The Man Who Became a Monster

Rating: 10/10 (26 May 2007)

Much like the story of every man who has risen to the top of a country and has misused his power for the sake of power itself, the predictability that he will be of unstable mind, less stable hand, and eagerness of executions that will ultimately be the cause of his own demise -- physical or political -- is a perennial theme. Idi Amin Ada is no different from the heap -- born into abject poverty, slowly making his way rung on rung until he reached the level of ruler of Uganda in the 1970s and let loose a reign of terror in the name of assuring his own hand in a nation that was brimming with restlessness. Loosely based on Ada's short rule is the riveting movie THE LAST KING OF Scotland, which traces Ada's period in power from the point of view of an Everyman, Nicholas Garrigan, who from being a simple adventurer looking for experience wound up being an insider into Ada's own machinations (to which he ultimately would find himself implicated). It tries not to expound on the gore that must have prevailed at the time -- Ada's means of execution were notoriously hairy -- until the crux of the action where Garrigan's own mortality comes into play, and for the most part the movie is a tense battle of wills between Garrigan and Ada who foil each other like dancers in a shifty ballet. James McAvoy and Forrest Whittaker balance each out like a ying/yang, both men containing bits and pieces of the other within, although Whittaker's is the clear winner for the showier role (as is the case when there are two strong egos involved; one half has to be the balanced role which can at times be underplayed and thankless, McAvoy having to settle for this role). An extremely unpleasant movie to watch at times -- particularly in a scene involving the fate of one of Ada's mistresses played by Kerry Washington -- but a fascinating, involving, lush movie this is.