my lfe!!
I have seen the clips. Forrester Whittaker's accent is atrocious!!! What is it with these actors sounding so far removed from their actual roles! and why do people assume that everyone from Africa either talk with a west african accent or south african?! which is what he ended up with.... It's like someone trying to sound like their from brummie yet sounding like their from Leeds?!!
I have delibrately not even mentioned the foolishness with him apparantly putting people's heads in freezers or wanting to eat them?!! Tripe wouldn't even describe my description for the white-man's version of HIS-STORY!! Unless you hear it from the people...plse refrain from believing ALL OF IT!!
____________________
"Until lions tell the tale, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter" - African Proverb
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
TheDogon
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday May 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 1605 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday October 20th, 2006 02:25 |
|
Forrest made a big mistake in doing this film. Well, can't dwell on it. We got other battles to fight. Hopefully, this film will bomb big time.
____________________
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning.
http://www.covenantwithblackamerica.com
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
eskay
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday October 20th, 2006 02:31 |
|
Dogon -
Re: Bombing out Big Time!!
I certainly hope so!! 
____________________
"Until lions tell the tale, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter" - African Proverb
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
DtotheJ
Villager
| Joined: | Friday September 30th, 2005 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 1882 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday October 20th, 2006 14:09 |
|
Eskay
If you don' tmind me asking....
how much of the general story about amin is true.....?
My family is from Haiti....my parents lived under Papa Doc Duvalier.......
in any country, the view of the leader is based on a person's background, socieconomc, geographic and what the direct impact o fthat leader's actions had on their lives.....
Papa Doc, from my parents and relatives views...ruled withan iron hand...many people were killed, brutalized, etc......
In context of history o fHaiti and the numerous coups...on some level....I'm sure duvalier felt the brutality was justified to stamp out potential rivals...but it was over the top even by our standards...tonton macoute, secret militia group had free reign to do anything they wanted and they were working to protect Duvalier's interests.....
they are guilty of everything that has been written about them.....rapes, murders, etc
My question is.....these stories about amin can't just clearly be dismissed as "outsider's attempting to portray Africans in bad light"....they are exaggerrated of course, but what is the truth?
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
safetyblitz
Super Moderator
| Joined: | Thursday January 20th, 2005 |
| Location: | Memphis 10, Tennessee USA |
| Posts: | 3738 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday October 20th, 2006 16:25 |
|
I heard Forrest doing an interview on public radio about this role and I had the same view as a lot of people on here, but guess what? He ended up defending Idi more than anything. Even shut one woman up completely who tried to call him a murderous dictator only. He puts simply that Idi was a highly trained soldier that came to rule a country which he said was a mistake that MANY people in the world throughout time have committed.
As he said a soldier is trained to be highly cautious of everyone and to completely stamp out his enemies. While this makes a great soldier it makes a terrible leader (remember, I myself have said that this is one of the reasons I could never lead as that suspicious nature would creep in ...... force of habit as a soldier past or present)
Anyway he also said things like while many people focus on Amin's cruel nature, people forget that he was a very intelligent man who spoke 11 languages. He also said that he came no where close to getting Amin's inflection like he wanted because he could not fully capture his inflection because of the 11 languages. He also went on to correct the white lady that while many other African leaders at the UN while there spoke English. Amin spoke in Swahili and had a translator there with him even though he knew English. He felt that as an African leader he should deliver his speeches in African tongue.
He also stressed the fact that Mr. Amin was a friend of the "free" world until he kicked out the Asians and befriended communist countries. He did not try to cover up his atrocities and nor visions and illussions. He just believed that Idi was a sick man that gained power and got sicker as time went on which led to a lot of the acts he committed. He said with the film he wanted to show people the actions that lead to the Idi that was exiled and to let people be the judge of that.
I think the movie should have been made for simple fact if we all learn something from it even as not to repeat it. I mean I can personally say before the movie, I acknowledged that I was not fit to rule a country and did not have any delusions on how I would rule. I do not have the patience or the forgiving nature of my enemies and probably like Idi, Hitler, or even Muslim or Christian states, would wipe them out out of fear that they may one day over take me.
If we can learn to come face to face and recognize the evil that lies within all, we can be more truthful to ourselves and going forward actually be able to recognize that some of the people that want to be our elected officials are not good for us.......
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
girlfromthenc
Villager
| Joined: | Sunday February 13th, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 263 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday October 21st, 2006 18:47 |
|
I predict this will be the BIGGEST trend in hollywood for the next couple of years! I think Passions of the Christ set these type of movies into overdrive.
But anyway, I suppose these movies will be the new African "Boys in Hood" type of movies. However, I would warn against them. They seem to glorify evil regimes and make evil men famous............
