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Upcoming Release Calendar
38
12 Rounds Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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Last King of Scotland, The
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MPAA RATING: R for some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content and language
Starring Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Kerry Washington, Simon McBurney, Gillian Anderson, David Oyelowo, and Adam Kotz
In 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 closest confidante. Though Garrigan is at first flattered and fascinated by his new position, he soon awakens to Amin's savagery - and his own complicity in it. Horror and betrayal ensue as Garrigan tries to right his wrongs and escape Uganda alive. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
| GENRE(S): | Drama | Foreign |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Jeremy Brock
Giles Foden (novel) Peter Morgan Joe Penhall |
| DIRECTED BY: | Kevin Macdonald |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: April 17, 2007 Theatrical: September 27, 2006 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 121 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | UK |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 77 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Everrett U gave it a10:
Highly rewarding drama with terrific performances.
Liz S gave it a10:
I think this was a great movie,,, whether it be fact or fiction, it does depict the horror of indi amin's reighn of terror!!
ela b gave it a9:
The un-until-now-highly-underrated Forrest Whitaker is brilliant in this. As Amin manages to swing from charming and almost jovial to a cold, heartless dictator. Idi Amin is rather underrespresented as far as evil dictators go but this was an unforgettable film. McAvoy makes us care about a rather selfish, materialistic young character. Even if you are unfamiliar with the situation in 70s Uganda this will be a film which stays with you for a long time. Now for a bit of a whinge. I wish people wouldn't suggest it's not a good film because it's told from a white man's point of view, it was Forrest Whitaker who won the Oscar and BAFTA not James McAvoy (although I think he deserved the Best Supporting Actor BAFTA). I do feel the need to point out also that the Last King of Scotland is rated 15, but if you have kids around 15 I wouldn't let them watch it if I were you, there are images of a graphic mutliation and a torture scene.
Haseeb Q gave it a10:
An awesome movie, and a true epic. Defintely one to see again, and very informative also. Forest Whitaker is an amazing actor in this movie. 10/10 without a doubt.
Nick A. gave it an8:
Forest Whitaker inhabits the heartless monster of Idi Amin, Uganda’s President from 1971-1979, with ease as he leads a cast of stellar performances in this true story of corruption in a country so hopeless its residents would follow any leader who rose to the opportunity. Subsequently, in 1971, Idi Amin was elected the Ugandan President for some years to come. In the eight years following his initiation, his unflinching thirst for power would lead to deaths of more than 300,000 Hindus, Christians, and Lango tribes. The number of deaths by persecution that Uganda witnessed during Amin’s tenure as President stands as one of the highest death tolls one nation’s leader has been responsible for since Adolf Hitler. 'The Last King of Scotland' recounts the terrifying story of Amin’s rule through the view-point of a young Scottish doctor, who travels to Uganda to aid the fight against disease that the population was succumbing to. James McAvoy, in his most prominent role to date, is fit for the role at hand. We watch his character, Nick Garrigan, as he is adopted into Amin’s regime as the President’s personal physician. As young Nick realizes the corruption and willful malevolence of the leader, he begins to scheme an overthrow of the reigning dictator; to save his life and the lives of thousands of Ugandans. Kevin McDonald goes about his depiction of the events that took place in a fashion reminiscent of 2004’s 'Downfall,' which told the story of the last days of Hitler’s reign through the eyes of his private secretary. Shot with precision and detailed with informative dialogue, viewers have the opportunity to dwell in the mind of one of the world’s most vicious fiends.
Greg E. gave it a10:
This movie blew me away. This a true story, and it really struck a chord with me how this one no-name doctor becomes involved in such an involved scene 10/10 This movie is one of the best of all time
[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Hey! This was a good movie whether it was based on fact or not, real characters or not. Jeez, relax everyone. All this white people, black people, what about his rise to power stuff. It was just a really good movie.
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