Reign of insanity

Rating: 8/10 (3 February 2010)

Scotsman Kevin MacDonald (Touching the Void) brings to screen Giles Foden's novel of Idi Amin's rise to power in the early seventies. Like most dictators, the initial stages of Amin's period in office offer hope. But it soon becomes clear that Uganda has leaped head first from the pan into the fire and then cranked up the flames.
Amin was a notorious figure who crushed all political opposition and any other person he suspected of treason. His paranoia resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Much has been said of Forest Whitaker's performance and there is little doubt that he will win the Oscar and deservedly so. Whitaker has long been carving out compelling characters on the fringes of convention, from The Crying Game to Ghost Dog, with his role as Charlie 'Bird' Parker in Birdy as a particular standout. Whitaker is also a Producer and Director, helming such films as 'Waiting to Exhale' and 'Hope Floats'. His selection process as an actor seems to be more finely tuned.
This is a strong role and he is perfectly cast. Both endearing and frightening, Whitaker shows the many sides to the fascinating Amin without ever becoming too sympathetic.
However it is James McAvoy who is the real surprise. His confident persona as fictional character, Dr. Nicholas Garrigan is charming at first, particularly to the Ugandan President, but he is soon in over his head. We're right there alongside his living nightmare. Gillian Anderson too, is a delight, having 'grown up' since her X-Files days. Let's hope we see more of her in future.
MacDonald wisely realizes that this is an actor's film and keeps them close by. However Amin's real reign of insanity is at a distance. There are a couple of key scenes that perhaps explains why. MacDonald is saving up the shocks. However it's hard to get a real grasp on the terror that Amin inflicted on his people. This was a despot, up there with Pol Pot, another lunatic who managed to escape justice and live to a decent age. Who ever said what goes around comes around?
There are stronger films on similar themes, notably 'The Killing Fields' and 'Cry Freedom', but this is a film about the relationship between two individuals and the balance of power within it. By introducing the fictional Scotsman, we are able to discover Amin through a stranger's eyes, though it is simply a plot device in order to tell Amin's story. By keeping his many atrocities at a distance, one wonders therefore, what was the point?
This is still a powerful film, with fantastic performances from its two leads. Nevertheless this will be remembered as the film that gave Forest Whitaker his Oscar, rather than the story of one of the 20th century's most terrorizing figures.