I watched it on DVD a few months ago. It's obvious why Forest Whitaker won the Oscar. I also thought James McAvoy was excellent although a few critics dissed his performance.
It is one of those "glad I saw it but once is enough" movies for me. I see it is on HBO now. I probably will pass on a repeat viewing!
And Shasta, I believe you're right, that Garrigan was a fictional character.
L
you guys are right. Gerrigan was a fictional character (I watched the special features on the DVD). However, one of Amin's wives did die following an attempted abortion; she was found dismembered; she had an affair with the health minister (according to wikipedia). Amin did have British doctors.
At first, I was someone put off by the incorporation of a fictional character into a true story. In the special features, McAvoy describes his character as sort of a mirror to British/white society... (I'm paraphrasing somewhat poorly). So if I think of McAvoy and his experiences as a sort of amalgamation of "white" experience with "dark Africa" I am less annoyed. I did like how they presented a personalized story of what in actuality was widespread terror and brutality, and that we were able to see the 'good' and 'bad' Amin through McAvoy's eyes.