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SummaryIn an incredible twist of fate, a Scottish doctor (McAvoy) on a Ugandan medical mission becomes irreversibly entangled with one of the world's most barbaric figures: Idi Amin (Whitaker). Impressed by Dr. Garrigan's brazen attitude in a moment of crisis, the newly self-appointed Ugandan President Amin hand picks him as his personal physician and c... Read More

The Last King of Scotland

Metascore
Generally Favorable
74
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
92% Positive
33 Reviews
8% Mixed
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
San Francisco Chronicle
Unlike Sean Penn's demagogue in "All the King's Men," you're able to forget that Whitaker is acting. He embodies the role. When clips of the real Amin are shown at the end, it's almost shocking to realize the extent to which Whitaker has become him.
83
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The movie is an extraordinary personal adventure that views everything through the eyes of its hero as it carries him from one apocalyptic situation to another.
User score
Generally Favorable
84% Positive
98 Ratings
15% Mixed
17 Ratings
1% Negative
1 Rating
  • All Reviews
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Mar 18, 2020
10
40mangunshot
One of the best biographical films ever made. Forest Whitaker played the role of Ugandan president Idi Amin perfectly and James McAvoy was simply amazing as the role of Nicholas Garrigan. Definitely one of the best movies I've seen in a while. An absolute Must-Watch masterpiece.
Jul 18, 2019
10
JPK
Terrific Film Whitaker’s performance as Idi Amin is terrifying, brutal, and barbaric and is a replica of one of the most evil men in history.
80
Wall Street Journal
The film as a whole measures up to Forest Whitaker's performance...one of the great performances of modern movie history.
75
Chicago Tribune
The director is Kevin Macdonald, a documentary filmmaker making his fiction film feature debut. (He won an Oscar for his Munich Olympics hostage chronicle, "One Day in September.")
75
ReelViews
Director Kevin Macdonald has fashioned a film that is at times nearly as harrowing as his previous endeavor, "Touching the Void."
70
Variety
In the end, The Last King of Scotland is much better when it plays it cool and amusing than when it tries to ramp up outrage and indignation.
50
Boston Globe
The Last King of Scotland joins the ranks of nightmarish innocents-abroad movies, from "Midnight Express" to "Hostel," where the disillusioned hero fights to return to civility.
See All 36 Critic Reviews
Jun 14, 2013
10
morfil
The last king of Scotland is scorcher of a film that follows the story of the horrid dictatorship that took over Uganda in the 70s. 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.
Jul 13, 2019
9
alejandro970
Inspired on true events, about how Scotch Nicholas Garrigan (fictional) became the GP and confident of Idi Amin Dada (outstanding Whitaker), who start as idealist and finished as one of most deranged and wickedest dictators of Africa.
Feb 23, 2018
9
FilipeNeto
Based on true events, this film depicts the life and personality of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Directed by Kevin Macdonald, this film has a screenplay by Jeremy Brock and Peter Morgan. The cast is led by Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy. This film portrays, mostly, real facts which are part of the dark side of the history of a young African country: Uganda. Idi Amin led the country with an iron fist, not hesitating to kill all potential opponents. Despite all the cast have played their role with great quality, Whitaker deserves mention: he knew perfectly incorporate the several facets of this highly contradictory historical character: in some moments, his thought and personality can seem very positive but, as the film is rolling, the audience increasingly contacts with the darker side of a deeply paranoid personality, worthy of a Caligula. Whitaker was truly intimidating, and the staff of characterization and costume managed to complete his work by giving him a strong physical resemblance to the real dictator. So its not surprising that Whitaker has won (with merit) the Oscar for Best Leading Actor. But be friend with someone like Amin means walking on the edge of a knife and too close to death. The character of McAvoy, a young idealistic and naive doctor from Scotland who went to Africa in search of adventure, shows us these dangers, and its delightful to see his mind awakening to the problems of that country, while contacting directly with the madness of his new African friend. Visual, special and sound effects were very good, especially in the most stunning scenes, and scenarios easily transport us to Africa. The script, in turn, is quite consistent and realistic, not falling into exaggeration nor blistering action scenes. Everything went as it should, everything was done in the correct measure.
Apr 20, 2020
6
ehuisman
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
Jan 19, 2025
4
MzK
Yoklukta belki bakılabilir ama genel olarak vakit kaybı bir yapım olduğunu rahatlıkla söyleyebilirim.
See All 16 User Reviews
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  • Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • DNA Films
  • FilmFour
  • UK Film Council
  • Scottish Screen
  • Cowboy Films
  • Slate Films
  • Tatfilm
Sep 27, 2006
2 h 3 m
R
Charming. Magnetic. Murderous.
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
British Independent Film Awards
• 2 Wins & 6 Nominations
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