The movie is nothing short of amazing. A lot of the reviews I’ve read only praise Forrest Whitaker and his amazing performance. What they are missing is that drama needs contrast and what better way to contrast Idi Amin than to have a young Scottish doctor undergo the necessary transformation.
The movie opens with newly graduated doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) who leaves his native Scotland for Uganda. His rebellion is motivated by his father, also a doctor, who wants him to take on the family practice. Nicholas thinks anywhere is better, so he arrives in a rural Ugandan hospital.
Accidentally, he is the only doctor when General Idi Amin (Forrest Whitaker) hurts his hand in a driving accident. Amin immediately likes Nicholas’ attitude and offers him a position as his personal physician.
The movie follows Nicholas’ roller-coaster ride through his interactions with his highly-esteemed patient. Amin’s charisma in the opening scenes gives way to darker overtones as his paranoia takes over. Historians have tried to come up with different explanation on why this changed occurred (some argued syphilis affected his brain some time after he took power but this is not supported by the fact he died in 2003).
Back to the movie, however, Nicholas remains the protagonist but Forrest Whitaker’s Amin steals every scene with his charisma, pathos, brutality, and even humor. The suspense in the last scenes wraps the movie and leaves a taste of what is like to be a favorite to a king who
The movie explores similar ground to Blood Diamond, The Constant Gardener (and Lord of War). The range of emotions, however, is closest to Hotel Rwanda – I still vividly remember scenes from it!
Definitely rent the DVD (or get the torrent!).
Forest Whitaker is a great actor. We have been talking about his recent star on the Hollywood walk of fame over at Highbrid Nation. I’ve been a fan for years and I’m happy to see him getting the credit he deserves.
I agree. The movie was amazing! No offense to Forest Whitaker, but I felt that the performance of James McAvoy stole the show. This was one powerful movie. I would recommend it to anyone.