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
eskay
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Sunday October 22nd, 2006 02:08 |
|
Safety - as intelligent as he was.. he allowed himself to be a puppet for the Britsih and we suffered greatly for his grandeur delusions of power etc..a few of my family members left home because of that mad man!! am surprised all he got was EXILED!!  He went on like Hitler No 2..yet didn't do no time?!!! WTF?!! My biggest gripe is that the WHOLE story was not known ..ie English encouraging him, supplying him with arms, training him etc ..then at the height of it all.. backstepping as they always do .. Saddam and Al Queda dude come to mind when I say that .. none- of them would have have got AS FAR AS THEY DID..had they not been supported by either the British or the American! 
d to the J - he was pretty much as you described the Papa Doc dude to your own people.. had great initial ideals then went toooo far ...as dictators do when they start thinking people are expendable..
____________________
"Until lions tell the tale, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter" - African Proverb
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
ChubbiChix
Villager
| Joined: | Wednesday December 1st, 2004 |
| Location: | Queens, New York USA |
| Posts: | 1363 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Monday October 23rd, 2006 14:54 |
|
a little off topic
I haven't seen the movie but I seen a few commercials and Forest Whitaker's eye looks crazy in this one seen.
____________________
To believe is to have doubt and no facts but to know is to have facts and no doubt.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
DtotheJ
Villager
| Joined: | Friday September 30th, 2005 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 1882 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Monday October 23rd, 2006 16:24 |
|
thanks eskay......
Leaders are accountable for their own actions.....so while the cold war had an indirect effect on all the smaller countries of the world.......there are unique situations in each respective country.
A better study of amin would include, not outside white control over his actions, but the previous governments of the country, post colonization...
What were the adminstrations of Uganda, prior to amin like?
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
TheDogon
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday May 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 1605 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Monday October 23rd, 2006 21:40 |
|
safetyblitz wrote: I heard Forrest doing an interview on public radio about this role and I had the same view as a lot of people on here, but guess what? He ended up defending Idi more than anything. Even shut one woman up completely who tried to call him a murderous dictator only. He puts simply that Idi was a highly trained soldier that came to rule a country which he said was a mistake that MANY people in the world throughout time have committed.
As he said a soldier is trained to be highly cautious of everyone and to completely stamp out his enemies. While this makes a great soldier it makes a terrible leader (remember, I myself have said that this is one of the reasons I could never lead as that suspicious nature would creep in ...... force of habit as a soldier past or present)
Anyway he also said things like while many people focus on Amin's cruel nature, people forget that he was a very intelligent man who spoke 11 languages. He also said that he came no where close to getting Amin's inflection like he wanted because he could not fully capture his inflection because of the 11 languages. He also went on to correct the white lady that while many other African leaders at the UN while there spoke English. Amin spoke in Swahili and had a translator there with him even though he knew English. He felt that as an African leader he should deliver his speeches in African tongue.
He also stressed the fact that Mr. Amin was a friend of the "free" world until he kicked out the Asians and befriended communist countries. He did not try to cover up his atrocities and nor visions and illussions. He just believed that Idi was a sick man that gained power and got sicker as time went on which led to a lot of the acts he committed. He said with the film he wanted to show people the actions that lead to the Idi that was exiled and to let people be the judge of that.
I think the movie should have been made for simple fact if we all learn something from it even as not to repeat it. I mean I can personally say before the movie, I acknowledged that I was not fit to rule a country and did not have any delusions on how I would rule. I do not have the patience or the forgiving nature of my enemies and probably like Idi, Hitler, or even Muslim or Christian states, would wipe them out out of fear that they may one day over take me.
If we can learn to come face to face and recognize the evil that lies within all, we can be more truthful to ourselves and going forward actually be able to recognize that some of the people that want to be our elected officials are not good for us.......
Safey. . .thank you my brotha. I should have guessed there was more to Forrest taking the role. I just figured it was another one of those "crazy Africans killing each other" movie. With a "White" guy making thoughtful comments throughout.
Mayhap I will check out this movie.
____________________
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning.
http://www.covenantwithblackamerica.com
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Dada
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Tuesday October 24th, 2006 00:30 |
|
I want to see the film. It sounds very interesting.
Hollywood will no doubt being doing one on Abacha, Mobutu and the like. No problems.
But when will Spike Lee and his Ike be doing, Knurmah (speeling) Patrice, Kaunda or Mandela even ?
The African Despot, is just another caricature for the West to feel good about themselves.
Anybody been watching the Documentary about the Suez Canel on BBC2, it shows you how the British (mis)handles the Rogue Leaders when they get out of control.
