A Good Man in Africa

Starring: Sean Connery

Directed by: Bruce Beresford

RS: Not Rated

1994 Drama

Sean Connery plays Alex Murray, a selfless Scot sawbones in Africa. It sounds dully virtuous. But don't write off the movie yet. Based on William Boyd's 1981 novel, the film has a touch of Evelyn Waugh -- though the satire is served dry, it has still got a kick.

On one side, there's good Dr. Murray, on the other, there's Fanshawe (John Lithgow), an exploitative Brit bureaucrat, and Adekunle (Louis Gossett Jr.), an exploitative local politician. Morgan Leafy (Colin Friels), a skirt-chasing English diplomat, must decide whose side to take. There's little surprise in the choice, but compensation comes in the tasty performances and in the light touch of Bruce (Driving Miss Daisy) Beresford, a director who knows the value of small pleasures.

PETER TRAVERS
RS 691