Originally posted by Chris Knipp
This film, which is not a documentary and departs freely from fact at least at certain key points, is based on the 1997 novel by Giles Foden, which concerns the doctor. But Macdonald’s writers have jazzed up the more bland original character and made him younger and bolder.

Yes. According to Foden, the characters in his book are a combination of research, memory and imagination. The Last King of Scotland's scriptwriters took further liberties. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but those interested in the real dictator would get closer to the truth by renting the documentary General Idi Amin Dada: Autoportrait (a Criterion dvd release).

Several dramatic events involving Garrigan in the two-hour film’s latter segment strain credulity, including the way the young doctor’s escape is intertwined with the Entebbe plane hijacking incident, and the kinds of trouble he gets into on the way to that escape.

The thriller elements begin to predominate over the last half hour and they are quite effective as genre pleasures. Certain events do strain credulity, particularly from a historical point of view, but the intertitle at the beginning states the film was "inspired" rather than the more widely used "based" on actual persons and events.

What makes this film, whose plotline can scarcely compete with that of the more multileveled and thought-provoking The Constant Gardener

The Constant Gardener is more "thought-provoking" in my opinion because its themes have more contemporary relevance. But that film also surrenders to the requirements of the thriller genre towards its conclusion.

Forest Whitaker’s astonishing performance as Idi Amin Dada. Whitaker usually plays soft spoken, sensitive types. This time he nails a range from fearful to seductive to terrifying, connecting them with a seamlessly explosive energy.

The Last King of Scotland will have a longer theatrical run because of the publicity that Whitaker's deserved Oscar nom will generate. It may leave theatres only to come back as a re-release after the Academy announces its nominees.

I agree with your take on this film, Chris. I would just like to add than there's a subplot involving Garrigan and Kay Amin, one of the dictator's wives. I doubt very much their relationship has any factual basis. But it gave me an opportunity to take pleasure in another great, small performance by Kerry Washington (Lift, Ray). I've been a great admirer of her since her breakthrough performance in the independent film Our Song (2000).