Forest Whitaker dominates this film like no actor I've seen in a long time. James McAvoy complements him and the rest of the cast, as well as the screenplay and direction is very competent. A performance piece: it's definitely Whitaker's show, but boy does he deliver.

Horrible, scary, brutal. This movie, inspired by true events, kept me at the edge of my seat. Superb acting made this an exquisite experience, yet it should be said that it's hard to watch.

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Powerhouse acting from Whitaker which deservedly took him home the Oscar. But his performance shouldnt take away from great direction, a great script and a brilliant performance from McAvoy.

The movie was a showstealer and Whitaker was meant to play the role of this mad dictator.
Before I tell you about the perforamances, let me shed some light on the movie otherwise. The feel of tyranny and violence in Uganada of those times is clearly depicted in this harsh and gritty take on the regime of this tyrant.
The direction and screenplay along with dialogues make this movie a charming experience.
James McAvoy along with the film's lead are beautiful and worth all you money.
Forrest Whitaker as I mentioned before was meant to play this role, he not only inspired but scared me with his psychotic portrayal of Amin. A well deserved Oscar for this great actor.

Really good, but I never want to watch it again.

fun romp

McAvoy gives an authentic performance amongst an emotionally charged setting. It's both political and violent, a brutally real combination to witness.

A compelling film based on the 1998 novel of the same name which mixes fact and fiction around the 70's Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Forest Whitaker steals the show as Amin with a powerful performance, the film did seem to have some pacing issues though.

A brutal film, telling a story of a terrible time in human history with Idi Amin at front and center, but not quite a great one. McAvoy and Whitaker are both good, but the film never seems to work as a whole.

A rather clumsy attempt at making a film. Young doctor James McAvoy turns up in Africa, gets rather friendly with the locals and eventually comes to the attention of Idi Amin, the ruthless dictator (Forest Whitaker carries this film) who requires young McAvoy's medical services. James proceeds to have an affair with one of Amin's wives and, as can be guessed, this does not end well. I read the book first and I thought that was a really powerful evocation of an African state, as dominated by a grotesque Henry VIII - style figure; this film did not evoke the book or Africa, for that matter. It was more like an advert for the 18-30s holiday.

After reading many people around here and at other websites, I was expecting a C average film, but I was surprised at how good it was. Certainly not flawless, but it was still a solid film. As fiction, the film is pretty darn good. However, as a historical film, therein lies its weakness. I wasn't as displeased with McAvoy's character as I've read some people around here, but I can see their point. Initially I thought that telling the story through his point-of-view was a good narrative tool to put us in the role of the population that might've been caught with Amin's charisma and not see his "brutal" side just like Garrigan... but I do think they should've delved more in the historical side of the story rather than fiction-motivated events. Still a pretty good film with great performances.