The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Director:

Kevin Macdonald

Writers:

Peter Morgan (screenplay) and
Jeremy Brock (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 January 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Thriller

Tagline:

Charming. Magnetic. Murderous.

Plot:

Based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s

Plot Keywords:

Uganda | 1970s | Doctor | Death | Dictator

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 34 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Forest Whitaker	...	Idi Amin
James McAvoy	...	Dr. Nicholas Garrigan
Kerry Washington	...	Kay Amin
Gillian Anderson	...	Sarah Merrit
Simon McBurney	...	Stone
David Oyelowo	...	Dr. Junju
Stephen Rwangyezi	...	Jonah Wasswa
Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga	...	Masanga (as Abby Mukiibi)
Adam Kotz	...	Dr. Merrit
Sam Okelo	...	Bonny
Sarah Nagayi	...	Tolu
Chris Wilson	...	Perkins
Dr. Dick Stockley	...	Times Journalist
Barbara Rafferty	...	Mrs. Garrigan
David Ashton	...	Dr. Garrigan (senior)
Daniel Ssetaba	...	Kay Amin's servant (as Daniel Ssettaba)
Apollo Okwenje Omamo	...	Mackenzie Amin
Louis Asea	...	Campbell Amin
Giles Foden	...	British Journalist 1
Andy Williams	...	British Journalist 2
Martina Amati	...	Italian Journalist
Rene Peissker	...	German Journalist
Stern Jedidian	...	American Journalist
Dave A. Tarun	...	Asian Tailor
Clare Wandera	...	Secretary
Cleopatra Koheirwe	...	Joy
Joanitta Bewulira-Wandera	...	Malyamu Amin (as Joanitta B. Wandera)
Consodyne Buzabo	...	Nora Amin
Peter Salmon	...	White Businessman
Michael Wawuyo	...	Air Force Commander
Wilberforce Muteta	...	Guard (as Wilberforce Mutete)
Haruna Walusimbi	...	Guard
John Olima	...	Bagpiper
Angela Kalule	...	Chanteuse at Nghtclub
Sam Namatiti	...	Band at Nightclub - Bass & Keyboards
Mathias Muwonge	...	Band at Nightclub - African Xylophone & Lyre
Joseph Kahirimbanyi	...	Band at Nightclub - Guitar
Afrigo Band	...	Band at Party
Ndere Troupe	...	Dancers at Rally
The Nyonza Singers	...	Choir at Parliament
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Idi Amin	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Kevin Macdonald

Writing credits
Peter Morgan		(screenplay) and
Jeremy Brock		(screenplay)
Giles Foden		(novel)

Produced by
Ros Borland	....	co-producer: Slate North, Scotland
Lisa Bryer	....	producer
Andrea Calderwood	....	producer
Andrew Macdonald	....	executive producer
Vicki Patterson	....	associate producer: Slate Films
Allon Reich	....	executive producer
Tessa Ross	....	executive producer
Christine Ruppert	....	co-producer
Charles Steel	....	producer
Suzanne Warren	....	associate producer: Cowboy Films
Andrew Wood	....	line producer

Original Music by
Alex Heffes

Cinematography by
Anthony Dod Mantle

Film Editing by
Justine Wright

Casting by
Jina Jay

Production Design by
Michael Carlin

Art Direction by
Lynne Huitson		(supervising art director)
Joanna Stutchbury		(as Joannah Stutchbury)

