Whitaker fascinating in The Last King of Scotland

Cast: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Gillian Anderson

Like great painters, tyrants and dictators often make for fascinating screen portraits and here that fine, if often under-rated, actor Whitaker turns in a powerful performance as Uganda's twisted leader Idi Amin.

Amin was often viewed merely as a funny buffoon who strode the world stage in the l970s, though in reality he was a blood-thirsty devil whose every action was deserving of condemnation. He wasn't at all funny.

The film - and Amin did consider himself the King of the title - concerns the fate of a young Scottish doctor who was drawn into this twisted world.

And if the quite brilliant Whitaker doesn't pick up an Oscar come March, the world is a more twisted place than we imagine.

Star Rating: 5/5