The Last King of Scotland

2006 123 min ★ 7.4 Drama

Young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan decides it's time for an adventure after he finishes his formal education, so he decides to try his luck in Uganda, and arrives during the downfall of President Obote. General Idi Amin comes to power and asks Garrigan to become his personal doctor.

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Cast

Forest Whitaker

Idi Amin

James McAvoy

Dr. Nicholas Garrigan

Simon McBurney

British Diplomat

Gillian Anderson

Sarah Merrit

Kerry Washington

Kay Amin

David Oyelowo

Dr. Thomas Junju

Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga

Masanga

Adam Kotz

Dr. David Merrit

Barbara Rafferty

Mrs. Garrigan

David Ashton

Dr. Garrigan - Senior

Details

Director

Kevin Macdonald

Screenplay

Jeremy Brock

Tagline

"Charming. Magnetic. Murderous."

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Budget

$6,000,000

Revenue

$48,600,000

Production

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Cowboy Films, DNA Films, Scottish Screen, UK Film Council, Film4 Productions, Slate Films

Reviews

J

John Chard

April 5, 2019

★ 8/10

I am the father of Africa. Based on Giles Foden's novel of the same name, this filmic version of a period of Idi Amin's presidency of Uganda is a class act - that is if you can accept it as a loose reworking of events in Amin's life? Thus those who filed in for a bona fide history lesson subsequently either got angry or plain disappointed. Propelled by Forest Whitaker's barnstorming Oscar wi...

T

tmdb28039023

August 30, 2022

★ 4/10

According to Wikiquote, a “British official” once said that Idi Amin needed “things explained in words of one letter.” It is one of The Last King of Scotland’s few flaws that it assumes we need things seen through the eyes of a white Westerner. Sure, James McAvoy has some very good scenes with Forest Whitaker, the best of which is arguably the first (though in retrospect it doesn’t quite hold u...

R

RalphRahal

December 14, 2024

★ 7/10

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 wi...