The Last King of Scotland

Rating: 8/10 (26 February 2007)

This is one of the best biographical films (mixed with some fiction) I have seen in ages, from director Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void). Basically newly graduated Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan (BAFTA nominated James McAvoy) wants to travel, and he goes to Uganda (from landing there on a globe) to assist in the rural hospital. Not long after arriving, he meets newly elected President Idi Amin (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe Forest Whitaker), who promises a new golden age for the African people. They become really good friends as the President is a fan of Scottish people, and Garrigan is given a job in the national health department and becomes one of Amin's closest advisers. However, as years pass, Garrigan notices Amin's increasingly erratic behaviour that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity that is driving Uganda into bloody ruin. He also will not let him go home, he realises his lunacy and needs to make crucial decisions that could mean death. I have to admit, Amin seems a nice guy for a while, but it is when he admits to a murder, and then hangs McAvoy on hooks by his nipples I know he is insane. Also starring Kerry Washington as Kay Amin, Gillian Anderson as Sarah Merrit, Simon McBurney as Nigel Stone, David Oyelowo as Dr. Junju and Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga as Masanga. Whitaker deserved to win the only Oscar nominated for playing a truly extraordinary character, and in America on a college trip, at the 22nd Santa Barbara Film Festival, I saw him win the honorary American Riviera Award. It won the BAFTA Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film, and it won Best Adapted Screenplay, and it was nominated for Best Film. Very good!