The Last King of Scotland (2006)

James McAvoy (love this guy) is Garrigan, a privileged son of a doctor fresh out of medical school who can't stand the thought of living the same dull life that his parents do. So he hits the road to become a doctor in the first place -- no, make that the second place if the first is too boring -- his finger lands on the spinning globe.

Garrigan's a definite antihero, self-interest is at the fore of his every decision. Sure, he works at a poorly appointed local clinic, but it seems more about playing soccer with the kids, flirting with the hot missionary's wife, and being the town's white savior than actually serving. When he's offered the swank job of personal physician to the new Ugandan leader, Idi Amin, he takes it right quick.

The rest of the movie deals with Amin's dual nature of affability and violent rage and Garrigan's position as trusted confidant becoming less secure by the day. Some of the dangerous decisions made by the doctor were needlessly frustrating, making this feel more like a thriller than historical fiction. Limiting us to the doctor's viewpoint made us have to care about the small picture -- and that felt a little like a cheat.

Whitaker is good, McAvoy is great, and there's no denying that this is a powerful movie...but is it a good one? The answer I land on is "not particularly."

B-