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| Content | | | | The Last King of Scotland (2007) | Director: Kevin Macdonald
Starring: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy
In the early 1970s, the just-graduated Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan, comes to Uganda to assist in a rural hospital. Once there, he soon meets up with the new President, Idi Amin, who promises a golden age for the African nation. Garrigan hits it off immediately with the rabid Scotland fan, who soon offers him a senior position in the national health department in Kampala and becomes one of Amin`s closest advisers. However as the years pass, Garrigan cannot help but notice Amin`s increasingly erratic behavior that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity that is driving Uganda into bloody ruin. Realizing his dire situation with the lunatic leader unwilling to let him go home, Garrigan must make some crucial decisions that could mean his death if the despot finds out.
Forest Whitaker excels in depicting Idi Amin not only as megalomaniac and brutal dictator but also as a fascinating and charming politician who thanks to his charisma succeeds in coming to power in Uganda. James McAvoy serves as a perfect partner; his Nicholas Garrigan is absolutely authentic in all his naivety and arrogance that turns into desperation and fear when the going gets tough. The movie is an excellent study of power and the power of manipulation. Forest Whitaker was rightly honoured with the Academy Award for the best performance in a leading role (enjoy this brilliant actor also in "Ghost Dog” or "Even Money”).
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