contains both the conventions and convictions of good thrillers, with a 'tour-de-force' performance

Rating: 7/10 (19 January 2007)

It would be one thing to make the pat statement 'this is worth seeing if only for Forest Whitaker as dictator Idi Amin'. For some it will be, and in fact some may just go to see it based on the hype he's been building up in the awards season (not that it's undeserved). But the director Kevin MacDonald, along with his DP Anthony Dod Mantle (behind the modern classic as 28 Days Later), gives the film an edge to it that might have been lost on a technical crew less interested in getting part of the psychology into the style. In the core of the Last King of Scotland, which is purportedly based on the true story of Amin and his doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) who becomes soon an adviser and soon like a "son" in Amin's bi-polar mind, is a thriller that does thrill, and also pulls into question what it means to practically become a participant in the madness of a brutal dictatorship. Garrigan randomly picks Uganda to go to after he graduates from medical school in Scotland, tries to be a doctor where needed, but somehow becomes enveloped in the world of Amin after a chance encounter on a road-side. He becomes charmed by Amin's upfront likability and candid manner, plus his vulgar humor and promise of both peace for his people and excess in his domain (he has three wives). But soon this turns to become sour when Garrigan sees the darker side to Amin- a paranoid fear-monger who can flip on a dime on his closest advisers. He knows he has to get out, but it wont be easy, at all.
It's a shame then that such pungent subjects- of the towering force that is Amin, portrayed by Whitaker with a look in his eyes that always perfectly conveys what the scene should feel like, and towards the end becomes absolutely chilling in both his rage and even his amiability. Even McAvoy is able to rise to the challenge of his counterpart, as the guy who inspires more in Amin to be "Scottish", but also becomes wayward himself. His plot line though becomes a little mired in bits that don't seem truthful (who's to say if they are, as it's based on a book likely based on what happened), with his romantic asides the most unconvincing portions of the picture. The whole sub-plot with him and one of Amin's wives (played by Kerry Washington) becomes a little soapy, and puts such realism into the realm of near contrivance (I also would've liked to see, aside from the one scene where Garrigan sees the pictures, the furthest extent of his murderous ways on his people). But when pit into the reality of Garrigan's situation, and the environment around him, it becomes a richer picture. It does have the goods with being an engrossing entertainment of course, and of the two films out now (this and Blood Diamond) set in turbulent Africa I'd recommend this a little more for the style and acting. That it isn't great isn't ever a fault of Whitaker, however. 7.5/10