Back during the late Seventies, I read a book by Henry Kyemba titled "State of Blood: The Inside Story of Idi Amin", and recall a situation involving the Ugandan dictator having numerous members of his opposition summarily thrown into a crocodile infested river as a way of dealing with them. So I was waiting for confirmation of that while watching this picture and the subject finally came up when the diplomatic aide Stone (Simon McBurney) mentioned it to Dr. Garrigan (Kames McAvoy). What was interesting was when I went to Wikipedia to look up the book title, there was a picture of Henry Kyemba looking remarkably similar to the actor who portrayed Jonah Wasswa, Amin's Minister of Health. It turns out that Kyemba WAS Amin's Minister of Health for a short time until he fled Uganda and it's tyrannical rule!So with that extraordinary coincidence, one has to wonder why the film makers resorted to creating a fictional character in the person of Nicholas Garrigan to tell the story of Idi Amin. Amin's real life story would have made for a much more compelling picture to my mind, and would not have needed the first half of this movie to paint a disarmingly charming aspect of the ruthless dictator. Beyond that, even the most feeble attempt to portray Garrigan in a romantic entanglement with one of Amin's wives borders on the ridiculous, so why even go there? So as far as fictional stories go, and forgetting about historical accuracy, this was a fairly decent thriller with Forest Whitaker in a significantly cast against type role considering some of his other projects in which he portrays more reserved characters. He makes the transition from faux charm to maniacal craziness work rather effectively, with a unique power of persuasion to keep Garrigan in line each time the doctor expressed doubts about his role at Amin's side as personal physician.Having read a number of other reviews about the film, and seeing how it wasn't mentioned by anyone else, I'd like to comment on Gillian Anderson's role in the early going as the wife of another medical doctor stationed in Uganda. Her appearance actually stunned me somewhat, in as much as she looked a lot better (that is to say, a lot more attractive) than in any 'X-Files' episode I'd ever seen her in. Just goes to show what was possible after ditching Fox Mulder.

Try to imagine what it might be like if you were a Western European and witnessed—from the inside--the beginning and development of one of the most notoriously brutal African dictators of the 20th Century. What might it have looked like to you? This is exactly what Giles Foden did when he wrote his fictionalized historical novel, The Last King of Scotland. In writing his novel, Foden gives us a chance to try to get into the regime of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin and get an up close and personal look at this brutal clownish figure from the 1970s. Like Hitler or Jim Jones, there is a curiosity to know more about where such people come from and what makes them tick. Call it morbid, but nevertheless, it is still there. In the movie version of the novel, Scottish director Kevin Macdonald--principally known for his documentary, Touching the Void (2003)--shapes Foden's novel and brings it to life.As the movie opens c.1970, a young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), is fresh out of medical school but feels that he will always live in his father's shadow unless he breaks from the family and practices medicine far away. Seeking to make a difference, he chooses to practice in the underdeveloped African country of Uganda. Nicholas starts to work in a free clinic with another white doctor and his wife, Sarah Merrit (Gillian Anderson). When he hears about a local coup, he thinks it would be interesting to go to town and see a rally with the new leader. Nicholas and Sarah go to the planned demonstration where they see Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) addressing a large crowd. On their way back to the clinic, he is stopped on the road by the local authorities because Amin is in need of medical help. While he is treating Amin's injured hand, the two make a connection. Amin becomes interested in the way Nicholas handles himself and admires Nicholas' tee-shirt with the word, "Scotland" on it. He wants to trade his uniform for Nicholas' tee-shirt. The fact that both identify with the Scots and dislike the English is something they have in common.Shortly thereafter, Amin sends his limo to pick up Nicholas, gives him a tour of his palace, and meets his wives and children. Then, in a jovial way, he asks him to become his personal doctor, and offers to let him run Uganda's top clinic in Kampala. Nicholas accepts and abruptly leaves the clinic. As he enters into Amin's social functions and is taken into Amin's confidence, Amin starts to call him 'his personal adviser.' Nicholas' naivete is no match for Amin's charm, and he is soon ensnared into Amin's inner circle. Soon, British agents are asking Nichols to 'keep in touch' if there in anything that they should know; Nichols scoffs at the idea of informing on Amin.As Amin's personal doctor, Nicholas notices his growing paranoia. But, living in a somewhat cloistered life, Nicholas doesn't realize the brutality of what is going on in the country. It's only when he is personally degraded that he discovers some of Amin's atrocities. And, it is only when he becomes the object of that brutality—as a result of an affair with one of Amin's many wives--that he personally experiences it.What's amazing to me about this movie is that—until the very end—there is little violence to portend what is really happening in the country. We know—though Nicholas' eyes---that Amin is concerned about his world image. We know that he is negotiating about Palestinian and Israeli hostages from a hijacked airplane. But, the movie only skims the surface of these important historical issues, because that is not really what the movie is about. It's about the relationship between a naive personal adviser (later called a 'personal monkey') and the web of deceit spun by the brutal sociopath that controls him.'The death toll during Amin's regime will never be accurately known. An estimate from the International Commission of Jurists is that it was not less than 80,000, and more likely around 300,000. Another estimate, compiled by exile organizations with the help of Amnesty International, put the number killed at 500,000.'--Quoted from WikipediaIt's important to note that the time frame of this fictionalized story is from 1971 to the incident at Entebbe in 1976, and Amin's regime was to last until he was deposed in 1979. What we really don't know--and can't know from the above quote--is the time pattern of Amin's ordered tortures and killings: What would a time chart would look like, with TIME as the X-Axis and KILLINGS AND TORTURES as the Y-Axis? From this chart you could see: 1) Did these killings and tortures start gradually and grow over time? 2) Did they occur at a constant rate throughout his regime? 3) Were they concentrated more in the later years of his rule? 4) Were there any external events that triggered when they occurred?Since we can only estimate the raw numbers, we are even FURTHER afield as to the pattern of their occurrence. When you factor in that we are seeing a fictional account of Amin though the eyes of a cloistered and naive white Western European, what you are left with is a story of what might have happened. Again, I say that the movie and novel are more about the relationship between Garrigan and Amin than what I suggested at the beginning of the review: the witness and experience—from the inside--of Amin's entire regime.Does this movie give us more insight into the mind or motives of Amin? Probably not. But, Forest Whitaker gives us a powerful portrayal of this historic figure. Whitaker could have overplayed Amin, but he didn't. His portrayal seems right on the mark!!