Set Decoration by
Tina Jones

Costume Design by
Michael O'Connor

Makeup Department
Suzanne Belcher	....	makeup artist (as Suzy Belcher)
Dianne Jamieson	....	makeup artist: Scotland
Keloy Kemigisha	....	hairdresser
Sharon Martin	....	hair designer
Sharon Martin	....	makeup designer
Irene Nabuuma	....	hairdresser
Vivienne Simpson	....	makeup trainee: Scotland, Scottish Screen
Helen Speyer	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jonathan Haren	....	post-production supervisor
Angela Murray	....	production manager: Scotland
Clare St. John	....	post-production supervisor: DNA Films
Chris Wilding	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonathan Bloom	....	second unit director
Ben Burt	....	second assistant director: Scotland
Emile Dinneen	....	assistant director: Uganda
George Every	....	first assistant director
Simon Rwemba Iyarwema	....	assistant director: Uganda
Ashley Jackman	....	second assistant director: Scotland
Raymond Kalisa	....	assistant director: Uganda
Eliot Mathews	....	second assistant director
Praem-Marie Metha	....	assistant director: Uganda
Michael Muganga	....	assistant director: second unit, Uganda
Andrew Mutungi	....	assistant director: second unit, Uganda
Isabel Pike	....	assistant director: Uganda
Derek Ritchie	....	third assistant director: Scotland
Sande Philip Sengi	....	assistant director: Uganda
Richard Tooro	....	assistant director: second unit, Uganda

Art Department
Rebecca Alleway	....	set decorator: Scotland
Apollo Asea	....	stand-by props
Alan Ballany	....	art department assistant: Scotland
Joshua Barraud	....	stand-by art director
Brian Boyne	....	carpenter: Scotland
Catherine Carruthers	....	stand-by art director: Scotland (as Cath Carruthers)
Liam Collins	....	stand-by props: Scotland
Hazel Crampton	....	storyboard artist
Stewart Cunningham	....	set dresser: Scotland
Edmond Etyang	....	set dresser
Kimberley Fahey	....	production buyer: UK
Derek Fraser	....	chargehand carpenter: Scotland
Christine Gibson	....	art department buyer: Scotland
Muffin Green	....	property master
Jane Harvie	....	supervising painter: Scotland
Mohammed Hatibu	....	stand-by props
Kathy Heaser	....	art researcher
Margaret Horspool	....	art director: Scotland (as Mags Horsepool)
John Hughes	....	painter: Scotland
Frederick Kago	....	carpenter
David Kalemera	....	art department runner
Stanley Chege Kariuki	....	carpenter
Stephan Mwenda Kimani	....	carpenter
Paul Muiga Kinajui	....	construction accountant
Euan Kinghorn	....	striking props: Scotland
John Mwangi Maina	....	carpenter
Gustavas Matovu-Wasswa	....	storeman
Jim McCallum	....	stand-by props: Scotland
Samson Meitamei	....	set carpenter
Frederick Mpuuga	....	assistant art director
Keneth Mugabi	....	draftsman
Musa Mugera	....	carpenter
Heron Mwangi	....	carpenter
Macharia Naftali Mwangi	....	carpenter
Paul Njonjo	....	carpenter
John Kimani Njoroge	....	carpenter
Elizabeth Nyagah	....	prop assistant
Joseph Oketch	....	set dresser
David Roy	....	striking props: Scotland
Elijah Serwanja	....	set dresser
Tony Sheridan	....	property master: Scotland
James Shovlin	....	painter: Scotland (as James Shovelin)
John Silva	....	construction manager
Vittoria Sogno	....	prop buyer: Uganda
James Stilly	....	painter: Scotland
Eva Tumwesigye	....	assistant prop buyer
Lawrence Umon	....	stand-by props
David Weatherstone	....	set dresser: Scotland

