DVD After embarking on a wild adventure in a far-off country, a naive young doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, arrives in 1970s Uganda where he finds himself on a shocking journey into the darkest realm on earth: the human heart.
Details
Set in the 1970s, Nicholas Garrigan is a naive and recently qualified doctor desperate for adventure in a far-off country. Spinning a globe and choosing wherever his finger lands as his destination, his first attempt lands on Canada. Unimpressed, he spins again and this time stops in Uganda. Arriving as an aid worker, he joins Dr. David Merrit and quickly doubles the number of medical staff working with the local population. However, a revolution is taking place in the country and it does not take long for Nicholas to become swept up in the excitement of it all.
When the newly crowned Idi Amin arrives to address the local population, Nicholas eagerly attends the rally to soak up the atmosphere. It is something he has never experienced before and he revels in the excitement, cheering along with the crowd at Amin's charismatic speech. However, on his return to the village he is stopped by a soldier and urgently summoned to help Amin, who has been injured in a road accident.
Arriving at the scene, Nicholas quickly treats the injured dictator and, when he shoots the cow responsible for the accident to end its suffering, Amin is impressed by his calm and decisive behaviour. The dictator is also delighted to discover that Nicholas is Scottish, as many of Amin's former British army officers were Scots. When Amin offers him the position of personal physician, Nicholas eagerly accepts the opportunity to improve his circumstances.
Embracing his new life of luxury, Nicholas quickly becomes absorbed in a world of wealth, parties and excess. Shielded from the outside world within the presidential compound, he initially fails to see the brutal reality of Amin's regime. However, when he becomes entangled in an assassination attempt on the dictator, Nicholas slowly begins to realise just how unstable and dangerous Amin truly is. Once he understands the scale of the atrocities being committed across Uganda, the terrified doctor attempts a desperate escape before it is too late.
Picture & Sound
The picture is bright and colourful, albeit with a slightly bleached appearance that suits the harsh African climate depicted in the film. Detail levels are impressive and the transfer captures the atmosphere of 1970s Uganda very effectively. Interior and exterior scenes are handled with ease and the above-average bit-rate produces a crisp and clear image with no signs of artifacting or outlining. Black levels remain solid throughout and problems with grain or pixelisation are few and far between. The transfer is also very clean, free from dust or other imperfections - as one would expect from such a recent production.
As with the picture, the 448Kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack performs well and enhances the overall experience. Although The Last King Of Scotland is largely dialogue-driven, there is still plenty of surround activity, particularly during the opening rally scenes and throughout the film's vibrant African musical score. Dialogue remains clear and firmly anchored in the centre channel while the front speakers provide good directional effects. The only channel that sees limited use is the LFE, although the film itself rarely demands deep bass.
Menu & Extras
Once you get past the exhausting eleven minutes of trailers (fortunately skippable) for Rocky Balboa, Notes on a Scandal, The Fountain, Pathfinder and Sunshine, you are greeted with a static but nicely scored main menu. Each of the sub-menus is also accompanied by dramatic music from the film, with the special features grouped together on their own menu.
Extras-wise, the highlight is undoubtedly the Audio Commentary with director Kevin Macdonald. While I often lament the absence of input from a film's principal stars, Macdonald more than compensates with a fascinating track covering filming locations, production challenges and historical context surrounding Idi Amin and Uganda. This insight continues with eight Deleted and Alternate Scenes, running just under twelve minutes, again accompanied by optional commentary from Macdonald explaining why the scenes were ultimately removed.
The six-minute Forest Whitaker - "Idi Amin" featurette focuses primarily on Whitaker's remarkable performance, although James McAvoy also appears briefly. The far more substantial twenty-nine minute documentary Capturing Idi Amin is essential viewing, offering valuable background to both the film and the historical events behind it. Featuring interviews with local Ugandans, cast members, the author of the original novel and various production crew, it is further enhanced by archival footage and an appearance from BBC journalist John Snow, who even reveals chilling documents recovered from an abandoned command post.
I am rarely a fan of self-congratulatory promotional pieces, so the nine minute Fox Movie Channel presents: Casting Sessions - The Last King of Scotland featurette is perhaps the least interesting inclusion. As expected, it largely consists of promotional interviews and back-slapping praise between cast and crew. The extras are rounded off with the Theatrical Trailer. Overall though, this is an excellent set of extras for what is already a remarkable film.
Overall
Although the central story is fictional - adapted from the acclaimed novel by Giles Foden - the historical backdrop is chillingly real. The film presents a gripping and often disturbing glimpse into one of Africa's most brutal dictatorships. Forest Whitaker's portrayal of Idi Amin is extraordinary, capturing both the charm and terrifying unpredictability that defined the man.
When Amin seized power in a military coup in 1971, both the international community and Uganda itself initially welcomed his promises of reform and national pride. However, those promises quickly gave way to a reign of terror that lasted eight years and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 300,000 people - with some estimates placing the figure even higher. The film effectively captures the uneasy tension between Amin's outward charisma and the horrific reality of his regime.
Since its theatrical release, The Last King Of Scotland has received widespread critical acclaim, winning 23 awards and earning a further 12 nominations. Forest Whitaker's astonishing performance earned him an Academy Award, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe among many others, firmly cementing his portrayal of Amin as one of the most compelling performances of the decade.
The Last King Of Scotland certainly deserves its many accolades. Director Kevin Macdonald, already renowned for his gripping documentaries such as One Day in September and Touching the Void, delivers an intense and deeply unsettling drama that remains both compelling and thought-provoking. This is powerful filmmaking and an essential watch. Highly recommended.
Special features
- Audio Commentary by Director Kevin Macdonald
- Deleted Scenes with commentary by Kevin Macdonald
- Featurette - Forest Whitaker "Idi Amin"
- Documentary - "Capturing Idi Amin"
- Fox Movie Channel presents: Casting Sessions - The Last King of Scotland
