Synopsis:

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

The Freak's Rating: B- : Forrest Whitaker's magnificent performance as Idi Amin will no doubt be the tyrant's defining cinematic portrayal. As charming and charismatic as the leader was, he was brutally violent to his countrymen. Whitaker sums up the man's persona perfectly. Those who knew the man were consulted as production assistants during the filming to maintain authenticity.

Though I thoroughly despise James McAvoy in every film other than Wanted, he is tolerable as Dr. Mbalu Mukasa. The film is based on true events, and if it had stayed true it would have been far more interesting. In reality, Mukasa has a direct hand in the death of one of the film's primary characters, one that I can't reveal as it is truly a spoiler for those who haven't seen the film.

Overall the film is decent, but lacks the punch to push it through as a thorough recommendation. All supporting roles are mediocre and dwarfed compared to Whitaker. He steals every scene he is in, perhaps too much for the film's own good. A better director would have had better control of the scenes and orchestrated the film according to the talent on screen. Still, overall it is a good film, I just would have liked the historical accuracy to have been maintained.

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