The Last King of Scotland

“The Last King of Scotland” has all the elements required to satisfy an audience, in other words, it is a good movie. First of all it has an interesting plot, told with a well-written script, performed by superb actors, and directed with the flare of daring director.
The story, as we are informed of in the opening frames, is based on true events and real people. There is so much mystery, romance, scandal, and courage that it is no wonder the story was brought to screen.
Besides all the convenient elements that make the movie’s journey from history book to screen easy, the story is one that ought never to be forgotten, for as they say, “those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
As tedious as history lesson can be, this one did not lose my attention. I could count on my hands the number of shots used for the extremely brief introduction. This intro is not too short considering that it only serves to introduce us to the newly graduated Dr. Nicholas Garrigan, and to show us his decision to work as in Uganda rather than go into practice with his father.
Before we know it we are blazing through African landscape with Garrigan on his way to a medical mission in Uganda. It’s a busy time for the new doctor to be arriving; Uganda has just been through a coup d’etat where Idi Amin overthrew the previous ruler and named d himself President.
The people are thrilled with the new President, and why wouldn’t they be excited for the man who promises them a stronger, free Uganda, and a President who is a normal person just like them. Garrigan, too, is impressed by Amin, and meets him shortly after hearing his passionate message to the people.
The incident of their meeting revolves around Amin’s hand, thought to be broken, and Garrigan’s medical skills, called upon to help the injured President. Amin’s hand is only sprained, but as Garrigan binds it in a splint Amin gains an instant admiration for the young Scottish doctor.
It is not long, merely 30 hours in fact, before Garrigan agrees to be Amin’s personal physician. Garrigan, believing Amin to be a great and well-meaning leader, assures himself that he can serve Uganda best by keeping the President healthy. What he does not predict is becoming Amin’s closest confidante, nor does he guess the horrific situation that is slipped over his head like a noose slowly tightening.
Anyone who knows history will know that Idi Amin was far from the great Ugandan savior he claimed to be, but this movie offers a chance to observe the whole affair from a very personal vantage point, and the result is an Amin who is even more dreadful than we might at first have though.
The performances are solid, though Academy Award nominee Forest Whitaker as Amin is a head above the rest. Amin himself was an actor of sorts, laying on the charm for the crowds and the media, capturing that might have been hard, but Whitaker embodies the historical leader perfectly. In a matter of minutes he might go from a forward thinking calm leader to a barbaric amoral killer, but Whitaker makes the transition believable and, consequently, much more disturbing than it might be in the hands of a lesser actor.
Director Kevin MacDonald knows what he’s doing and pulls the movie gracefully through its story arch, starting first as upbeat and colorful, ending as harsh and unflinching.
When it’s all said and done, after the movie is ended that is, I look back over the aspects of the film and I see that it was indeed good. It never rises to profoundness though; while it is a good movie, it isn’t really a great one.

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