First great film of the Year.

Rating: 8/10 (14 January 2007)

Based on real events this film is really only a snap shot of Amin's brutal reign over Uganda at the start of the seventies but oh what a snap shot it is. Told from the point of view of two men, one the president the other a young doctor the film belongs to them. Forest Whitaker is simply amazing as the mad president and rising star James McAvoy is brilliant as the doctor who finds himself out of his depth as the president's personal physician and unwitting adviser. Starting in Scotland in 1970 we see Nicholas graduated and daunted by the idea of going into the family practise spinning a globe and vowing to go to the first place he touches which happens to be Uganda. At a chance meeting with the president after a rally in which we first see Whitaker stride to the front of the stage as much Amin as the man himself, the two seem to hit it off. When the seemingly harmless and innocent president takes a shine to Nicholas and offers him the job of his doctor he decides to give it a go. A slow and almost comical move through life at the president's side follows and we as an audience can enjoy Nicholas's good luck and new high life right up until he is brought a car. From this point the film takes a turn as does Amin which sees Whitaker really get his teeth in to the role especially the scene in the warehouse which sees him almost instantly change into a monster. Nicholas now trapped in a collapsing country at the hands of a butcher is desperate to get out but Amin does everything to make him stay including stealing his passport. Lavishly shot but with elements of a hand-held feel, well paced and with a sharp script the film is held together by the two central performances, even so the music and cinematography also help capture the feel of the country at that time. The transition from the first half of the film with its elements of comedy to violent thriller is handled well by director Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void) its edge of your seat stuff as you are always waiting for it to all go wrong. Whether it's Whitaker for his portrayal of Amin or MvAvoy for his performance as Dr.Garrigan this film will win awards and rightly so, The Last King of Scotland is just one of those films that only comes along every so often.