Reign on an Empire

Rating: 9/10 (21 January 2007)

After three months of waiting to see this film, I am glad to say that I am not disappointed by the wait. I wanted to see it when it was first released but they pulled out of theaters before I could finally see it. Then, the Golden Globes happened and Forest Whitaker won an award. Finally, I got to see it. The first part of the film opens so dull that I immediately thought I had made a mistake by going to see it. That wasn't true for long. As soon as Forrest Whitaker jumped on screen, his presence as an actor and as Idi Amin was felt throughout the entire theater. He really deserved to win the Golden Globe for Best Actor. I can't really describe his performance, well, because it was so well done. He created a likable character out of Amin. Which is scary in its own right because you, the audience member, are sucked into admiring him just like the James McAvoy's character is. I immediately took a liking to Amin, but I think thats what was suppose to happen. I eventually knew that he would soon show us his other side but I didn't care. The film is well photographed in 16mm, which lends to some of the grain of the picture. Which gives it a Texas Chain Saw Massacre look set in Uganda. The story unfolds like a suspenseful thriller, every minute you are on the edge of your seat. Constantly pondering what will happen next. I don't want to give any of it away but it's definitely one of those films you have to see to believe how spectacular it truly is.