Film Review: The Last King of Scotland

Director: Kevin MacDonald

A British film adapted from the book of the same name by Giles Foden, although the story surrounding Garrigan is mostly fictional it is set against the backdrop of the true story of Amin's rule in Uganda following the coup in 1970. Forest Whittaker was rightly praised for his superb yet terrifying betrayal of Idi Amin for which he won an Oscar in 2006.

Dr. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) has just qualified as a doctor but disappoints his father who hoped he would work with him in Scotland, he decides to pick at random which country to go to and after dismissing Canada he ends up choosing Uganda. He helps out at a local missionary clinic before a freak car accident involving new President Idi Amin (Forest Whittaker) and a cow means that Garrigan has to treat the new leader. They instantly form a bond over Garrigan being Scottish and Amin convinces him to work for him as his physician but over time Amin's unstable nature and persecution of his people begins to haunt the young doctor.

Idi Amin (Forest Whittaker) and Dr Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy)

The whole film is taken over by a truly dominating yet deeply unsettling performance by Forest Whittaker as Idi Amin, throughout the movie I felt like I was watching Amin himself and not once did I consider that it was Whittaker himself. The former presidents jokey nature radically changing to anger and fear shows the highly irrational nature of Amin that was well documented during his reign. There's no doubt that Whittaker deserved his Oscar for this stunning portrayal.

McAvoy's character is a hard one to garner sympathy for as the film develops, he's seen to be this naive Doctor who doesn't realise what is happening in Uganda whilst working for Amin. This much is true but his cocky and brash nature with some of the other UK nationals as well as his record with women means he is not entirely innocent throughout this. The idea behind Garrigan working for Amin is an intriguing one though for an in-depth look at the crazed leader. The plot builds up nicely throughout and then tension through the final half an hour reaches fever pitch.

3.5/4 Superb lead performance from Whittaker backed up with a tense plot.