The Last King of Scotland

The Last King of Scotland (2006)

  • 87% of critics liked it
    (181 reviews)

  • 87% of users liked it
    (234,156 ratings)

Director Kevin MacDonald teams with screenwriter Jeremy Brock to adapt Giles Foden's novel detailing the brutal reign of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin as seen through the eyes of his personal physician. James McAvoy stars as the doctor who slowly realizes that he is trapped in an inescapable… More

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R,
Directed By
,
Written By
Peter Morgan, Jeremy Brock
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Sep 27, 2006 Wide
Fox Searchlight

Critic Reviews

  • Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York

    Having cut his teeth on documentaries, Kevin Macdonald acts as if a shaky-cam aesthetic alone is enough to fuel dramatic tension.

  • Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

    Mr. Whitaker and Mr. McAvoy head a first-rate cast that helps The Last King of Scotland to illuminate one of the many dark chapters in recent African history.

  • Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

    If this genius turn by Whitaker (he starred in Bird and The Crying Game) doesn't earn an Oscar nomination, then those little statues will lose what little meaning they have.

  • Dave Calhoun, Time Out

    Whitaker's dedicated, nuanced performance is excellent and lifts the film from some unsteady early moments.

  • Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

    See the movie for Whitaker alone: He's possessed by evil and possesses it wholly, rendering the film (and everyone in it) his plaything.

Read all 18 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Emil K


    Kevin Macdonald, the director of effective Touching the Void, has made chilling and effective adaptation from Giles Foden's novel with a great support by writers Peter Morgan and Jeremy Broch. This film is based on a horrible true story, and the some of the scenes are most… More

  • Raymond W


    Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was portrayed as a funny, charismatic and tender guy, but he never let us forget that he was a maniacal monster. This is a brutal political thriller about power and corruption. The film shows the lengths at one will go for power and money and the persuasion… More

  • xGary X


    Based on the experiences of a young Scottish doctor who becomes the unlikely confidante of brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, this film is quite even-handed in it's representation of the two main characters. Whitaker was fully deserving of his Oscar and McAvoy looking for the… More

  • Steven C


    "The Last King of Scotland" is obviously known for winning Forest Whitaker a Best Actor Oscar for his earth shaking performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, but other than that, I feel like it's a rather overlooked film. The movie really is a terrific experience;… More

  • Conner R


    Even though it was an oscar winning movie, it still doesn't get enough praise for the right reasons. Forest Whitaker is very breathtaking in his role as Idi Amin, but I feel that James McAvoy turned in the better performance and really became overshadowed for no reason. The look… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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