The Last King of Scotland (2006)

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

Director:

Kevin Macdonald

Writers:

Peter Morgan (screenplay), Jeremy Brock (screenplay),

Stars:

Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Kerry Washington

Won 1 Oscar. Another 36 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Forest Whitaker	...	Idi Amin
James McAvoy	...	Dr. Nicholas Garrigan
Kerry Washington	...	Kay Amin
Gillian Anderson	...	Sarah Merrit
Simon McBurney	...	Stone
David Oyelowo	...	Dr. Junju
Stephen Rwangyezi	...	Jonah Wasswa
Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga	...	Masanga (as Abby Mukiibi)
Adam Kotz	...	Dr. Merrit
Sam Okelo	...	Bonny
Sarah Nagayi	...	Tolu
Chris Wilson	...	Perkins
Dick Stockley	...	Times Journalist (as Dr. Dick Stockley)
Barbara Rafferty	...	Mrs. Garrigan
David Ashton	...	Dr. Garrigan - Senior

Storyline

In the early 1970s, Nicholas Garrigan, a young semi-idealistic Scottish doctor, comes to Uganda to assist in a rural hospital. Once there, he soon meets up with the new President, Idi Amin, who promises a golden age for the African nation. Garrigan hits it off immediately with the rabid Scotland fan, who soon offers him a senior position in the national health department and becomes one of Amin's closest advisers. However as the years pass, Garrigan cannot help but notice Amin's increasingly erratic behavior that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity that is driving Uganda into bloody ruin. Realizing his dire situation with the lunatic leader unwilling to let him go home, Garrigan must make some crucial decisions that could mean his death if the despot finds out.

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Plot Keywords:

1970s | uganda | hospital | doctor | scottish | 

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Taglines:

Charming. Magnetic. Murderous.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English French German Swahili

Release Date:

12 January 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

El último rey de Escocia

Filming Locations:

Kampala, Uganda

Box Office

Budget:

£5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£861,991 (UK) (12 January 2007)

Gross:

$17,605,861 (USA) (18 May 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, DNA Films, FilmFour

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is the first Western production shot in Uganda since Mississippi Masala in 1990.

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Goofs

The Amarula liquor bottles shown in the Duty Free shop in the airport couldn't have been there at that time, because this South-African product wasn't marketed until 1989.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nicholas Garrigan: Come on! Are youse ready?

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Connections

Featured in 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2007)

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Soundtracks

"The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond"
Performed by The Nyonza Singers (as Nyzonza Singers)
Choir Master: Wassanyi Serukenya
Arranged by Alex Heffes

User Reviews

Astonishing film, that is carried by a great story and performances

The last king of Scotland is scorcher of a film that follows the story of the horrid dictatorship that took over Uganda in the 1970s. The movie is seen completely through the eyes of young Nicolas Garrigan( James Mcavoy)a young Scottish doctor who decides he is tired of Scotland and ready to venture into another country to make a difference.

Soon after he begins his work in the town he begins a friendship with Idi Amin(Forest Whitaker)a powerful African leader who offers Garrigan a job as his personal doctor. Their developing relationship is wonderful to behold on screen, and for me was the main strength and the key point that made this movie go above and beyond.

Spoiler ahead:

Being a ill informed young adult I know close to nothing about African history, so therefore I had no idea what kind of leader Idi Amin was until the crashing scene when Garrigan figures out that he is actually a murderous dictator, who is destroying the African economy. This misfortune of mine made this particular moment in the film simply magic, and I found myself just trying to get my head around how such a loving and joyful character can actually be so violent.

End of Spoiler:

This is where I realized what a fantastic performance Forest Whitaker had actually given. He had fooled me into thinking he was someone else, he had made me think that he was actually a genuine democrat only concerned about the Ugandan people. His change in character is so superb at times too that I found myself thinking that is simply unfair. James Mcavoy although overshadowed by Forest Whitakers brilliant performance deserves credit too. His portrayal of the young Scottish doctor who is both naive and brave is fantastic, and it is great to watch the young Scotsman grow with every movie hes in.

Overall this is a simply astonishing film, telling an important story with some great performances. No criticism even worth mentioning for this movie that kept me on the edge of my seat til the very end.