The Last King Of Scotland DVD

Advantages: An excellent story, very eye opening. The performance by Whitaker
Disadvantages: Not going to have mass appeal

Over the last month or so I seem to have been catching up with a number of films that I’d actually been quite keen to see when they were in the cinema. The latest one on my list was The Last King Of Scotland, a film I had heard a lot of good things about. So I sat down last night to finally catch up with the film and see what all the fuss was about. It’s based on the true story of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin and the way he ruled Uganda during a certain ...
...the expectations though? Well there was only one way to find out. The movie focuses on the view of Amin’s (Forest Whitaker) regime through the eyes of a Scotsman, Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy). When he helps Amin with a broken hand the dictator takes a liking to him and wants to make Garrigan his official physician. While Garrigan is more interested in the wife of the doctor at the village he is working in he decides to accept the job. He soon ... Read review

Advantages: Great performances, Tense, Compelling viewing
Disadvantages: Factually inaccurate

One of the most misleading film/book titles ever in my opinion! So what is the film about? Is it any good? ------------------------------------------------------- This is the tale of how the films protagonist Dr Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) is taken under the wing of Ugandan president, Idi Amin (Forrest Whitaker). Amin just so happens to be a brutal dictator with a bit of a problem with trusting people. Garrigan had just finished university ...
...exactly the same manner as his father, being a doctor in Scotland. He decided he needed to make a clean break and therefore flew out to Uganda for serving both the purposes of being great help to the health of the locals and also to gain some sense of adventure. On a chance meeting, Amin expresses his somewhat bizarre love of Scotland to Garrigan and so begins a working relationship that quite frankly nobody around Uganda can understand. Garrigan ... Read review

Advantages: Powerful, Passionate movie with an outstanding cast
Disadvantages: Does contain gore and distressing scenes

**What Is It?** The Last King Of Scotland is based on the real life of the presidency of Idi Amin. This is a semi-fictional story based in Uganda, with big connections with Scotland. **When Was It Released** Released in January 2007 and released on DVD on 14th March. So it hasn't been out for very long. It is one of the most successful movies of 2007. **Charactors/Actors** James MacAvoy (Becoming Jane, Narnia) - Dr. Nicholas Garrigan- The main ...
...based on his characterisation throughout the movie. A fantastic performance from him. Forrest Whittaker (The Marsh, First Daughter) - Idi Amin- The president of Uganda whos ruthless regime kills 100,000's of Ugandans. You see his relationship with Dr Garrigan go to excentric levels. A breath taking performance from Whittaker. Kerry Washington (Mr & Mrs Smith, Fantastic 4)- Kay Amin- She is the love interest in the film. Also Adi's wife. She comes ... Read review

Advantages: powerful fast paced story, spellbinding.
Disadvantages: needs to make clear that this is part fact, part fiction

...amazing performance as Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator who rose to power in the 1970s. James McAvoy plays Nicholas Garrigan, a Scottish doctor who goes to Uganda and becomes Amin's personal doctor. The film uses the doctor to show what kind of man/dictator Amin is, plus all the lavish lifestyle he has become used to, is simply not worth it due to the bloodshed and corruption around him Forest Whitaker plays this larger than life character with such ...
...He was perfect for the role and this could be the role that Whitaker is remembered for. You become addicted to Amin, in the way the doctor does and you too go through the spiral of decadence and moral crisis the doctor does. Extras include commentary by the director (which I still need to listen to), the documentary about Armin and how he is portrayed in the film is quite good. The extras are quite minimal, but not too bad. ... Read review

Advantages: A good thriller with its roots in history, fantastic performance by Forest Whitaker
Disadvantages: Difficult to feel empathy with the "hero", some violent scenes

I missed this film at the cinema so was keen to see it once it made it onto DVD. Although the main character is real, and some of the other characters too, the story itself is entirely fictional, as is the doctor played by James McAvoy. The performance by Forest Whitaker has been widely praised, and for good reason. His portrayal of Amin, brings together the charm and menace of the man. It would be a role that would be very easy to go over the top, ...
...more subtle. Which improves the film and gives more shock value to violence in the film. It is very difficult to have much sympathy for Doctor Garirgan as portrayed by James McAvoy. Attitudes in the 70's were different, but his constant womanising left me feeling less sympathetic to his plight. I have to feel that this was part of the plot, so you were not left with a saintly white man up against an evil black man. The film itself comes across ... Read review