A tyrant, but a gentleman

Last updated at 10:39 13 October 2006


I spotted Forest Whitaker at a party during the Toronto International Film Festival. I thought about approaching him, but instead I found myself slowly backing away.

He's a perfectly nice guy but I'd just seen him in a screening of The Last King Of Scotland, in which he portrays Idi Amin in the days after he'd seized power in Uganda.

In the film's early scenes Amin is depicted as a charming rogue, but it becomes more chilling as its fictional story progresses.

We begin to learn that Amin is responsible for the torture and slaying of thousands of his countrymen and it feels as if Whitaker has reached out of the screen and taken you by the throat, it's that powerful a performance - as the Times BFI London Film An unlikely pair: Festival audience will McAvoy and Whitaker discover next Wednesday at the movie's premiere.

Whitaker will be there and this time I will go up and shake his hand. I promise! I've already cheered his fellow leading man James McAvoy (they will surely both be contenders at the Baftas) who plays a doctor who becomes Amin's most trusted aide.

McAvoy is a treasure - he seems to be able to take on any character, as audiences will find in the forthcoming films Starter For Ten, Becoming Jane and Atonement, which we'll see next September.

Visit www.lff.org.uk for all festival details.

Most watched News videos