In like some horrible way he was a puppet come to life, he was like a plaything of the empire that turned around and said “boo!”
Amy Blancolli Houston Chro
nicle
First of all this is a totally optional assignment. If you choose to do it, and you earn an A or B, I will replace your low 30/60 point grade with this grade. If you choose not to do it – no harm, no foul. So if you are a go… you must make three substantial posts.
Dr. Nicholas Garrigan was a fictional character in the film The Last King of Scotland. When I first found this out I was angry. I felt like I had been lied to. I mean the entire movie, in the back of my mind I’m thinking how in god’s name can a young “wet behind the ears” white Scottish doctor get this close to one of history’s real monsters. Come on; he shoots the damn cow. He trades uniforms with Amin. He runs around at Amin’s pool party and ends up having sex with one of his wives. That’s crazy! And at the end he escapes? And not just escapes – he gets out in the raid at Entebbe!
And then I find out it’s all a frigging lie. I felt like I had been taken for a ride. That first impression of the movie after I had found out – was not only one of disappointment but in a strange way of betrayal. Whitaker’s portrayal of Amin is so powerful…but my thoughts were of the lies of the doctor, or more specifically the “lie of the doctor.” That was probably eight years ago. Since then I’ve seen this movie maybe a half dozen times. I’ve forgiven the director and Dr. Carrigan; the portrayal of Amin just gets bigger and bigger and bigger. Whitaker’s performance is probably one of the best I’ve ever seen. In the end…the role of a fictitious doctor is not only forgivable – but I think necessary. At least for me it is. He becomes the foil for the monster.
That’s my thoughts…what are yours? I want you to make your three part post to schoology by Saturday May 28 @ 11:59 PM if you choose to do it. This assignment is worth a replacement grade…if you get an A or B. Makes sure to provide links of places that you used for information following each separate post.
Post #1 – Dr Nicolas Carrigan. What do you think? Is his role necessary? Is it a betrayal of the truth? Is their any truth to his role? This relationship between Amin and the Scottish doctor. What do you think? Were you taken for a ride? Or did you see through the charade from the beginning? How in the hell can an Oscar winning movie create such a significant character and not tell us? Maybe that’s a good thing. Anyhow your first post deals with the doctor and the movie. 200 to 300 words.
Post #2 – Go googling – Find something from this movie that sparked an interest in you. I do not care what it is. You can go looking at Amin, Uganda, Entebbe, anything that fits. You can link this movie to your country. You can look at events in the movie that might have been true, or maybe they were not. Go in any direction you wish…shoot for 200 to 300 words. Be interesting…
Post #3 – Go googling again – Find something else from this movie that sparked an interest in you. I do not care what it is. You can go looking at Amin, Uganda, Entebbe, anything that fits. You can link this movie to your country. You can look at events in the movie that might have been true, or maybe they were not. Go in any direction you wish…shoot for 200 to 300 words. Be interesting…
Post by 11:59 PM on Friday May 27.
