The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition) | 
| Director: Kevin Macdonald
Actors: James Mcavoy, Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, Simon Mcburney
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $1.34
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Rating:  236 reviews
Sales Rank: 3770
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), German (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 123 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 2240720
UPC: 024543407201
EAN: 0024543407201
ASIN: B000NIVJF4
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: April 17, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
As the evil Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, Forest Whitaker gives an unforgettable performance in The Last King of Scotland. Powerfully illustrating the terrible truth that absolute power corrupts absolutely, this fictionalized chronicle of Amin's rise and fall is based on the acclaimed novel by Giles Foden, in which Amin's despotic reign of terror is viewed through the eyes of Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), a Scottish doctor who arrives in Uganda in the early 1970s to serve as Amin's personal physician. His outsider's perspective causes him to be initially impressed by Amin's calculated rise to power, but as the story progresses--and as Whitaker's award-worthy performance grows increasingly monstrous--The Last King of Scotland turns into a pointed examination of how independent Uganda (a British colony until 1962) became a breeding ground for Amin's genocidal tyranny. As Whitaker plays him, Amin is both seductive and horribly destructive--sometimes in the same breath--and McAvoy effectively conveys the tragic cost of his character's naivete, which grows increasingly prone to exploitation. As directed by Kevin Macdonald (who made the riveting semi-documentary Into the Void), this potent cautionary tale my prompt some viewers to check out Barbet Schroeder's equally revealing documentary General Idi Amin Dada, an essential source for much of this film's authentic detail. --Jeff Shannon
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Product Description
THIS IS IDI AMIN'S STORY AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF NICHOLAS GARRIGAN, A YOUNG SCOTSMAN WHO BECOMES THE VOLATILE LEADER'S PERSONAL PHYSICIAN, DUE IN PART TO AMIN'S UNEXPECTED PASSION FOR SCOTTISH CULTURE. SEDUCED BY AMIN'S CHARISMA, GARRIGAN'S DREAM LIFE BECOMES A WAKING NIGHTMARE FROM WHICH THERE IS NO ESCAPE.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 231 more reviews...
 viewer beware May 27, 2009
Tina Marie (Phoenix, AZ)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The beginning of the film states that it is "inspired by" true events, etc. The film makers sure have a loose interpretation of "inspired by." the main character, Dr. Garrigan, Amin's physician, is nearly completely fictional. At the end of the movie, there are statements on screen stating what happens to Amin, but there was nothing about Dr. Garrigan. My husband and I were curious, so we googled. He's a fictious character! Loosely based on an British advisor Amin had, who served 5 years imprisonment for his part in Amin's regime. We felt dooped! It is one thing to watch a movie knowing it is fictionalized, it is another to be made to believe what you are watching are real events.
True, the movie is well acted. And the atrocities Amin commited were a background to the main story, but anything that tells the "inside story" is called into question in my mind because it all revolves around this fictional character...that you are lead to believe is true.
 It's THAT good! April 23, 2009
Sookie Lee (Decorah, IA United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's one of the movies that is getting better every time you watch. Forest Whitaker is great (well, he won the Oscar finally). James McAvoy, in my opinion, steals the show. Let's be honest, the role of Idi Amin is made for the Oscar. The role of Nicholas Garrigan would have been easily shadowed and overpowered by Idi Amin without the great acting. James McAvoy hold himself well and equally against Forest Whitaker. There is certain danger, or bias, when an outsider portrays the so-called third world, even if s/he claims that s/he tried to tell the story from "their" perspective. This movie is not exception although with a lesser degree. It is a very emotional and sometimes violent movie that touches your heart. Enjoy.
 What the hell happened? April 6, 2009
Stanwyck (Texas)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
This movie may be a classic, but I never did get what was really happening because I could only understand about one word in three! Everyone has some kind of impenetrable accent. I never could follow the story because I just couldn't understand what anyone was saying- Scottish accents- British accents- Ugandan accents!
Idi Amin in All His Nastiness and Charm March 26, 2009
John F. Rooney
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Scottish doctor in this film chooses to hero-worship the wrong man--Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator played brilliantly and flamboyantly by Forest Whitaker in an Oscar-winning performance. (Of course Whitaker looks like the monster.) Amin charms and massages the ego of the star-struck physician who is insecure and incredibly naive. Graduating from Amin's personal doctor to his trusted advisor, he crosses the line and finds himself entrapped by his libido and his gullibility.
The movie has an air of authenticity that makes you think you are actually in Uganda. It looks and feels very real and believable and gives a picture of Africa that rings true.
Whitaker is extremely credible as the spellbinding leader who is also incredibly nasty to his own people. When the doctor tries to escape from Amin's clutches, he discovers firsthand the brutality of the tyrant. It's a brilliant film which uses the doctor's experience as the crucible to bring Amin's malignant dictatorship home to the viewer.
Kudos To Everyone Here, Not Just Whitaker March 8, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I agree Forest Whitaker was very good as the famous mentally-disturbed leader of Uganda, Idi Amin, back in the 1970s but, despite the Oscar he received as "Best Actor," I thought the best thing about this film was the involving story. Once the co-star of the film, James McAvoy as "Dr.Nicholas Garrigan," became Amin's personal doctor this film, like a good book, became really difficult to put down.
It was a very interesting story which got better and better as it went along. It's also one you won't forget about in a few days. This one stays with you!
In real life, Amin was a brutal man and much more so than he is portrayed in this film. It's a disgrace he was able to live comfortably in exile until 2003. Whitaker's portrayal of the sociopath doesn't touch the surface of the Amin's evilness, but Amin, truth be told, was also a charmer. It's amazing how a little charm can make even a mass murderer look like a nice guy.
In addition to the fine acting performances of Whitaker and McAvoy, I thought the camera-work in here was well above-average, too. This is a nicely-filmed movie, and credit should go to cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle. I don't hear much praise going his way but I really liked the visuals in here.
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