I finally finally finally got around to seeing this film despite wanting to see it all last year. Forest Whitaker is amazing in this role, and it ranks up there with one of the finest portrayals of all time, in fact I rank this up there with Will Smith's Ali, which I also thought was superb. I always know when a performance like this is taken to a whole new level when somewhere early on in the film I forget that I am watching an actor and I am absorbed into believing that they ARE the character. When I think of General Idi Amin Dada, I think of Whitakers face. Whitaker has always been an underrated and underused actor, take GHOST DOG; WAY OF THE SAMURAI for example....extraordinary film. Also his role in CADENCE or Neil Jordan's THE CRYING GAME. He is often used very well, but in low-key roles, but here he shines like the sun!

I was surprised by the pace of this film and the momentum that it created early on caught me off-guard. I was familiar with some of the story based off of Barbet Shroeder's film GENERAL IDI AMIN DADA, which I highly recommend as well. I was very impressed with the overall direction of the film despite the fact that it loses some steam in the last half, but still quite good and never loses it's charm. Also, great soundtrack and a marvelous performance by James McAvoy. There is a tense moment in the film that rivals the early drug smuggling scene from MIDNIGHT EXPRESS.

3.5/5 stars!