Sound Department
Courtney Bishop	....	adr recordist
Stuart Bruce	....	sound recordist: Scotland
Fiona Carlin	....	boom operator: Scotland
Christian Conrad	....	supervising sound editor
Anthony Faust	....	adr mixer
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Noemi Hampel	....	foley editor
Daniel Iribarren	....	adr editor
Hosea Jemba	....	sound assistant
Joanna Lee	....	sound trainee: Scotland
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Fred Pietzner	....	boom operator
Carsten Richter	....	foley artist
Nele Schinz	....	assistant foley editor (as Nele Kornrumpf)
Dominik Schleier	....	dialogue editor
Fabian Schmidt	....	adr editor
Martin Steyer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lionel Strutt	....	adr coordinator
Marcus Sujata	....	adr mixer
Marcus Sujata	....	foley mixer
Roman Volkholz	....	re-recording mix assistant
Hanse Warns	....	adr editor
Michael Wollmann	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Sebastian Bulst	....	special effects supervisor
Perry Costello	....	fire effects
Dirk Lange	....	pyrotechnician
Dirk Lange	....	special effects technician
Waldo Mason	....	corpse effects
Simon Rose	....	additional makeup effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Louie Alexander	....	digital cleanup artist
Rodrigo Bernardo	....	systems engineer
Philip Bland	....	digital compositor: Machine, London
Jason Burnett	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Andy Burrow	....	scanning and recording manager: Framestore CFC
Joe Cleave	....	systems development: Framestore CFC
Oliver Deen	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
Paul Doogan	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Hayley Easton	....	texture painter: Machine, London
Joe Godfrey	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Charlie Habanananda	....	digital intermediate data operator: Framestore CFC
Alistair Hamer	....	film mastering engineer: Framestore CFC
Adam Hawkes	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
Jan Hogevold	....	production Executiveo: Framestore CFC
Aaron Lear	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
John Lockwood	....	visual effects supervisor: Machine, London
Kevin Lowery	....	film mastering engineer: Framestore CFC
Maria Michalopoulou	....	digital intermediate data operator: Framestore CFC
Mike Morrison	....	digital grading assistant
Paul Nilsson	....	digital artist: Machine
Stuart Nippard	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
Collette Nunes	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
Dominique Ortoli	....	digital compositor: Machine, London
Enrico Perei	....	digital compositor: Machine
Dan Perry	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Dave Robinson	....	systems engineer
Aatesh Shah	....	systems engineer: Framestore CFC
Lyndall Spagnoletti	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
Nick Stanley	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
Steve Street	....	visual effects supervisor: Machine, London
Stephen Willey	....	senior systems engineer
Annabel Wright	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC

Stunts
Gary Connery	....	stunt coordinator: Scotland
Eddie Stacey	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Joe Alexander	....	camera trainee
Telfer Barnes	....	focus puller: second unit
Francis Bbosa	....	camera assistant
Chris Belcourt	....	rigger: Scotland
Julie Bills	....	focus puller: Scotland
Jan Brun	....	grip
Eigil Bryld	....	director of photography: Scotland
Stuart Bunting	....	grip: Scotland
Timothy Serwada Byakatonda	....	electrician
Derek William Carlow	....	focus puller
Tim Critchell	....	assistant grip: Scotland
Neil Davidson	....	still photographer
Ross Grainger	....	electrician: Scotland (as Ross Granger)
Stuart Howell	....	Steadicam operator
Stuart Howell	....	camera operator
Andrew Kalyango	....	unit electrician
Peter Keith	....	camera trainee: Scotland
Manuel Khalid	....	camera loader: second unit
Harun Gitau Mbochi	....	electrician
Callum Milne	....	electrician: Scotland
Gabriel Nduati Mugo	....	generator operator
Samuel Mwanja	....	electrician
Scott Napier	....	electrician: Scotland
Thomas Neivelt	....	gaffer
Francis Wanyandeh Ouma	....	electrician
Won-suk Park	....	camera loader
Philip Rath	....	grip
Julia Robinson	....	clapper loader: Scotland
Julius Senteyo	....	on-set video assist
Julius Ssentongo	....	video assist operator: New York
Simon Surtees	....	focus puller: Scotland
Pim Tjujerman	....	focus puller
Mohamed Wafula	....	best boy grip (as Sulaiman Mohammed Wafula)
Markus Wiebecke	....	best boy
Billy Wilson	....	rigger: Scotland

