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
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
Andrea Calderwood Charles Steel Marcus Alexander Lisa Bryer
Composers (Music Score)
Alex Heffes
Co-Producers
Christine Ruppert Ros Borland
Editors
Justine Wright
Screen Writers
Peter Morgan Jeremy Brock
Others
Art Department Assistant - Alan Ballany
Art Director - Joannah Stutchbury
Assistant Art Director - Frederick Mpuuga
Assistant Costume Designer - Alison Mitchell
Assistant Costume Designer - Shane Kingdon
Assistant Director - Raymond Kalisa
Assistant Director - Sande Philip Sengi
Assistant Director - Praem-Marie Metha
Assistant Director - Isabel Pike
Assistant Director - Simon Rwemba Iyarwema
Assistant Director - Emile Dinneen
Assistant Director - Michael Muganga
Assistant Director - Andrew Mutungi
Assistant Director - Richard Tooro
Assistant Editor - Ted Guard
Assistant Editor - Stephen Haren
Assistant Location Manager - Michael Wawuyo
Assistant Location Manager - Ayuub Kasasa
Assistant Location Manager - Ibrahim Senfuma
Assistant Location Manager - Wilberforce Musolo Mutya
Assistant Location Manager - Alistair Baggaley
Assistant Location Manager - Mark McGhee
Assistant Properties - Eva Tumwesigye
Associate Producer - Vicki Patterson
Associate Producer - Suzanne Warren
Best Boy Grip - Sulaiman Mohammed Wafula
Book Author - Giles Foden
Boom Operator - Fred Pietzner
Boom Operator - Fiona Carlin
Camera Loader - Won-suk Park
Camera Loader - Manuel Khalid
Camera Loader - Julia Robinson
Camera Operator - Stuart Howell
Camera Operator - Elizabeth Florence Naigaga
Camera Operator - Clare Gerrard
Casting - Joanitta B. Wandera
Casting Assistant - Robin Hudson
Casting Assistant - Consodyne Buzabo
Casting Assistant - Irene Kintu
Casting Assistant - Kaya Kagimu Mukasa
Cinematographer - Anthony Dod Mantle
Cinematographer - Eigil Bryld
Color Timing - Neil Hurford
Composer (Music Score) - Alex Heffes
Conductor - Alex Heffes
Construction Department - Paul Muiga Kinajui
Coordinator - Gioia Von Thun
Costumes Assistant - Brenda Nanyonjo
Craft Service/Catering - Rolf Schmid
Craft Service/Catering - Argyll Catering Limited
Dialect Coach - Robert Easton
Dialogue Editor - Dominik Schleier
Draftsman - Keneth Mugabi
Driver - Simon Katongole
Driver - Joseph Tamale
Driver - James Zamukoreka
Driver - David Hategeka
Driver - Patrick Gataama
Driver - Edward Yiga
Driver - Godfrey Matangi
Driver - Bob Kyazze
Driver - Augustine Bigirimana
Driver - Patrick Kabengwa
Driver - Fred Bbossa
Driver - Bob Nsereko
Driver - Colin Sendaula
Driver - Sinaani Kitaita
Driver - Faizal Lule
Driver - Harvey Damulira
Driver - Fred Male
Driver - Adrian Ntirengwa
Driver - Abby Shalif
Driver - Eriya Mubiru
Driver - Ramathan Mubiru
Driver - Stephan Waigumba Kamya
Driver - Muhamadi Ibrahim
Driver - Sam Wanabwa
Driver - Asuman Mugulusi
Driver - Ismael Salim
Driver - Isa Abiriga
Driver - Arthur Tuhumwire
Driver - Ramathan Mugalu
Driver - Prim Mbabazi
Driver - Yassin Mukasa
Driver - John Kiggundu
Driver - Frank Lubowa
Driver - Herbert Masembe
Driver - Innocent Matete
Driver - Jackson Ndyomugenyi
Driver - Jjuko Mugaga
Driver - Milton Mwesigye
Driver - Moses Lubowa
Driver - Musa Kawoya
Driver - Will Lugolobi
Driver - Kimuli Nurudini
Driver - Paul Zziwa
Driver - Edwin Muhanguzi Twine
Driver - Arthur Twine
Driver - Dan Roberts
Driver - Jim Gangel
Driver - Wayne Wright
Driver - Mick Ward
Driver - Les Quinn
Driver - Alan Murray
Driver - Alex Devine
Driver - John McKay
Electrician - Harun Gitau Mbochi
Electrician - Francis Wanyandeh Ouma
Electrician - Timothy Serwada Byakatonda
Electrician - Samuel Mwanja
Electrician - Ross Granger
Electrician - Callum Milne
Electrician - Scott Napier
Executive Producer - Andrew Macdonald
Executive Producer - Tessa Ross
Executive Producer - Allon Reich
First Assistant Accountant - Natalie Moore
