Cast: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy & Kerry Washington
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Rating:
Enetertainment Quotient: 30%
Genre: Drama / History
Runtime: 121 min
MPAA rating: R

Synopsis:

Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) is a young Scottish doctor who makes an adventurous attempt to go to Uganda and serve there. There he meets newly elected President Ida Amin (Forest Whitaker) at an accident site. Amin who has an obsession towards Scotland likes Nicholas immensely. Then he appoints Nicholas as his family doctor. He also goes a step forward and makes him a close advisor on political issues. Nicholas enjoys all the importance and luxuries he is offered. But over a period, he realizes what a ruthless dictator Amin is. But it is too late now as Amin develops lot of liking towards Nicholas and he would not let him go. The rest of the story is all about whether Nicholas escapes from Uganda or not.

What I liked in the film?

The characterization of Amin and the way Forest Whitaker portrayed it with extreme dexterity deserves applause. The director tried showing Amin as a humor loving gentleman. He did not expose the monstrous side of this dictator who is responsible for killing 3 million Ugandans in his tenure. The director also thrown more light into the relationship between doctor and dictator than looking into the true picture of what is happening in the country.

What I did not like in the film?

I did not know background of this film before watching it. And the character of Amin is shown mostly in positive side as fun loving man. But he is the one who is directly responsible for killing 3 million people.

The scenes I liked in the film?

1. When Nicholas decides to go to a new adventurous place, he closes eyes, rotates the globe, points his finger at it and then selects the country which his finger points to.
2. The accident scene in which Amin exchanges his military dress loaded with medals and commendations for a simple Scotland t-shirt wore by Nicholas.
3. The scene in which Nicholas treats Amin with a stick after a late night party.

Oscars: Forest Whitaker won the best actor in leading role award in 2007.

Tailpiece:
The title of the film is misleading. One would expect the story of Scotland from this film. But the reason why it is titled as ‘The Last King of Scotland’ that Amin often dreams that his heroics in Uganda would impress Scottish people so much that they would invite him and make him the king of Scotland. That shows the heights of obsession Amin has towards Scotland.