Jovial, gritty and mesmerising, with a sensational performance by Whittaker

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 2007)

Having read rave reviews on this film in numerous magazines and websites, and having seen the trailer, I went to see this with high hopes and it certainly did not disappoint! I will review this by breaking the film down into its three main acts that tantalisingly build upon each other to the eminent climax of the film.
Set in the 70's, we first see McAvoy's character, Nicolas, as an arrogant yet intelligent young man, who has just graduated university and about to embark on a career as a doctor under the wing of his rather snobbish and pretentious father. He realises that it is not the life he wants to lead and decides to go off on an adventure, where he can have fun and put his medical skills to good use at the same time. His destination, Uganda, where Idi Amin's military coup has just come into power. He joins a charity clinic and begins to help the sick people of Uganda together with the resident doctor and his wife, played by Gillian Anderson (of X-Files fame). These first 30 minutes, build a platform for the audience to gauge the type of character Nicolas is and the situation he has put himself in. Lightly entertaining, albeit a little slow paced. Anderson, having been away from the silver screen for a relatively long time, finds herself in a small yet significant role and in fine form.
In the second act, Nicolas encounters the new President himself, Idi Amin, through a rather bizarre and tense event. They become friends and Amin offers Nicolas a new job as his personal physician. The pace of the film picks up here and we see their friendship blossom. Whittaker and McAvoy have a great screen chemistry together, Whittaker coming across in this act as a tough and frightening leader, but with a sense of humour. McAvoy succeeds in his portrayal of someone who has strong beliefs, but wary of the fear Whittaker brings with Amin. As the film progresses, Nicolas becomes aware of the real Amin and their friendship deteriorates into a relationship based on fear. This is not helped by Nicolas's sexual advances towards one of Amins wives.
The final act and climax of the film is brutal, gory, intense and mesmerising. It develops the animosity between the two main characters, whereby Amin's rule over Uganda verges towards insanity and tyranny, and shapes what is to be a fantastic (and gruesome) finale. I won't go into further detail and spoil it for you, you will be on the edge of your seat by this point anyway.
To conclude, although McAvoy's performance is perfectly sound with inklings of a young Ewan McGregor, his character has been created to fit in with real events. This movie is all about Idi Amin and his portrayal by Forrest Whittaker is astounding. He thoroughly deserves the plaudits and should walk away with most (if not all) of the upcoming Best Actor awards. He has played many great supporting roles in the past and it is deeply satisfying to see him take the lead role and show what a genuinely fine actor he really is.
Last King did remind me of Hotel Rwanda and is not for the faint-hearted, but although along the same lines, it focuses on a real and evil protagonist that was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands. It is a startling reminder of the horrors of the world we live in and this should not be forgotten.
If you plan on seeing any film this year, make sure you see The Last King of Scotland. You will not regret it.