Casting Department
Joanitta Bewulira-Wandera	....	casting: Uganda
Consodyne Buzabo	....	casting assistant: Uganda
Robin Hudson	....	casting assistant: UK
Irene Kintu	....	casting assistant: Uganda
Kaya Kagimu Mukasa	....	casting assistant: Uganda
Andy Williams	....	casting consultant: Uganda
Dixie Chassay	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tim Aslam	....	costume buyer: UK
Elizabeth Chepkurui	....	wardrobe assistant
Arnalie Harper Gow	....	wardrobe assistant: Scotland (as Amelie Harper-Gow)
Georgina Gunner	....	wardrobe mistress
Graham Hunter	....	wardrobe assistant: Scotland
Carol Kabatanya	....	wardrobe assistant
Shane Kingdon	....	assistant costume designer
Sandra Kyomugisha	....	costume buyer
Juliet Mbabali	....	costume researcher
Alison Mitchell	....	costume supervisor: Scotland
Phiona Mucho	....	wardrobe assistant
Ali Mutebi	....	wardrobe assistant
Tony Mutengu	....	wardrobe assistant
Farouk Myombi	....	wardrobe assistant
Elizabeth Nakawungu	....	wardrobe assistant
Janet Nalujja	....	wardrobe assistant
Brenda Nanyonjo	....	costume assistant
Craig Walker	....	wardrobe assistant: Scotland
Kevin Zziwa	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Marcus Alexander	....	digital intermediate producer: Framestore CFC
Ted Guard	....	assistant editor
Stephen Haren	....	assistant editor
Neil Hurford	....	color timer
Adam Inglis	....	colorist: Framestore CFC
Mike Morrison	....	digital grading assistant: Framestore CFC
Asha Radwan	....	post-production coordinator
Donna Smith	....	film editorial: Framestore CFC
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Dirk Cambell	....	musician: nyatiti & filimbi
Paul Clarvis	....	musician: African percussion
Geoff Foster	....	music recording engineer
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Alex Heffes	....	conductor
David Juritz	....	orchestra leader
Kawesa	....	musician: singer
Julian Kershaw	....	orchestrator
Abi Leland	....	music supervisor
Andy Richards	....	score mixer
Tom Silvester	....	scoring assistant
Hilary Skewes	....	musician contractor: Buick Production Ltd.
Sam Southwick	....	music editor
Dach Zziwa	....	musician: African percussion

Transportation Department
Isa Abiriga	....	driver
Fred Bbossa	....	driver
Augustine Bigirimana	....	driver
Harvey Damulira	....	driver
Jim Gangel	....	driver: Mr. McAvoy, Scotland
Patrick Gataama	....	driver
Celestine Harelimana	....	transportation coordinator
David Hategeka	....	driver
Muhamadi Ibrahim	....	driver
Canada Jahwila	....	vehicle coordinator
Patrick Kabengwa	....	driver
Stephan Waigumba Kamya	....	driver
Simon Katongole	....	driver
Musa Kawoya	....	driver
John Kiggundu	....	driver
Sinaani Kitaita	....	driver
Jerry Komagum	....	vehicle coordinator
Bob Kyazze	....	driver
Frank Lubowa	....	driver
Moses Lubowa	....	driver
Will Lugolobi	....	driver
Faizal Lule	....	driver
Fred Male	....	driver
Herbert Masembe	....	driver
Godfrey Matangi	....	driver
Innocent Matete	....	driver
Prim Mbabazi	....	driver
John McKay	....	driver: Scotland
Eriya Mubiru	....	driver
Ramathan Mubiru	....	driver
Jjuko Mugaga	....	driver
Ramathan Mugalu	....	driver
Asuman Mugulusi	....	driver
Yassin Mukasa	....	driver
Alan Murray	....	driver: Scotland
Milton Mwesigye	....	driver
Jackson Ndyomugenyi	....	driver
Bob Nsereko	....	driver
Adrian Ntirengwa	....	driver
Kimuli Nurudini	....	driver: bus, second unit
Les Quinn	....	driver: Scotland
Dan Roberts	....	driver: props, Scotland
Ismael Salim	....	driver
Jason Sandy	....	transportation captain
Colin Sendaula	....	driver
Abby Shalif	....	driver
Nasser Ssenyondo	....	set mechanic
Kinarwa Swaibu	....	mechanic: second unit
Joseph Tamale	....	driver
Arthur Tuhumwire	....	driver
Arthur Twine	....	driver: second unit
Edwin Muhanguzi Twine	....	driver: second unit
Sam Wanabwa	....	driver
Mick Ward	....	driver: Scotland
Wayne Wright	....	driver: Ms. Anderson, Scotland
Edward Yiga	....	driver
James Zamukoreka	....	driver
Paul Zziwa	....	driver: minibus, second unit

