Charming, magnetic, dangerous

Rating: 9/10 (4 April 2007)

Now that all the dust has settled, Oscar season has ended and the campaign to have Forrest Whitaker walk off with the Best Actor statue has subsided, it couldn't be a better time to re-evaluate The Last King Of Scotland. For when all the media frenzy has ended, the strength of any great film is on how watchable it is when not surrounded by a day to day frenzy of newspaper headlines and gossip columns. Much as I like tearing movies to pieces once the furore has died down though, it's simply not possible with this one, because The Last King Of Scotland is an excellent film that should rightfully be remembered as one of the greatest films of 2006 for years to come.
For the unenlightened, this is a fictional portrayal of the cruel Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, as told from the point of view of his personal physician, Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy). Having graduated from University, Nicholas is unsure of himself and frustrated with the short comings of home life under his over-bearing father, so spins a globe with the intention of travelling where-ever his finger lands. It hits Uganda and the young doctor sets off on a life-changing journey from which no-one emerges with clean hands. He winds up working in a small village delivering inoculations to African children and tending injuries, but a chance encounter with newly appointed ruler Idi Amin (Forrest Whitaker) leads to him becoming his personal physician. But as he is sucked into the charismatic Amin's inner circles, he finds his life beginning to spiral into an orgy of darkness and violence.
What makes this an interesting film to watch is the fact that Garrigan himself is not an entirely likable character. Upon arriving in Uganda, his mission seems to be just as much about going on a shag rampage as it is helping the needy and his arrogance makes him the sort of fellow you'd want to punch rather than celebrate. On the other hand though, it is a far more realistic portrayal of a naive, insecure youth and the film makers should be applauded for making this decision. Regardless of his unappealing side, when push comes to shove and Garrigan finds himself floundering in deep water it is possible to feel some sympathy for him, the end result being a fully fleshed out character of which McAvoy should be very proud.
Undoubtedly though, the chief focus is Forrest Whitaker as Idi Amin. That's right, big cuddly Forrest Whitaker isn't quite so lovable anymore and instead is ruthless tyrant. He is both charismatic and deranged and even in his early scenes you can tell there is something not right about the man. It's there in that booming laugh, the all-too easy smile and the nervous glances among his henchmen, a predatory monster lurking behind his promises of a free country and food for all. Whitaker deserved that Oscar and no mistake.
What ultimately leaves the biggest impression however is in the stark realism of the whole thing. Director Kevin McDonald brings his documentary experience to good use here, filming events in a manner which is frankly, a bit frightening. The sight of Whitaker snarling and ranting at captured resistance fighters before leaving so his bodyguard may machine gun them mercilessly is terrifying in the simplicity of the approach and some of the later scenes are horrific to watch. This is historical fiction in its most violent and unrestrained form.
All in all then, a fantastic movie. McDonald welds a fictional story onto a true life series of events and cranks the tension up to boiling point. The performances from the two stars are terrific and they are aided by a strong supporting cast, including a nigh on unrecognisable Gillian Anderson in a brief appearance as one of Garrigan's fellow doctors. And you'll never be able to look at Forrest Whitaker in the same way ever again.