James McAvoy with excellent co-lead

Rating: 7/10 (11 July 2007)

Although Forrest Whitaker won the Oscar for best actor in this, I very much enjoyed James McAvoy as the Scottish Dr. Garrigan, the co-lead. He brings a spirited and care-free mischievousness that gets him into some trouble. Based to some degree on real people and events, this movie follows the good Doctor's exhilarating, naive, and harrowing experience in Uganda. There is good supporting characters like Kay, Sarah, Nigel, Dr. Junju that lift the movie quite a bit. And although the action and story become a little bit repetitive, the actors and direction keep the movie strongly engaging up until the final shots. (spoiler) Bewarned of one particular gruesome scene definitely not for children or maybe even adults. Whitaker indeed never strays from believability. Pretty good.