The title of The Last King of Scotland is ironic. After all, it is Idi Amin, a native black Ugandan who gives himself the title of King of Scotland because he is a Scots-ophile. (Who knew there was such a thing?) It is the part of Amin that is charming and silly that he is so smitten with Scotland that he wears kilts to formal events, and has his own bagpipe army of kilt wearers as well. He also has children named MacKenzie and Campbell. The title also refers to the hubris of Amin, a psychopathic dictator who was unafraid to give himself imaginary titles and to wear medals that he gave himself so they would look good on his uniforms.
This 2006 film directed by Kevin MacDonald stars Forrest Whitaker as Idi Amin, a role that won Whitaker the Academy Award for Best Actor in the same year. In the movie, we see all aspects of Amin as a charismatic speaker, strong leader, charming friend, and childish monster. And we see Amin through the eyes of a white, Scottish doctor named Nicholas Garrigan (James MacAvoy) who gets sucked up into the large, wealthy entourage of Amin by chance and by choice.
What is good about this film is that it doesn’t focus on some sort of descent into madness by Amin. Amin is crazy as a loon from the get go as he dances a tribal dance to impress native Ugandans or as he whines like a child over an injured hand after an automobile accident. One of the first things we see Amin do in the movie is to exchange shirts with Dr. Garrigan, and act that is both human and crazy, just like Amin.
While Forest Whitaker is clearly the star of this film, the other feature of this film worth pointing out is the stunning scenes of Uganda by the cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle. The landscape and the color of the light make the beautiful backdrop of this country more ironic given the ugliness and cruelty of Amin.
If you liked James McAvoy as the delightful Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe you will also like him in The Last King of Scotland. As the young Dr. Garrigan, MacAvoy is charming but also unafraid to confront the evil of Amin, something that endears Amin to his character. This film also stars Gillian Anderson as a Uganda country doctor, Kerry Washington as one of the Mrs. Amins, and Simon McBurney as a British agent.
Enjoy the footage of the real Amin as the credits roll and Whitaker and Amin seem to blend into one person.