Based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's (Forest Whitaker) regime as seen by his personal physician called Garrigan (James McAvoy) during the 1970s , which resulted in the deaths of a half million people . At the beginning Idi Amin seems to be a good President who promises a golden age for the African nation , Uganda . Idi Amin was a charming , magnetic and murderous dictator . Amin's rule was characterized by human rights abuses, political repression, ethnic persecution, extra-judicial killings, nepotism, corruption, and gross economic mismanagement . Along the way , Garrigan to be aware increasingly his erratic behavior that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity . Unwilling to let him return Scotland , Garrigan decides to take some options that could mean his death . Later on , there takes place a plane hijack by Palestines . The local government supported the hijackers and dictator Idi Amin personally welcomed them . In the aftermath of the operation codename ¨Operation Thunderbolt¨ , Idi Amin issued orders to retaliate and slaughter several hundred Kenyans present in Uganda . A compelling drama all the more gripping because being true , though the character well played by James McAvoy , is fictitious. It is packed with thrills , intense drama , tension , violence , strong loving scenes and nice interpretations . At one point, Idi Amin can be seen wearing a Glengarry , which is a Scottish military cap, with a red and white tartan ribbon around it . Amin had been in the King's African Rifles, and suffered considerable racism from British officers . The only one to show him any respect was a Scotsman, and thenceforth had an inreciprocated affection for Scotland, even considering himself a pretender to the Scottish throne . All star cast gives fine acting as well as support cast . Masterfully played by Forest Tucker as the lunatic leader who is driving Uganda into bloody ruin , he achieved a well deserved Academy Award . James McAvoy as likable doctor who must make some crucial decisions is splendid , he gives a vigorous as well as sympathetic performance . Secondary actors give excellent acting such as Kerry Washington , David Oyelowo , Simon McBurney and special mention for Gillian Anderson . The motion picture was stunningly directed by Kevin Macdonald .Adding more details about Idi Amin life , these are the followings : Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles, in 1946, serving in Kenya and Uganda . Eventually, Amin held the rank of major general in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its commander before seizing power in the military coup of January 1971, deposing Milton Obote. He later promoted himself to field marshal while he was the head of state. The number of people killed as a result of his regime is estimated by international observers and human rights groups to range from 100,000 to 500,000 . During his years in power, Amin shifted in allegiance from being a pro-Western ruler enjoying considerable Israeli support to being backed by Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, Zaire's Mobutu Sese Seko, the Soviet Union, and East Germany. In 1975, Amin became the chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), a Pan-Africanist group designed to promote solidarity of the African states. During the 1977–1979 period, Uganda was a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.In 1977, when Britain broke diplomatic relations with Uganda , Amin declared he had defeated the British and added "CBE", for "Conqueror of the British Empire", to his title . On 27 June, an Air France plane with 248 passengers was hijacked, by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the German Revolutionary Cells, and flown to Entebbe, the main airport of Uganda. Operation Entebbe was a mission carried out by commandos of the Israel Defense Forces at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on 4 July 1976 . Dissent within Uganda and Amin's attempt to annex the Kagera province of Tanzania in 1978, led to the Uganda–Tanzania War and the demise of his eight-year regime, leading Amin to flee into exile to Libya and Saudi Arabia, where he lived until his death on 16 August 2003 .Other films about this polemic figure are the followings : ¨The John Akii Bua Story: An African Tragedy¨ (2008) played by John Bosco , ¨Amin : rise and fall¨ (1982) by Shrad Patel with Joseph Olita , "Operation Thunderbolt" (1977) played by Mark Heath , ¨Raid on Entebbe¨ (1976) this version Yaphet Kotto plays Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. In the other production, "Victory at Entebbe (1976)," Julius Harris plays Idi Amin

The movie takes on one of the most notorious true story of the Ugandan Iddi Amin. Yet the movie is too confined on the point of view of Nicholas, so the movie didn't really explore enough on Amin's notoriety. Yes, Forest Whitaker's acting did greatly in building up the character for this movie. But that character wasn't quite portrayed evenly due to the heavy focus from Nicholas' point of View, which kind of balanced the charm and intimidation Amin had. Yet the truth of ruthlessness wasn't really covered, since the actual ruthless side the president wasn't depicted in the movie. Yet as I said earlier the acting overall is a very good one, all thanks to Forest Whitaker's performance in giving live to the character, despite the imbalanced depiction of the ruthlessness. James MacAvoy did quite good in playing the confused doctor.