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The Last King of Scotland

  • 20062006
  • RR
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
185K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,326
390
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Home Video Trailer from Fox Searchlight Pictures
Play trailer0:13
12 Videos
43 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History

Based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s.Based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s.Based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
185K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,326
390
  • Director
    • Kevin Macdonald
  • Writers
    • Peter Morgan(screenplay)
    • Jeremy Brock(screenplay)
    • Giles Foden(novel)
  • Stars
    • James McAvoy
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Gillian Anderson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kevin Macdonald
  • Writers
    • Peter Morgan(screenplay)
    • Jeremy Brock(screenplay)
    • Giles Foden(novel)
  • Stars
    • James McAvoy
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Gillian Anderson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 390User reviews
    • 237Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 49 wins & 32 nominations total

    Videos12

    The Last King of Scotland
    Trailer 0:13
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Trailer 0:15
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Trailer 0:13
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Trailer 2:22
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Clip 1:12
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Clip 0:56
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Clip 1:22
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Interview 0:50
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Interview 0:45
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Interview 0:30
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Last King of Scotland
    Interview 0:46
    The Last King of Scotland
    The Rise of Kerry Washington
    Video 3:31
    The Rise of Kerry Washington

    Photos43

    Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Gillian Anderson, Forest Whitaker, and James McAvoy in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, and Kerry Washington in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Bradley Cooper at an event for The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Cate Blanchett at an event for The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Cate Blanchett at an event for The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    David Moscow at an event for The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Forest Whitaker at an event for The Last King of Scotland (2006)
    Forest Whitaker at an event for The Last King of Scotland (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James McAvoy
    James McAvoy
    • Dr. Nicholas Garriganas Dr. Nicholas Garrigan
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Idi Aminas Idi Amin
    Gillian Anderson
    Gillian Anderson
    • Sarah Merritas Sarah Merrit
    Kerry Washington
    Kerry Washington
    • Kay Aminas Kay Amin
    Simon McBurney
    Simon McBurney
    • Stoneas Stone
    David Oyelowo
    David Oyelowo
    • Dr. Junjuas Dr. Junju
    Stephen Rwangyezi
    • Jonah Wasswaas Jonah Wasswa
    Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
    • Masangaas Masanga
    • (as Abby Mukiibi)
    Adam Kotz
    Adam Kotz
    • Dr. Merritas Dr. Merrit
    Sam Okelo
    • Bonnyas Bonny
    Sarah Nagayi
    • Toluas Tolu
    Chris Wilson
    • Perkinsas Perkins
    Dick Stockley
    • Times Journalistas Times Journalist
    • (as Dr. Dick Stockley)
    Barbara Rafferty
    • Mrs. Garriganas Mrs. Garrigan
    David Ashton
    • Dr. Garrigan - Senioras Dr. Garrigan - Senior
    Daniel Ssettaba
    • Kay Amin's Servantas Kay Amin's Servant
    Apollo Okwenje Omamo
    • Mackenzie Aminas Mackenzie Amin
    Louis Asea
    • Campbell Aminas Campbell Amin
    • Director
      • Kevin Macdonald
    • Writers
      • Peter Morgan(screenplay)
      • Jeremy Brock(screenplay)
      • Giles Foden(novel)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Having graduated recently from the University of Edinburgh, the Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, flies to Uganda to work at a missionary clinic run by Dr David Merrit and his wife, Sarah. Before long, Garrigan has a chance encounter with the new President, General Idi Amin, who, right from the start, feels an immediate sympathy for him. As one thing leads to another, after a while, Idi Amin invites Nicholas to become his physician and modernise Uganda's health care system: a once-in-a-lifetime offer that the doctor cannot refuse. However, more and more, Garrigan finds himself trapped in the moral abyss of Idi Amin's murderous megalomania, putting his very soul at risk. When Nicholas finally summons up the courage to rise above the madness, he becomes embroiled in a desperate fight for survival. —Nick Riganas
    • 1970s
    • ugandan
    • doctor
    • police state
    • sexual compulsion
    • 249 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Charming. Magnetic. Murderous.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      On the DVD director's commentary, Kevin Macdonald states that during filming of Idi Amin's visit to the village near the mission, many of the local extras thought it was the real Idi Amin on stage giving speeches.
    • Goofs
      Idi Amin held the rank of General until 1975, then promoted himself to Field Marshal. Throughout the movie, he wears insignia of both these ranks at differing times, making it appear that he continually switched between them. On the 'working' uniform, he always appears as a General (crossed swords, pip and coat of arms). In his 'dress' uniform he always appears as a Field Marshal (crossed sword and baton enclosed in oak leaves).
    • Quotes

