Too simple. 6 stars

Rating: 6/10 (14 January 2007)

This film has so much going for it. I won't list all the good things (great acting, very clear progression, strong editing etc) because you can find these in other reviews. I have to say, however, that I still found the film to be extraordinarily linear and simplistic. In the words of one critic "it ultimately leaves you with nothing to think about".
I'm no puritan by any means, however I found it slightly offensive how a white central character's fate is elevated to 'all importance' while black people are tortured and killed around him.
Essential characters are reduced to one-dimensional plot devices that slot very mechanically into the whole story. This undermines the necessary tone of humanity, especially as the central protagonist alongside Amin is of dubious morality.
The final text at the end of the film was annoying, giving some facts about the 300,000 people who died in Uganda in real life . . . then following it and finishing with the shockingly trivial observation that said something like "and no one knows whether the day Amin died on was the one that he had predicted in a dream he that he would die on". If he WAS right are we supposed to think "hmmm . . . maybe he WAS inspired after all!"?? A good film from a 'watchability' point of view, but it still left me feeling like I'd just seen the pantomime version of Jack the Ripper!