The Last King of Scotland

Rating: 8/10

The Last King of Scotland is easily one of the best movies I’ve seen in quite a while. This was a film I had intended to see while it was in the theatre but I never made it and only recently remembered to rent it. I was so impressed with this film that about 45 minutes into it I commented to my wife that it was going to be added to our collection and the next day a copy found its way onto our DVD rack.

The movie is inspired by the real-life events involving the Idi Amin regime in Uganda during the 1970s. It starts off by introducing us to Dr. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) who has recently graduated from medical school and wants to make a difference in the world (luckily this is where the similarities with Bee Movie end) By spinning a globe and deciding to travel to where ever he stops it, he randomly decides to make a journey to Uganda.

Upon arriving in Uganda Dr. Garrigan travels to the village that is host to the clinic where he will be assisting. During his journey to the village his bus encounters a military unit. When he asks about the presense of the soldiers another passenger informs him of the coup but insists that all is well because these soldiers are General Idi Amin’s (Forest Whitaker) men and he fights for the people.

At the clinic he meets Dr. Merrit (Adam Kotz) and his wife, Sarah (Gillian Anderson). Dr. Merrit regularly leaves the village to attend to various emergencies. During one of these emergencies Nicholas learns that President Amin will be giving a speech in the village and convinces Sarah to go with him to hear the general speak. Amin’s words of peace, freedom, and prosperity bring hope to the villagers but Sarah isn’t convinced and persuades Nicholas to return to the clinic.

As they travel back to the clinic they are stopped by a pair of soldiers that inform them that the president’s motorcade has collided with some livestock and the president has been injured and needs immediate medical attention. Dr. Nick and Sarah follow the soldiers back to the accident and eventually Nicholas is allowed to treat President Amin.

Dr. Garrigan diagnoses the injury as a sprain and bandages the president’s wrist. Unfortunately, the steer that was hit is in pain and making a lot of noise and Nicholas is having difficulty concentrating. He grabs a nearby pistol and shoots the steer. Now, with automatic weapons now turned on him, he apologizes, explains his actions, and hands over the gun. It is then that President Amin inquires about Dr. Garrigan’s nationality by asking if he is British. Dr. Garrigan explains that he is actually Scottish and the President immediately takes a liking to this Scottish doctor.

Nicholas and Sarah return to the clinic and the next day Sarah informs him that there are some “men” there to see him. Nicholas is greeted by the president’s top advisor and is invited to the capitol city (Kampala). In Kampala, Nicholas is wined and dined and otherwise treated to the life of luxury that awaits him should he accept the president’s offer…to become his personal physician. After repeatedly declining the offer Nicholas succumbs to the temptation and accepts. It is at this point where he truly enters the world of Idi Amin’s madness.

This movie is great for several reasons. First, both the script and acting are top notch across the board. Second, James McAvoy splendidly portrays the innocent yet naïve recent graduate that is unaware of the evil in the world. Finally and most important, Forest Whitaker is unmatched in his ability to portray a paranoid delusional dictator. Mr. Whitaker makes us believe that we’re seeing the actual events unfold. His on-screen presence is commanding and leaves no question as to who is in charge. He excels at changing character to calm and friendly to angry and merciless and back to calm in the blink of an eye.

The Last King of Scotland is an incredible portrayal of life under a paranoid dictator. Mr. Whitaker’s Academy Award for his portrayal of Idi Amin was well deserved. I cannot recommend this movie enough.