CNS Movie Review: The Last King of Scotland

The Last King of Scotland

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Contrary to its title, "The Last King of Scotland" (Fox Searchlight) does not refer to a Scottish monarch, but to the delusional, self-appointed appellation of ruthless Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, who, having served in the British army, had an affinity for the land of kilts and bagpipes.

Based on the novel by Giles Foden, the morality tale chronicles the thrill-seeking sojourn of a young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), in 1970s' Uganda during Amin's murderous regime. (Amin, who died in 2003, was responsible for the deaths of more than 300,000 people.)

Arriving in Africa, Garrigan volunteers in a poor, rural clinic run by Dr. Merrit (Adam Kotz) and his wife, Sarah (Gillian Anderson), to whom he is quickly attracted. Through an unforeseen chain of events, Garrigan becomes the personal physician to -- and, in short order, confidant of -- charismatic strongman Amin (Forest Whitaker), whose recent rise to power is met with hopeful jubilation by the masses.

Initially blinded to the despot's atrocities by the seductions of power -- Amin sets the Scotsman up in the presidential palace and lavishes him with women and gifts -- Garrigan, prompted by a crisis of conscience, later opens his eyes to the heinous truths around him and his own possible complicity in the crimes. Desperate to escape the escalating madness, he finds himself a pawn to both Amin and a British operative who wants Garrigan to use his access to assassinate the tyrant.

Director Kevin MacDonald blends fact and fiction to mostly riveting effect, with the usual compression of time and creation of composite characters. Anthony Dod Mantle's energetic, gritty cinematography conveys the tension and danger of turbulent political atmosphere.

But what really drives the movie is Whitaker's towering performance, which captures both Amin's magnetism and megalomania, manically flipping between charm and rage and investing even a subtle eye flutter with deadly meaning. The result is a fascinating, if terrifying, portrait of monstrous cruelty that demands attention come Oscar time.

Viewers should be warned that there is quite a bit of brutality which, though dramatically justified, is gruesome at times. Also troubling, Garrigan agrees to perform an abortion to cover up an affair he is having with one of Amin's wives, who -- with good reason -- fears for her life.

But overall, "Last King" serves as an indictment of inhumanity and hatred wrapped in a fairly compelling parable that asks: What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world -- let alone a palace in Uganda -- and loses his soul?

The film contains intense scenes of violence, including a graphic depiction of torture, brief grisly images of massacre and dismemberment, several sexual encounters with nudity, an abortion subplot, recurring rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.

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Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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