Review of The Last King of Scotland (2006) by Sarah E — 31 Jan 2011

Forest Whitaker is not acting in The Last King of Scotland. "Acting" implies that he is engaged in some kind of process. No, what he accomplishes here is a finished product. He has become someone different than himself. It is not Idi Amin per se; he is still a character. That character is fully realized though, presented in three dimensions with all his complexities, triumphs, and horrors manifesting themselves on screen at one time. It's terrifying and magnificent at the same time.

The relationship between Whitaker's Amin and James McAvoy's young, naive doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, is at the heart of The Last King of Scotland. It's east to see how Garrigan becomes enamoured with Amin in the beginning. From a distance, Amin is charismatic, charming, and winsome. He is part friend and part father to Garrigan. Of course, this charming facade begins to crumble as the movie continues, not because Whitaker's performance changes, but because that charm that was once so intoxicating is used for the most heinous of actions against a nation.

This is not a perfect film, but the performances are perfect. Watching Whitaker makes the movie more than worth it.