      Idi Amin: You are British?

      Nicholas Garrigan: Scottish. I am Scottish.

      Idi Amin: Scottish? Ha! Ha! Why didn't you say so?... Great soldiers. Very brave. And good people. Completely. Let me tell you, if I could be anything instead of a Ugandan, I would be a Scot.

      Nicholas Garrigan: Right... Really?

      Idi Amin: He. Except for the red hair, which I'm sure is attractive to your women, but which we Africans, we find is quite disgusting.

    • Connections
      Edited from General Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait (1974)
    • Soundtracks
      Nakawunde
      Performed by Percussion Discussion Afrika

      Written by Mike Musoke and Herman Sewanyana

      Copyright Control

      Licensed courtesy of Percussion Discussion Afrika

    User reviews390

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Great Acting! and Gillian Anderson!
    I like movies based on real people in history. Because of the Oscar buzz surrounding Forest Whitaker now, I knew this movie is about Idi Amin. This is of course a familiar name in my childhood (asked in General Information contests), but I don't really know much about him, except that he was a dictator.

    This film has a documentary feel to it. It is really very realistic, even if upon reading background info that the Dr. Garrigan character is fictional. Even though granted that the Idi Amin regime was compressed into a coherent Hollywood storyline, it does not feel contrived. The final sequence of events at the Entebbe Airport was very suspenseful indeed.

    Idi Amin was not really the lead character in this movie. It is actually Dr. Nicholas Garrigan. Being a physician, I could not help but be able to identify with his situation and dilemmas. Would you accept to be the personal physician of a country's president upon his personal request? It seems to be an offer and career opportunity you could not refuse.

    There is sex and violence in this movie. I could not agree though with Dr. Garrigan's rashness regarding his love affairs, particularly his morals of hooking up with wives of his supposed friends. But considering that this movie is set in the 1970s, that was a totally different world pre-HIV. The violence, what can I say? After watching one violent film after the other, you get sort of anesthetized already. That said, the scene with hooks at the airport was still something else! The acting is very good. Forest Whitaker has channeled the Idi Amin persona very effectively. I could feel the scary and suffocating craziness whenever he is on screen. There's something about this performance being based on a real character though. I think it would be harder to essay a totally fictional character since you have to create this new character from scratch. And I feel James McAvoy (who was actually Mr. Tumnus in "Narnia"!) did so very well as Dr. Garrigan. You dislike him, yet you can empathize the stickiness of his situation.

    Before I end this review, I have to mention that I was very happy to see the luminous Ms. Gillian Anderson again. I totally did not know she was in this film and it was a welcome surprise. She handled her few scenes as the wife of a volunteer doctor very well indeed. I hope she gets meatier movie roles in the future.
    helpful•62
    22
    • 3xHCCH
    • Feb 24, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 19, 2007 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
    • Official site
      • Fox Searchlight
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • German
      • Swahili
    • Also known as
      • Vị Vua Cuối Cùng Của Scotland
    • Filming locations
      • Kampala, Uganda
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • DNA Films
      • FilmFour
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,606,684
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $142,899
      • Oct 1, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $48,618,191
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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