The Last King of Scotland - 2007

Directed By: Kevin MacDonald
Cast: James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Simon McBurney, David Oyelowo, Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
Released on 12-01-2007

Kevin MacDonald has previously brought us two stunning documentaries in One Day in September and Touching the Void, and his experience has served him well in this film. An intimate look into the life of Uganda dictator Ida Amin through the life of Scottish doctor Nicolas Garrigan played with aplomb by James McAvoy. The film starts with Garrigan deciding to leave the comfort of his life in Scotland and travels to Uganda in hope of something more fulfilling, and fun. It’s almost upon his arrival that the military coup of 1970 which saw Amin take power occurs. Sensing excitement and adventure he ventures off with fellow doctors wife Sarah Merrit (Gillian Anderson) and immediately he becomes hypnotised by Amin charisma. Sarah however has seen this before.
Before long through a series of chance encounters Garrigan has been hired as Amin’s personal physician and finds himself in an unenviable position; approached by British officials hoping to gain an insight into Amin’s life. But things are not what they seem. Slowly and exceptionally revealed moments of brutality and violence begin to arise. Garrigan soon learns he’s in over his head but is unable to tear himself away from a man he both fears and adores. He is in awe of this powerful man with a wicked sense of humour. But so compelling is Amin, and its Forest Whitaker’s performace which really positions the audience I the same place as Garrigan, that in the space of single scenes he shits from being a brutal, imposing tyrant to a stroppy, immature child to a loving, jovial friend. All this takes it toll on Garrigan who becomes further and further embroiled in this dictators exploits and acts of evil. One such incident has Garrigan torn between loyality to Amin the the consequences of what tell Amin could do. As Garrigan slips further into the political world he finds it harder to keep his head above water and inevitability he loses his sanity and commits an act of betrayal digging himself a whole he may never be able to emerge from. Add to this the control Amin exerts over him, his escalating insanity and more heinous crimes against humanity and Garrigan becomes a desperate man. But there is a sense that Garrigan has brought this all on himself. As soon as he arrives he flirts with Sarah, wife of the doctor he’s come out to work with. He is bold and arrogant and fails until very late to see the dimensions of the world he stepped into.
By the time the final act arrives you are so immersed in the predicament of Garrigan that it becomes one of the most tense finale of recent years. For the most part the film avoids the clichés violence one might expect from a Ida Amin film, but this is more about Garrigan’s physician out of his depth, lured into a world he finds glamorous and empowering he finds that with such pleasures come multiple pains. Worse still is that he becomes aware of the pain and brutality he could be on the end of if he falls out with the dictator. Compounded still by how Amin embraces this Scotsman, the reason for which being that Amin served in the British army and has his soldiers wear kilts. Treating Garrigan as a son, the physician allows himself to get too close, meaning when the worst happens, Amin is more insulted and hurt than particularly by the way Garrigan betrays him.
Amin, played with an Oscar worthy performance by Whitaker is a most complex character. At times witty, funny and effortlessly charming, a quality Garrigan advices him to use when the international community is pressurising Amin. But we all know Amin as an evil mass murderer who was responsible for the deaths of 300,000 Ugandans. Whitaker is careful never to breakdown his complexities. MacDonald and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle frame Whitaker to create the most imposing yet hypnotic character he could have been. What’s great about both the writing and performance is how subtly the corrupting of power is explored. Amin is an extremely intelligent and intuitive leader, but as the pressure mounts he is prone to making rash decisions consumed by paranoia. At times he acts like a big child and therefore he becomes completely unpredictable. This is the overriding personality which makes him so scary. Those who work for him, and also his many wives, fear him not because he is evil but because he is unpredictable. When Garrigan speaks his mind there are these little moments of apprehension as he awaits Amin’s response. If Forest Whitaker fails to achieve an Oscar for this performance then it will take some beating. The man is majestic and very rarely are performances so electrifying and compelling. To bring humanity to a man most perceive as a monster is a rare gift and he deserves everything he gets. But the great performances don’t end there. James McAvoy, who is fast becoming one of Britain hottest actors is phenomenal as Garrigan. His task made harder by Whitaker’s overpowering performance. But the audience is in the same corner of Garrigan and the films quality and enjoyment rests of McAvoy convincing, and he does so with such conviction that he deserves as much credit as Whitaker.

MacDonald’s first foray into fiction is a performance driven film which is compelling, engrossing and shot through with authenticity and authority. The best of the bunch of new wave Western films about Africa.