Whitaker rightly won the 2006 Oscar for this performance, which is near flawless.  He exudes frightening menace and charming guile, leading us to understand why historians remain divided about whether Amin was insane or simply “crazy as a fox.”  Few doubt the man was evil, of course, but Whitaker manages to imbibe the brutal dictator with a shred of humanity as well.  Frighteningly, he’s almost likable.

McAvoy is a decent actor, but he’s woefully miscast here.  His youth and endless gullibility stretch our credibility to the limits, especially after he becomes involved with one of Amin’s wives (Kerry Washington, playing her part to perfection).  By the film’s climax, it’s hard to sympathize with this hapless protagonist, who has few redeeming qualities.  Partly, this is the fault of the script.  But an older Garrigan – along with some editorial scene-swapping – would have solved this problem.

Director Kevin MacDonald shows a bit too much torture and dismemberment, but his talent is evident – and his message is important.  It’s not so much about brutal dictators as it is about Western arrogance.  “I will go to Africa and I will play the white man with the natives,” Amin taunts Garrigan.  “Is that what you thought?  We are not a game.  This is real.”

We’re being issued a warning about taking others for granted and using the world as our playground, as Westerners have done throughout the centuries.  We may live for the moment, this film seems to say, but eventually we must all pay the price – which is often far, far more than anyone would ever expect. 

A Christian message?  Absolutely, in the context of an excellent film.

AUDIENCE:  Adults only

DVD EXTRAS:

• Director’s commentary
• Casting session
• Documentary: “Capturing Idi Amin”
• Featurette with Forest Whitaker
• Theatrical Trailer
• International Trailer
• Alternate Scenes
• Deleted Scenes

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  Drinking and smoking throughout film, as well as possible drug use.  In several scenes characters are drunk.
• Language/Profanity:  Obscenities and profanities throughout film, some very strong.
• Sexual Content/Nudity:  Upper female nudity in several instances; several sexual situations; sexual allusions and several graphic sex scenes with rear male nudity.
• Violence:  Extreme violence throughout film, including graphic beatings, murders, torture and dismemberment – though most are offscreen.