Last King of Scotland

Theatrical Release Date: 2006 09 27 (USA - Limited) / 2007 01 19 (USA)

UPC: 024543647959

Studio: 20th Century Fox

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Graphic Violence, Adult Situations, Sexual Situations]

Summary: 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 nightmare, and Forest Whitaker assumes the role of the notorious despot. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Drama

Awards: Film Presented – Toronto International Film Festival Film Presented – Telluride Film Festival Film Presented – null Best British Independent Film – British Independent Film Awards Best Director – British Independent Film Awards Best Actor – British Independent Film Awards Best Actor – British Independent Film Awards Best Screenplay – British Independent Film Awards Best Screenplay – British Independent Film Awards Best Technical Achievement – British Independent Film Awards Best Actor – National Board of Review Best Actor – Boston Society of Film Critics Best Actor – New York Film Critics Online Best Actor – Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Actor – Washington D.C. Film Critics Association Best Actor – New York Film Critics Society Best Actor – Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – null Best Actor – Toronto Film Critics Association Best British Film – London Film Critics Association British Producer of the Year – London Film Critics Association British Producer of the Year – London Film Critics Association British Producer of the Year – London Film Critics Association Best British Actor – London Film Critics Association Best British Director – London Film Critics Association Best Actor – London Film Critics Association Best Actor – Chicago Film Critics Association Best Picture - Drama – Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – Satellite Awards Best Actor – Las Vegas Film Critics Association Best Actor – Southeastern Film Critics Association Best Actor – Phoenix Film Critics Association Best Picture – Phoenix Film Critics Association Best Actor – Screen Actors Guild Best Actor – Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Best Picture – Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Best Actor – Dallas/Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Actor – National Society of Film Critics Best Actor – Kansas City Film Critics Association Best Actor – Online Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress – Black Reel Awards Best Actor – Black Reel Awards Best Actor – Iowa Film Critics Association Best Picture – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best British Film – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Adapted Screenplay – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Actor – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Presented – London Film Festival Best Supporting Actor – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Features: 7 deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Kevin MacDonald
Forest Whitaker Idi Amin featurette
Capturing Idi Amin documentary
Fox Movie Channel presents casting session - The Last King of Scotland

Last King of Scotland

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 02/02/2010

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Audio: DHMA null, DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Digital Theater Systems

Runtime: 123 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,Spanish,French,Portuguese

Subtitles: French,Spanish,Portuguese

Region: Blu-ray region A (North America, Central America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia)

Perry Seibert

More fun that one might expect considering the subject matter, the first 20 minutes of Kevin Macdonald's The Last King of Scotland establishes James McAvoy's Nicholas Garrigan as a good looking, charming young rogue. Freshly graduated from medical school, he rebels against his conventional father by traveling to Uganda, where he indulges his desire for grand adventure and casual sex. Realistically embodying both the most repellent and attractive elements of his character, McAvoy evokes both sympathy and disgust in the audience, while Macdonald's expert pacing sacrifices neither momentum nor character development. It's a fascinating premise to explore how such a hedonistic youth becomes the lackey of a brutal dictator, and by the time a series of events brings Garrigan face-to-face with Idi Amin, then just beginning his rise to power, the audience clearly understands how Amin is able to so easily get the cocky doctor under his control. Basking in the attentions of a nation's leader feeds Garrigan's grand vision of himself, and grounds the events that follow in a fascinating psychological framework. Forest Whitaker's intense performance as Amin dominates The Last King of Scotland. His ability to be simultaneously ingratiating yet ceaselessly intense keeps the viewer on edge. The intricate emotional dance performed by the two lead actors gradually builds until Garrigan realizes Amin's deadly paranoia and egomania -- forcing the doctor to recognize the worst elements within himself. They say a good way to discover what a film is about is to look at what changed between the beginning and the end. If we apply this rule to The Last King of Scotland, it would appear that Garrigan is at the center of the story. However, the very end of the film focuses on Amin's downfall rather than Garrigan's return home. This is understandable, as the fate of the authoritarian ruler and his people is too important to ignore. Also, Whitaker's towering performance demands attention -- it's hard not to fixate on his screen presence -- but the movie would need one more scene of Garrigan digesting all that has happened to him in order for the film to maximize its impact on an audience. Fortunately, the remarkable acting by both men, and the stylish directing, makes The Last King of Scotland an engaging tale of humankind succumbing to its own worst instincts. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Kevin Macdonald  Director 
Peter Morgan  Screenwriter 
Andrew Macdonald  Executive Producer 
Andrea Calderwood  Producer 
Tessa Ross  Executive Producer 
Jeremy Brock  Screenwriter 
Charles Steel  Producer 
Alex Heffes  Composer (Music Score) 
Allon Reich  Executive Producer 
Marcus Alexander  Producer 
Lisa Bryer  Producer 
Forest Whitaker  Actor 
James McAvoy  Actor 
Kerry Washington  Actor 
Gillian Anderson  Actor 
Simon McBurney  Actor 
David Oyelowo  Actor 
Stephen Rwangyezi  Actor 
Abby Mukiibi  Actor 
Adam Kotz  Actor 
Sam Okello  Actor 
Sarah Nagayi  Actor 
Chris Wilson  Actor 
Dr. Dick Stockley  Actor 
Barbara Rafferty  Actor 
David Ashton  Actor 
Daniel Ssettaba  Actor 
Apollo Okwenje Omamo  Actor 
Louis Asea  Actor 
Giles Foden  Actor 
Andy Williams  Actor 
Martina Amati  Actor 
Rene Peissker  Actor 
Stern Jedidian  Actor 
Dave A. Tarun  Actor 
Clare Wandera  Actor 
Cleopatra Koheirwe  Actor 
Joanitta B. Wandera  Actor 
Consodyne Buzabo  Actor 
Peter Salmon  Actor 
Michael Wawuyo  Actor 
Wilberforce Mutete  Actor 
Haruna Walusimbi  Actor 
Muhammed Kaweesa  Actor 
Grace Mugenyi  Actor 
John Bosco Obiya  Actor 
John Olima  Actor 
Angela Kalule  Actor 
Sam Namatiti  Actor 
Mathias Muwonge  Actor 
Joseph Kahirimbanyi  Actor 
Afrigo Band  Actor 
Ndere Troupe  Actor 
The Nyonza Singers  Actor 

Country: Germany,UK