The Last King of Scotland

Viewer Rating:Zitta Novovic has rated The Last King of Scotland rating: 2.5 Star

Set in 1971, The Last King of Scotland tells the story of a naïve young Scottish Doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, (James McAvoy) and his relationship with Uganda's latest dictator, Idi Amin, who has a fondness for all things Scottish. Lured by the lavish lifestyle and easy charm of Adim, Garrigan is persuaded to give up his post as a humanitarian doctor to become the personal physician to Amin and eventual primary adviser.
The story follows womanizing Garrigan's journey; his initial sense of adventure in this new country and his ignorance of the political situation to the eventual slow realisation of the actual atrocities being committed which he is getting further sucked into. Amin's changeable personalities keep you on the edge of your seat. His transformations from a charismatic, touching, almost child-like man to a sadistic, unstable, paranoid psychotic and Garrigans downward spiral into very real fear and desperate attempts to escape make this a gripping thriller. Based on true events of the dictator, his ethnic cleansing and torture of the Ugandan people make this film even more disturbing. The scene in which Amin's adulterous wife is mutilated is unforgettably horrific. Excellent film, with outstanding performances.

Review published on the 21 May 2007 14:24