The Best Argument for Never Reading Reviews Before Seeing the Movie
is in today's Times, because if you did read about "The Last King of Scotland" by Manohla Dargis, you might be tempted to take a pass on one of the most remarkable films in years. "Lacks Depth" and "Has Nothing to Say" are two of the more astonishing pull quotes. I read on to find out what possibly could have led her to this conclusion and learned she was hoping the film would cudgel us with a history lesson. That it doesn't is what makes it so masterful. The director has made a film for grownups who get their news from newspapers and are more interested in a complex, visceral and, I hope, award-winning portrayal of a powerful and ambiguous personality. The movie has stayed with me in the weeks since I saw it. When's the last time you could say that?
posted by DO at 9:09 AM
3 Comments:
To some, the best thing about this movie is that it gives Idi Amin some cultural cred and a whole new way of cluing him in crosswords...
You make it sound like those pull quotes are insults or something.
Manohla Dargis' analyses have disappointed me time and again. It seems she has a different standard for film than I do, and I dare say a few others -- not higher or lower, just different, almost sideways. I really couldn't understand her dismay at "Superman Returns" and Pixar's "Cars," which I consider a minor masterpiece. She felt it was somber. Manohla, I think that was the point.
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