10 Best Film Biopics About Politicians

A mostly invented tale of a Scottish doctor that became the personal physician of Idi Amin, The Last King of Scotland is a terrifying portrait of the Ugandan dictator.

Although James McAvoy's character is invented, the film is faithful to Amin as the self professed "President for Life" is brought to the screen in a towering performance from Forest Whitaker.

Idi Amin was a cult of personality who crippled and destroyed the people of his country behind closed doors as he fooled the world with his charisma and charm. Whitaker is perfectly cast as the tyrant and his performance brought him his only Oscar nomination and win.

Amin is fully realised in Kevin Macdonald's drama as we see his insecurities behind closed doors helped to feed into his horrifying actions. Macdonald and Whitaker successfully give him layers without ever tying to make him a sympathetic figure.

Idi Amin's brutal regime lasted for eight years across the 1970s and The Last King of Scotland does not shy away from the atrocities committed.