Featuring an absolutely stunning performance by Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland depicts the rise and fall of former Ugandan president Idi Amin. In the film, Amin’s presidency is documented through the eyes of the fictitious Nick Garrigan (James McAvoy), a young Scottish doctor who finds himself in Uganda to help a local missionary. Wide-eyed and overconfident, Nick is quickly befriended by Amin and made the president’s personal physician. As he begins to learn more about Amin’s corruption against the Ugandan people, Nick’s own life becomes increasingly at risk.

After watching The Last King of Scotland, it isn’t difficult to see why Whitaker earned “Best Actor” at this year’s Oscars. Amin may have committed horrible crimes against the very people that he swore to protect, but few will deny that he was an incredibly charismatic and charming leader – whenever he desired to appear as such. Where a lesser actor would have depicted the former president simply as a one-dimensional figure, Whitaker delivers a performance that is layered and complex, with Amin just as funny and likeable as he is terrifying. Praise must also be given to McAvoy. While Whitaker garnered much-deserved adulation for his work, McAvoy was largely overlooked despite his memorable performance as the rudely-awakened young physician.

Too often, brilliant performances are lost within mediocre films (see Will Smith in Ali). Fortunately with The Last King of Scotland, Whitaker has found a worthy vehicle. Suspenseful, informative, and powerful, this film is not to be missed.