____________________
"Knowledge Dispells Fear"
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
eskay
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Tuesday October 24th, 2006 01:34 |
|
DtotheJ.. Honestly speaking, I'm not as aware of history before Amin..more after ..ie Obote and Museveni- current leader (am sure he's been in power for more than 10 years?!!) but I am talking/connecting with elders n family on many levels so that before I go home after a 20 year + absence, I am prepared and open armed ..no matter what greets me..
Dada - well said ..on your observations of how other portray africans leaders .. and question about other influential leaders that we all and rest of the world needs to know..and not from a whites mans eyes!!
____________________
"Until lions tell the tale, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter" - African Proverb
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
AmeriJamCan
Villager
| Joined: | Tuesday March 29th, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 531 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Tuesday October 24th, 2006 14:26 |
|
@Dada
A movie about Patrice Lumumba has already been made. Also, Mandela.
Although this movie may be great (Last King of Scotland) probably will avoid since I don't need to see Amin in any sort of positive light. He was a monster. Interesting how he died in his sleep peacefully at an old age, completely unmolested.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Burning Spear
Villager
| Joined: | Monday May 17th, 2004 |
| Location: | Washington DC, USA |
| Posts: | 3033 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday October 25th, 2006 13:37 |
|
We cant have it both ways.We complain that the west ignores Africa or does so with stereotypes.Yet when a moive is made we chop it to bites without seeing it.So until Africans start telling their own stories outside of Nollywood mess then we are to live with what is put out there.
I for one think we glorify leaders after their deaths for the wrong reason.Amin was a butcher .If he was a puppet for the west was a non-issue if he gave the orders for untold amounts of death.It will be like Hotel Rwanda, a glossying over of facts to tell a story.
____________________
 
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Dada
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday October 25th, 2006 17:52 |
|
@Americjamcan,
Could you post the details on the Patrice Film? Thanks for the info.
____________________
"Knowledge Dispells Fear"
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
AmeriJamCan
Villager
| Joined: | Tuesday March 29th, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 531 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Monday October 30th, 2006 14:36 |
|
@Dada
Here is the info re the Patrice Lumumba film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246765/
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Prince Hakeem
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday November 8th, 2006 23:47 |
|
Kerry Washington admits Idi Amin's doctor was African:
http://www.blackfilm.com/20060922/features/kerrywashington.shtml
http://blackvoices.aol.com/black_entertainment/movies_features_reviews_trailers/festivalcircuit/last-king-of-scotland (Watch interview)
____________________
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
east
Villager
| Joined: | Friday February 11th, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 197 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Thursday November 9th, 2006 00:25 |
|
| Why has Hollywood become obsessed with pairing black women with white men ?
____________________
http://www.live365.com/stations/consrast
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Prince Hakeem
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Thursday November 9th, 2006 01:13 |
|
Son of Idi Amin threatens to sue 'Last King
Of Scotland' producers
Everyone is buzzing about Forest Whitaker's stellar performance as Idi Amin in the new film The Last King Of Scotland (see page 56), but the late Ugandan dictator's son isn't so happy.
Taban Amin, 51, Amin's eldest son, said the family might sue the film's producers for defamation, claiming they never granted permission for Amin's name or image to be used.
"These actors have been depicting my father as eating people," Taban Amin told Agence France-Presse, referring to allegations of cannibalism by the dictator. "I was with him for many years, but I never saw any human flesh. We shall never allow anybody to play around with our family and our dad."
Taban also complained that permission was not granted to use their father's image or name. He said the family, including his father's 42 children and several widows, at least deserved millions in compensation for Amin's film depiction.
"They are making big cash; we shall also need big cash," Taban told Uganda's The New Vision.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...0/ai_n16807352
____________________
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Dada
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Sunday December 10th, 2006 22:09 |
|
Reference the above:
Has that man no shame. 300,000 of his country man slaugthered and his concerned with making money over a fictionalised verison of his Bloody Dada.
The film doe's not claim that Amin ate his victums and so what if it did???? He had a blood thirst and was privilleged like most of these 70's dictators (Pinochet another fine example) to live out his days escaping justice.
The film was well shoot and was actually quite sympathetic towards Amin, in some places. He was portrayed as paranoid, humourous and intelligent and charming, and bloody. As was mentioned in the film this is Africa and brutality when it surfaces as in all Cultures always has an ugly face on it.
It's a film worth seeing and the sound track is good too.
Last edited on Sunday December 10th, 2006 22:10 by Dada
____________________
"Knowledge Dispells Fear"
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Judge J
Villager
| Joined: | Friday February 4th, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 735 |
| Photo: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday January 10th, 2007 00:51 |
|
kerry Washington admits that the film makers lied by making her sleep with a white doctor, when in fact the Doctor she cheated on Id Amin with was an African.
http://www.blackfilm.com/20060922/features/kerrywashing |
