An intriguing, and brutal insight into the life of Idi Amin!

Rating: 9/10 (18 January 2007)

I will start by saying that The Last King Of Scotland is a truly fantastic film. There is very little about this film that can be faulted, something I do not easily say.
Forest Whitaker is an actor who in my opinion has always been on the fringes of the film industry A-list. His earlier performances such as his role in Good Morning Vietnam, and Big Harold in Platoon suggested that he was an actor destined for the top, however since then, he has struggled for any real consistency. He had a few decent roles such as Phone Booth, but until this film, he has never truly given any suggestion that he can be a formidable leading man. His portrayal of Idi Amin however catapults him right up the Hollywood hierarchy, and shows what he is truly capable of.
His performance is spellbinding. He manages to create a character, who is on one hand a charismatic and highly likable man, and on the other, a brutal, almost psychotic killer. He is able to terrify with just a glance, and i mean terrify, but charm you in the same way he does Nicholas Garrigan. I would be very surprised if he does not claim the Oscar for this role.
James McAvoy also deserves considerable praise for his efforts in this film. His change from young carefree student to a man with the wait of the world on his shoulders his impressive. And credit should go to the rest of the supporting cast.
Idi Amin is often a man forgotten about in our modern world, but this film truly depicts what life in Uganda was like under his regime. We see the joy in his appointment to ruler of the country, and it's slow demise, for which credit should go to the writers and director.
This film is not for the faint of heart. There are many brutal scenes, of which I don't want to give away, needless to say that some scenes of violence are shocking.
The Last King Of Scotland is a very good film, and one very much worth seeing. But be warned some parts may distress. 9/10