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The Last King of Scotland

R Released Jan 19, 2007 2h 1m Biography Drama List
87% Tomatometer 184 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 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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The Last King of Scotland

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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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Critics Reviews

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Wesley Morris Boston Globe Rated: 2/4 Nov 24, 2011 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review Alec C Witness the rise of one of histories most ruthless dictators and his brutality towards his nation! Nicholas Garrigan is a naive doctor who travels to Uganda, only to find himself as the personal physician of Idi Amin, where he slowly begins to learn the depths of his depravity. Deeply intense and mesmerizing, Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy manage to play perfect opposites as the inhumanity of the Uganda regime are shown! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/24 Full Review Julia S Although the acting in this movie by Forest Whitaker was phenomenal, some parts especially in the beginning seemed way too slow and unnecessary for the plot. (there was also no need to include a weird affair with the doctors wife or Amin's wife. that was a wtf moment for me) Although they tried to make McAvoy's character somewhat likeable, he was just so stupid and extremely intolerable. It was hard to watch near the end, with brutal and violent scenes, I wouldn't watch this if you weren't prepared for a lot of violence and mature content. I honestly don't think I would recommend. Out of 100, I would say a 65 maybe 70. Very hard to watch. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/11/24 Full Review Jona I Incredible performances, especially by Forest Whitaker. Grisly. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/15/23 Full Review Tony M The Last King Of Scotland is a great movie that I will definitely watch again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/03/23 Full Review Some Guy F Great performances, good filmwork, but completely glosses over the brutality of Idi Amin's revolution and reign. It also is highly focused on a non-existent person and a fake story, which I always find jarring in a historical drama. If Forrest Whitaker wasn't acting his ass off, this movie would be much harder to stomach. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

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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