The Last King of Scotland
Composite Score: 82.47
Starring: James McAvoy, Forrest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, Simon McBurney, David Oyelowo, Stephen Rwangyezi, and Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Writers: Peter Morgan and Jeremy Brock
Genres: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller
MPAA Rating: R for some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content, and language
Box Office: $48.62 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
The Last King of Scotland is a film based on Giles Foden’s novel of the same name, a fictional account of a Scottish doctor who moved to Uganda when Idi Amin came to power and became one of his closest confidants in the process. The film serves as a historical fiction, blending fact with story to paint a picture of the Ugandan dictator through the eyes of an external viewer. It features James McAvoy as the doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, and Forest Whitaker in an Oscar-winning performance as Idi Amin. The film’s strong acting and intensely thrilling story have made it into a classic worth watching for sure.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Because it is historical fiction, the film takes some liberties with actual history to create a more streamlined narrative. The film’s historical grounding makes much of its narrative feel like it truly happened, a feeling extended by the number of actual events that unfold on screen as the film runs on. Unfortunately, because of its fictional nature, the film paints Amin as simply an unhinged villain and does little to engage with the points that he is making once he makes the turn. There is much that gets brought up in this film in terms of historical and even current issues – the issues of post-colonial Africa and Europe’s continued involvement there, Israel vs. Palestine, and Pan-Africanism to name a few – that then fall to the wayside as the narrative shifts from historical commentary to survival thriller. Ultimately, the loss of these issues causes the film’s conclusion to lose much of the weight that it could otherwise have carried had it delved more into Amin’s stances and the ways in which he might have been correct despite his despotic regime. This is not a biopic, but a thriller embedded in a historical context, which is fine but might be disappointing to some viewers.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Though its nature as a thriller lessens its impact to some extent, the thriller pieces of the film are well-executed. From its frenetic camera movements and cuts to the often-intense score to even the story itself, the film crafts a solid, if standard, thriller that sets itself apart through its historical context. Once Amin’s true nature begins to show itself to Nicholas, the audience begins to feel the tension as well, with Whitaker’s Amin menacing in every scene that he walks into. Nicholas’s constant mistakes and misjudgments frustrate the audience, but the film still compels them to watch his collapse unfold as he makes misstep after misstep, driving the tension ever higher to its ultimate breaking point at the film’s climax, which coincides with the Entebbe Hostage Incident. For people looking for a solid historical thriller, it’s hard to go wrong with The Last King of Scotland.
Of course, the true strength of the film lies not in its genre blending but in its leading performances. James McAvoy’s performance as Nicholas Garrigan showcases his ability to exhibit pain and frustration in a way that few actors can, inciting the audience’s sympathy despite exhibiting very few truly commendable traits. His over-the-top performance manages to stand up somewhat to Whitaker’s but is ultimately overshadowed. Forest Whitaker delivers one of the most chillingly villainous performances ever put to screen in his turn as Idi Amin. The infamous dictator was already a larger-than-life figure, and Whitaker’s performance takes that gravitas and runs with it. Switching from brotherly friendship to paranoid outbursts to vulnerable confidant and then back through it all again, Whitaker brings menace and humanity to a role that could just as easily have been an almost comic-book villain. Instead, we are treated to a complex villain, dangerous but reasoned, unhinged but self-aware, menacing but charismatic. The dichotomy of Whitaker’s performance carries throughout the film and leaves the audience a bit disappointed that he was not explored more deeply but satisfied to the point that his award for the film makes perfect sense.
With a solid outing from James McAvoy, an awards-winning performance from Forest Whitaker, and a historical narrative that also brings its audience to the edge of their seats, it is easy to see how The Last King of Scotland achieves greatness and belongs among the Greatest Films of All Time. Though the history of the film quickly falls to the wayside, the performances and heart-pounding thrills do enough to make up for it and make the film one worth watching. Currently, this film is available to stream with a Starz subscription or to rent on most streaming services. If you haven’t checked it out, I recommend seeing this one at least once.
