The Forgiven

It’s one of Forest Whitaker’s best performances (but not his best). Similar to Gary Oldman’s Oscar winning performance in Darkest Hour, Whitaker is so engulfed as Desmond Tutu, thanks to both being a great actor and to some make up effects that you forget it’s Forest Whitaker (Well, until you see the lazy eye). Although, I must say, although I know who Tutu is I never seen a picture of him and upon seeing one I’m indifferent about the make up effects as it makes Tutu seem like an ugly man, but once again, it’s about Whitaker’s metamorphism.

The Forgiven is about Tutu after Apartheid ended, under the request of Nelson Mandela, headed up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. During this time he’s summoned by a dangerous criminal, played by Eric Bana, to the prison he’s in, in hopes of getting clemency for his crimes.

Eric Bana as dangerous criminal, Bloomfield could have used more screen time to be a better adversary for Whitaker’s Tutu, it would have just enhanced both performances greatly.

Once again, the Forgiven makes me indifferent about knowledge of other cultures, seeing how black people have so much in common in many different countries, and how those similarities are not so good (but still worth learning).

Though I feel like I learned something about the aftermath of Apartheid and Desmond Tutu (enough to make me learn more), the movie is not the best film. It’s very formulated and easy to predict. The minimal shinning light is Forest Whitaker truly becoming someone else on camera.