Other crew
Captain Tinkamanyire Absolom	....	coordinator: Ugandan army
Docus Acan	....	accounting assistant
Captain Chris Bagana	....	coordinator: Ugandan army
Alistair Baggaley	....	location assistant
Carey Berlin	....	assistant to executive producers, DNA Films
Helga Binder	....	business affairs: Germany
Stefi Brachman	....	assistant to producer (as Steffi Brachmann)
Mary Brehony	....	business affairs: Scottish Screen
Livia Burton	....	assistant to producer
Katherine Butler	....	head of development: FimFour
Shanti Butteri	....	unit runner
Crispin Buxton	....	supervising location manager
Claire Chapman	....	head of production: Scottish Screen
Brian Coffey	....	production assistant: Scotland
Anita Cox	....	business affairs: Scottish Screen
Matt Curtis	....	title designer
Mark Davitt	....	production runner: Scotland
Cathy Doubleday	....	script supervisor
John Dunning	....	unit publicist
Robert Easton	....	dialogue coach: Mr. Whitaker (as Bob Easton)
Kennedy Forsyth	....	location manager: Scotland (as Kenny Fotsyth)
Clare Gerard	....	unit nurse: Scotland (as Clare Gerrard)
Fiona Gillan	....	production runner: Scotland
Bill Godfrey	....	accountant: Slate Films
Barrie Gower	....	special make-up effects
Louise Gow	....	accountant: Cowboy Films
Paul Grindey	....	head of business affairs: FiolmFour
Brigitte Harriman	....	accountant: Germany (as Brigitte Hariman)
Franziska Hoch	....	coordinator: UK
Malcolm Holt	....	health & safety officer
Tracey Josephs	....	head of production: FilmFour
Lt. Michael Kanyamunyo	....	coordinator: presidential guard
Ayuub Kasasa Mago	....	location assistant (as Ayuub Kasasa)
Richard Kawesa	....	production liaison: Uganda
Kate Lee	....	unit publicist
Emily Mabonga	....	location manager
Moses Masaba	....	unit runner
Mike Mayeku	....	unit runner
Mark McGhee	....	assistant location manager: Scotland
Sharron McGuire	....	operations manager: GT facilities
Claire Mckay	....	floor runner: Scotland
Amelia McNeil	....	location scout
Jacob Melton	....	production assistant: DNA Films
John Miles	....	accountant: post-production
Debbie Moore	....	production accountant
Natalie Moore	....	assistant accountant
Charles Mulekwa	....	consultant: director, Uganda
Neil Murray	....	location trainee: Scotland, Scottish Screen
Sara Mutamba	....	assistant to coordinator
Wilberforce Musolo Mutya	....	location assistant
Sheleena Naidoo	....	runner: Cowboy Films
Elizabeth Florence Naigaga	....	unit nurse
Chris Nsubuga-Mugga	....	assistant to coordinator
Gerardine O'Flynn	....	production coordinator: FilmFour
Louise Orr	....	production assistant: Scotland
Jeremy Page	....	development executive: FilmFour
Tanya Phegan	....	assistant to executive producers, DNA Films
Moses Baba Rukundo	....	unit runner
Dr. Stefan Rüll	....	legal consultant: Germany (as Stefa Rüell)
Christopher Sanderson	....	production assistant trainee: Scotland
Rolf Schmid	....	catering manager
Ibrahim Senfuma	....	location assistant
Samantha Sheridan	....	production coordinator: Scotland
Joanne Smith	....	general manager: DNA Films
Godfrey Ssali	....	unit assistant
Daniel Ssetaba	....	personal assistant: Mr. Whitaker (as Daniel Ssettaba)
Moyra Statham	....	assistant accountant: Scotland
Shaw Statham	....	production accountant
Hassy Tebugulwa	....	accounting assistant
Gioia von Thun	....	coordinator: Germany
Michael Wawuyo	....	assistant location manager
Michael Wawuyo	....	location manager: second unit
Sarah Wheale	....	production coordinator (as Sarah-Jane Wheale)
Walter Wißmann	....	armorer (as Walter Wissman)
Christian Wöltche	....	assistant accountant (as Christian Woeltche)
Gero Brugmann	....	legal services (uncredited)
Daniel Budd	....	post production assistant accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Simon Channing Williams	....	thanks

