The Last King of Scotland

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The Last King of Scotland

R

Released Jan 19, 2007

2h 1m

Biography

Drama

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Popcornmeter

87%

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183 Reviews

89%

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250,000+ Ratings

While in Uganda on a medical mission, Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) becomes the personal physician and close confidante of dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). Although at first Dr. Garrigan feels flattered by his new position of power, he soon comes to realize that Amin's rule is soaked in blood, and that he is complicit in the atrocities. Garrigan faces the fight of his life as he tries to escape Amin's grasp.

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Critics Consensus

Forest Whitaker's performance as real-life megalomaniac dictator Idi Amin powers this fictionalized political thriller, a blunt and brutal tale about power and corruption.

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Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Rated: 2/4

Nov 24, 2011

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Having cut his teeth on documentaries, Kevin Macdonald acts as if a shaky-cam aesthetic alone is enough to fuel dramatic tension.

Rated: 3/6

Feb 3, 2007

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

The horror, when it finally moves to the centre of the screen, gives us Amin's barbarity in close-up -- and he's still smiling.

Feb 2, 2007

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Neither overly political nor overly intellectual, The Last King of Scotland is a powerful, accessible biopic of one of history’s recent madmen.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 8, 2024

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Bigger than life, volatile, unstable, whipping from childlike generosity to ferocious vengeance to crippling paranoia in seconds, it’s the kind of role that invites accolades and [Forest] Whitaker deserves them all...

Sep 24, 2023

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

An electric chemistry between McAvoy and Whitaker allows us to suspend our disbelief at the doctor's feckless gullibility...

May 12, 2020

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Adam E

Had me hooked from the start. A gem of a film, albeit shocking in parts.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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Audience Member

What a story! Cant believe that was less than 2 hours

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/08/25

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Rosana B

Um drama histórico, baseado no romance de Giles Foden de 1998, que retrata a ditadura do presidente de Uganda Idi Amin através da perspectiva de um médico escocês fictício, praticamente todos os relatos da infância de Amin são contraditórios, pois ele não escreveu uma autobiografia e nunca autorizou um relato escrito de sua vida, adorável drama, gostei da crescente e lento amadurecimento, da ingenuidade e confiança ao verdadeiro horror do autoritarismo ditatorial… Uma ficção deliciosamente real…

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/05/25

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Ralph R

It’s a very intense film. Forest Whitaker’s performance as Idi Amin is absolutely incredible—no surprise there since he’s one of my favorite actors. He completely commands every scene he’s in, and you can see why he won the Oscar for it. His portrayal is terrifying but also human, which makes it all the more powerful. The directing by Kevin Macdonald was solid. The movie is tightly packed with tension and drama, and it does a great job of immersing you in the chaotic world of Amin’s Uganda. The pacing can feel a bit heavy at times, but it works well for the story being told. I think the mix of real historical events with a fictional lens through the young doctor’s perspective was interesting, though it sometimes felt like the movie couldn’t decide whether it wanted to focus on Amin or the doctor. It’s definitely a gripping and well-made film, the performances are top-notch, and it has moments that really stick with you.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

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Dionisis T

Forest Whitaker's acting performance truly saved the movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

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Connor S

One of the biggest and most piggish monsters in world history is humanized just enough before he shows just how he was able to do what he did.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/18/24

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Kevin Macdonald

Director

Forest Whitaker

Idi Amin

James McAvoy

Nicholas Garrigan

Kerry Washington

Kay Amin

Gillian Anderson

Sara Merrit

Simon McBurney

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Synopsis

While in Uganda on a medical mission, Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) becomes the personal physician and close confidante of dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). Although at first Dr. Garrigan feels flattered by his new position of power, he soon comes to realize that Amin's rule is soaked in blood, and that he is complicit in the atrocities. Garrigan faces the fight of his life as he tries to escape Amin's grasp.

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Producer: Lisa Bryer, Andrea Calderwood, Charles Steel
Screenwriter: Peter Morgan, Jeremy Brock
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: DNA Films, FilmFour, Fox Searchlight
Rating: R (Language|Gruesome Images|Sexual Content|Some Strong Violence)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 19, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.6M
Runtime: 2h 1m

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