The Last King of Scotland

Fox Searchlight's "The Last King of Scotland" opened strongly last week in limited release. The film, casting Forest Whitaker as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, took in $143,252 in four theatres over the weekend in New York City and Los Angeles. The film has grossed $172,389 since opening Wednesday and expands to more cities this week.

Based on Giles Foden's award-winning novel of the same name, "The Last King Of Scotland" is directed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (Touching The Void, One Day In September) from a screenplay by Peter Morgan and Jeremy Brock. The cast includes Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Kerry Washington Simon McBurney and Gillian Anderson.

"The Last King of Scotland" features James McAvoy as Dr. Garrigan, a Scottish doctor drawn into a dangerous relationship as Amin's personal physician. Impressed by Dr. Garrigan's brazen attitude in a moment of crisis, the newly self-appointed Ugandan President Amin hand picks him as his personal physician and closest confidante. Though Garrigan is at first flattered and fascinated by his new position, he soon awakens to Amin's savagery - and his own complicity in it. Horror and betrayal ensue as Garrigan tries to right his wrongs and escape Uganda alive.

Forest Whitaker made a strong impression as Idi Amin and we can predict that he would be a strong contender for Academy award in best actor category. McAvoy also looks good in the role of Dr. Garrigan, quite different than his last outing in "The Chronicles of Narnia".

The film is rated R for some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content and language. Here is the official site: foxsearchlight.com.