Production Companies

• DNA Films
• Fox Searchlight Pictures
• Cowboy Films
• Film4
• Scottish Screen
• Slate Films
• Tatfilm
• UK Film Council

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• My Network TV (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Machine (visual effects) (as Machine - London)
• Artem (special props)

Other Companies

• Hyperactive Broadcast  editing equipment
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded at
• Argyll Catering  catering: Scotland
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• BBC Motion Gallery  footage
• Buick Productions  musician contractor
• Camerapix  archive stills provided by
• CinePostproduction  negative development
• CinePostproduction  rushes telecine
• Cutting Edge  negative cutting
• Dynamic International  freight: UK
• Elektrofilm  sound (as Elektrofilm Production Facilities)
• FGV Schmidle GmbH  equipment hire (as FGV Rental Schmidle)
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Framestore CFC  digital intermediate
• Freud Communications  unit publicity
• ITN Archive  footage
• JM Freight  freight: Uganda
• Lee & Thompson  legal services (as Lee and Thompson)
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording studio
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance (as Media Insurance)
• Multi Logistics  freight: Germany (as Multilogistics)
• Oxford Scientific Films  footage (as Oxford Scientific)
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Rounder Records  soundtrack
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

121 min | USA:123 min | Canada:121 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French | German | Swahili

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | South Africa:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Australia:MA | France:-12 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:16 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Malaysia:18PL (DVD) | Spain:13 | Japan:R-15 | Brazil:16

Filming Locations:

Kampala, Uganda

Company:

DNA Films

Trivia:

The movie was based on the book by Giles Foden, who also cameos as a British Journalist at the press conference held by Amin.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene where the President and the Doctor travel to Entebbe airport in the soft-top Mercedes and are ambushed - two white Bedford trucks block them to the front and the rear. The trucks are AWD Bedford's with a silver AWD logo mounted on the front. AWD took over Bedford trucks only in 1989 some 10-years after Amin was removed from Uganda (in 1979)

Quotes:

[first lines]
Nicholas Garrigan: Come on! Are youse ready?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Kay's Lament

You're My Closest Adviser

Greetings again from the darkness. A true tour de force by Forest Whitaker ... the best performance of the year so far! Somehow Mr. Whitaker captures the madness and charm of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Amin was one of the first political rock stars. He used the media to his advantage as his regime slaughtered hundreds of thousands of his countrymen.

Also impressive is James McAvoy ("Chronicles of Narnia") who plays the dramatized Nicholas Garrigan, a young doctor who sets out on an adventure to make a difference in a small country and ends up counseling one of the most powerful madmen in history. Scottish documentarian Kevin Macdonald directs the film with only a few lapses in directness, which serve this biopic very well. Watching Amin and the young doctor immerse themselves in the shower of power is both frightening and sickening. Macdonald captures this spirit very well thanks mostly to his willingness to let his two leads do their thing.

As Amin laughs and tells Garrigan that "You are my closest adviser", I couldn't help but compare to Kathy Bates telling James Caan (in "Misery") that "I'm your number one fan". The evil and insanity is simply chilling. Whitaker is just amazing as he flips the switch from media darling to cold blooded, ruthless murderer ... and then back again. Just a terrific performance and well worth the price of admission - maybe a couple of times! Good for a laugh is the most unique version of Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" that you have ever heard ... guaranteed! See this one for a bit of history and the site of a real monster, but also for one of the best film performances ever.