The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Product Information
Product Details: The Last King of Scotland (2006)
- Edition:
- DVD Canadian; Widescreen; Gold O-Ring. See other editions
- MPAA Rating:
- R
- Release Date:
- 01/22/2008
- UPC:
- 024543499985
- Directed by:
- Kevin MacDonald
- Featuring:
- Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Kerry Washington. See all cast
Synopsis: The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Synopis: Forest Whitaker delivers a ferociously commanding performance as bloodthirsty Ugandan president Idi Amin in Kevin MacDonald's THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND. Adapted from the novel by Giles Foden, the film recounts Amin's horrific reign through the eyes of a fictional character, Nick Garrigan (James McAvoy), a young doctor from Scotland who travels to Uganda hoping to do some good. Nick is more sanguine about new president Amin than is his counterpart Sarah Merrit (Gillian Armstrong), whose experience causes her to be skeptical of Amin's bombastic declarations. After an automobile accident, Nick is called in to treat the president's wounds. His authoritative behavior impresses Amin, who charms Nick into becoming his personal physician. Nick embraces his newfound life of luxury, but he is unable to grasp the reality of the situation. When he does finally realize the atrocities Amin is inflicting upon his people (and is also capable of inflicting on Nick), the terrified doctor tries to make a frantic escape before it's too late.MacDonald, director of the acclaimed documentaries ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER and TOUCHING THE VOID, makes a startlingly assured transition into fictional filmmaking with THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND. Working with cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (THE CELEBRATION) and editor Justine Wright, MacDonald brings 1970s Uganda to pulsating life, perfectly recreating that tumultuous era. But ultimately the film belongs to Whitaker: as he shifts from charming to maniacal in the space of a short, unexpected breath, he infuses Amin with startling humanity.Features: The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Features: DVD Features:Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
Dolby Digital Surround - French, Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentaries - Kevin Macdonald - Director
Alternate Scenes - Deleted Scenes (w/ Optional Commentary)
Behind the Scenes - "Fox Movie Channel Presents: Casting Session: THE LAST Documentaries - 1. "Capturing Idi Amin"
2. Forest Whitaker Featurette
KING OF SCOTLAND"
Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailer
2. International Trailer
Awards: The Last King of Scotland (2006)
- Academy Awards
- Best Actor:
- Forest Whitaker
User Reviews: Last King of Scotland
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Intelligent thriller
, June 24, 2007Reviewer: Trey - See all Trey's reviews -
Last King
, April 2, 2007Reviewer:
Amr Bahy - See all Amr Bahy's reviews Pros: Forest Whitaker
Cons: Africa isn't that bad
Forest Whitaker's Oscar Winning personification of the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, as seen through the eyes of his Scotish personal doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy). Nicholas came to Uganda hoping to use his medicine to help & cure the poor people of Africa, until he encounters general Amin, the new president through a military coup. Amin appoints him as his personal doctor, a very senstive position to be held by a foreigner. How Amin dealt with the political situations ? with his wives & children ? and most important with his people ? and what happened that turned him against his own friends and trusted ones ?! Whitaker's excellent performance got him the Oscar which he deserved ... ...
Pros: Gritty, gripping and tense
Cons: One-sided biography of Amin
I rented this one weekend just expecting another bash of an African leader.
But this film is so much more.
The plot revolves around an ambitious but naive young Doctor, who decides on an impulse to work in Uganda.
An eventful meeting with the Ugandan dictator soon sees him working for Amin as his personal physician and to an extent, his personal advisor.
The complexity of their relationship between the good-hearted, naive doctor, and a monstrous, simple dictator sees how they almost work in sync together.
But the doctor soon realises, that in his new role, he has bitten off more than he could chew...
This movie is a rollercoaster with murder, corruption, politics as central theme, and the simple doctor being sucked into that world unwittingly. The movie has also an awesome twist in the end... which I won't mention now ;)
Although the lead role is played by James McAvoy as Dr Nicholas Garrigan (or "Nicholas"), Forest Whittaker definitely stole the show.
His performance was absolutely stunning. I certainly BELIEVED he was Idi Amin. For that alone, this was worth the rent. ...