First Assistant Accountant - Hassy Tebugulwa
First Assistant Accountant - Docus Acan
First Assistant Accountant - Christian Woeltche
First Assistant Accountant - Moyra Statham
First Assistant Camera - Francis Bbosa
First Assistant Director - George Every
Focus Puller - Pim Tjujerman
Focus Puller - Simon Surtees
Focus Puller - Derek William Carlow
Focus Puller - Telfer Barnes
Focus Puller - Julie Bills
Foley Editor - Noemi Hampel
Gaffer - Thomas Neivelt
Generator Operator - Gabriel Nduati Mugo
Grip - Stuart Bunting
Grip - Jan Brun
Grip - Philip Rath
Hair Styles - Sharon Martin
Hair Styles - Keloy Kemigisha
Hair Styles - Irene Nabuuma
Line Producer - Andrew Wood
Location Manager - Michael Wawuyo
Location Manager - Emily Mabonga
Location Manager - Kenny Forsyth
Makeup - Sharon Martin
Makeup - Suzy Belcher
Makeup - Helen Speyer
Makeup - Dianne Jamieson
Music Editor - Samantha Southwick
Musical Direction/Supervision - Abi Leland
Musical Performer - Paul Clarvis
Musical Performer - Dirk Cambell
Musical Performer - Dach Zziwa
Negative Cutter - Cutting Edge
Personal Assistant - Daniel Ssettaba
Post Production Accountant - John Miles
Post Production Coordinator - Asha Radwan
Post Production Supervisor - Clare St. John
Post Production Supervisor - Jonathan Haren
Production Accountant - Debbie Moore
Production Accountant - Shaw Statham
Production Accountant - Brigitte Hariman
Production Accountant - Louise Gow
Production Accountant - Bill Godfrey
Production Assistant - Livia Burton
Production Assistant - Steffi Brachmann
Production Assistant - Louise Orr
Production Assistant - Brian Coffey
Production Assistant - Jacob Melton
Production Coordinator - Sarah-Jane Wheale
Production Coordinator - Samantha Sheridan
Production Coordinator - Gerardine O'Flynn
Production Designer - Michael Carlin
Production Executive - Jan Hogevold
Production Manager - Angela Murray
Properties Master - Muffin Green
Properties Master - Tony Sheridan
Re-Recording Mixer - Martin Steyer
Runner - Moses Masaba
Runner - Mike Mayeku
Runner - Moses Baba Rukundo
Runner - Shanti Butteri
Runner - Claire McKay
Runner - Sheleena Naidoo
Script Supervisor - Cathy Doubleday
Second Assistant Director - Ben Burtt
Second Assistant Director - Eliot Mathews
Second Assistant Director - Ashley Jackman
Second Unit Director - Jonathan Bloom
Set Decorator - Tina Jones
Sound Recordist - Stuart Bruce
Sound/Sound Designer - Michael Wollmann
Sound/Sound Designer - Elektrofilm Postproduction Facilities
Standby Properties - Apollo Asea
Standby Properties - Mohammed Hatibu
Standby Properties - Lawrence Umon
Standby Properties - Liam Collins
Standby Properties - Jim McCallum
Steadicam Operator - Stuart Howell
Storyboard Artist - Hazel Crampton
Stunts - Eddie Stacey
Stunts Coordinator - Gary Connery
Supervising Art Director - Lynne Huitson
Third Assistant Director - Derek Ritchie
Title Design - Matt Curtis
Transportation Captain - Jason Sandy
Transportation Coordinator - Celestine Harelimana
Unit Publicist - Freud Communications
Unit Publicist - Kate Lee
Unit Publicist - John Dunning
Visual Effects - Machine Gun Fellatio
Visual Effects Supervisor - Steve Street
Visual Effects Supervisor - John Lockwood
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
Forest Whitaker : Best Actor - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2006
Peter Morgan : Best Adapted Screenplay - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2006
James McAvoy : Best Supporting Actor - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2006
Forest Whitaker : Best Actor - Broadcast Film Critics Association, 2006
Forest Whitaker : Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 2006
Forest Whitaker : Best Actor - National Board of Review, 2006
Forest Whitaker : Best Actor - National Society of Film Critics, 2006
