The Last King Of Scotland (15)
BASED on the novel by Giles Foden, The Last King Of Scotlandexperiences the rise of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (Whitaker) throughthe eyes of fictitious doctor Nicholas Garrigan (McAvoy), who becomesthe president's personal physician.
Abandoning his post at a mission clinic run by Dr Merrit (Kotz)and his wife Sarah (Anderson), Nicholas moves to Kampala to attend toAmin and to work alongside Dr Junju (Oyelowo) at the capital'simpressive new hospital.
Nicholas is quickly seduced by his host's wealth and power, and iseven more taken with Kay (Washington), one of Amin's young wives.
They embark on an illicit affair and once Amin discovers thebetrayal, Nicholas glimpses the brutal, unforgiving despot behind thepolished media facade.
The Last King Of Scotland begins rather gently but soon gathersdramatic momentum, and the final 20 minutes are a tour de force ofedge-of-the-seat suspense, replete with scenes of sickening andgraphic violence, which will leave some viewers feeling queasy.
Whitaker's Oscar-winning verbal fireworks blow everyone else offscreen and McAvoy struggles to make an impact as the good man inAfrica, who pays a terrible price for his disloyalty.
Peter Morgan and Jeremy Brock's screenplay provides Washington andAnderson with little emotional meat to sink their teeth into as thewomen whose romantic dalliances with Nicholas shape his fate.
Macdonald shoots on location in Uganda, using many authenticlocations including the Parliament building, the Mulago Hospital andEntebbe Airport where the climactic hostage crisis unfolds.
DVD extras includes a director commentary, Forest Whitaker - IdiAmin featurette, Capturing Idi Amin documentary, Fox Movie Channelpresents Casting Sessions - The Last King Of Scotland featurette.
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