The Last King of Scotland
(DVD Review)
By MovieCritic on 06-27-2008
The Last King of Scotland is not for the faint of heart. It depicts the fictional relationship between Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker), whose reign of terror in Uganda lasted from 1971-1979, and his personal physician, the naive, young Scotsman Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy). Idealists are the probable best audience for this drama, which ambitiously explores the tenuous pseudo-friendship between an innocent and the man who was called "the African Hitler." Rationals who enjoy action, horror (in this case, real-life horror), and historical tales may enjoy it as well. It may be a little too "heavy" for Artisans. Many Guardians will be quite disturbed by the depiction of ruthless and/or immoral behavior by all of the main characters.
Nicholas finishes medical school and chooses to work in a Ugandan hospital because he is looking for an adventure, an alternative to the upper-middle class life of his doctor-father. He arrives just as Amin is taking power. After a chance meeting where Nicholas instinctively takes Amin's gun to put a suffering cow out of its misery, Amin asks him to serve him privately. Nicholas accepts and is brought into the inner circle; he is invited to fancy state dinners and raucous pool parties. Nicholas makes two foolish mistakes: First, he snubs the Englishmen who attempt to talk with him, and whose help he later needs. Their "friendliness" is motivated largely by racism against Africans. His reaction to it is motivated largely by his snobbery against the English. (Idi Amin holds an obsession with Scotland.) Second, he carries on a love affair with Kay (Kerry Washington), one of Amin's wives. Whitaker, who usually plays big-hearted characters, does a wickedly good job as the insane Idi Amin. McAvoy gives just his part just the right touch as a sheltered kid who gets in way over his head, and catches on to the danger only when it's nearly too late. Some of the most intriguing scenes are those that show Amin's tender side and Nicholas' utter selfishness.
Verdict: Be forewarned. There are some gruesome images you may not be able to get out of your head after viewing.
Amazing movie, driven completely by Forest Whitaker's amazing performance.