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"THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND"
(2006) (Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Moderate Extreme Extreme Heavy Extreme
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Minor None Extreme None Extreme
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Extreme Moderate Moderate Moderate Extreme


QUICK TAKE:
Drama: A Scottish doctor has his life turned upside down when he meets, is drawn in by, and then becomes increasingly unnerved by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.
PLOT:
It's the beginning of the 1970s and newly graduated doctor Nicholas Garrigan (JAMES McAVOY) not only wants to get out from under the shadow of his Scottish father but also is desirous of making a difference in the world. Accordingly, and with a choice spin of a globe, his journey leads him to Uganda, where he provides medical services in a remote village working with Sarah Merrit (GILLIAN ANDERSON) and her husband who's often gone for long stretches of time.

The idealistic Scot becomes enamored with her, but she's reluctant to reciprocate. Besides, the would-be romance is cut short when they're summoned to tend to Ugandan President Idi Amin (FOREST WHITAKER) who recently successfully orchestrated a military coup to take control of the country. The charismatic leader is immediately impressed with Nicholas' spunk and lack of pretense, and thus offers him the position of his personal physician.

Initially reluctant, Nicholas finally agrees and soon becomes wrapped up in Amin's world that includes supplanting Jonah Wasswa (STEPHEN RWANGYEZI) as the President's closest advisor. He also meets and befriends one of the leader's wives, Kay (KERRY WASHINGTON), the hidden but well cared for mother of some of his children. Then there's local British official Stone (SIMON McBURNEY) who wants Nicholas be his informant, but the doctor has become so caught up in the power and moment that he doesn't pay heed.

Yet, after an unsuccessful attempt on Amin's life, the dictator becomes increasingly paranoid about everything and everyone, including Nicholas. Considering that and with rumors about widespread murders, the doctor finds his situation in the inner circle changing in ways he couldn't have imagined.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Older teens with an interest in political history and/or fans of someone in the cast might be interested in seeing it.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content and language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • FOREST WHITAKER plays the charismatic but volatile and increasingly paranoid leader who enlists Nicholas as his personal physician and then closest advisor, but then becomes suspicious of him as well. He uses some strong profanity and has many of his people killed.
  • JAMES MCAVOY plays an idealistic Scottish doctor who volunteers to work in a remote Ugandan village where he falls for Sarah, but then becomes seduced by his position within Amin's inner-circle until things turn ugly (including stemming from him having an affair with Kay). He uses strong profanity, smokes, drinks, and has sex with a stranger.
  • KERRY WASHINGTON plays one of Amin's wives and mother of some of his children. Hidden away but well cared for, she ends up having an affair with Nicholas.
  • GILLIAN ANDERSON plays a woman working in a remote Uganda village with her doctor husband. She must decided whether to have an affair with Nicholas (she doesn't) and thinks he's made a bad decision when he agrees to become Amin's personal physician.
  • SIMON McBURNEY plays a seedy British official who wants Nicholas to become his inside informant about Amin. He drinks and uses strong profanity.
  • STEPHEN RWANGYEZI plays Amin's solemn personal advisor who isn't happy that the President is paying more heed to Nicholas than him.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 13 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Some sexually related dialogue is present, while a man has casual sex with several women (separately) with some nudity, movement, and related sounds. Nonsexual male full frontal nudity is briefly seen, while some topless women are seen performing in a ceremony/show, and we briefly see and hear material from the porn film "Deep Throat."

    Violence consists of people being shot and killed, a scene of graphic torture, the aftermath of a killing and dismemberment (and unrelated photos of other dead bodies), and an injured cow is shot in a mercy killing. Those scenes have bloody results, and they and other moments may be rather unsettling and/or suspenseful to viewers.

    Various characters have bad attitudes, some tense family material is present, and various characters drink and/or smoke. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

    For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of handheld camerawork in the film (sometimes rather bouncy).


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • Nicholas' father raises a toast of sherry to his son for becoming a doctor.
  • After a game of football (soccer), Nicholas and another man drink from what looks like a liquor bottle, but it's possible it's just water.
  • Nicholas asks Sarah if she fancies a drink on the porch. When she says she shouldn't, he grabs her hand, a bottle and two glasses, and leads her out there.
  • Various people have drinks at a state dinner.
  • While addressing a gathering, Idi Amin jokes that if he waited too long to do so, they'd be too drunk to listen.
  • Idi Amin, Nicholas, and others have drinks in a club.
  • Miscellaneous people drink at a reception.
  • Idi Amin refers to the former leader as a drunk, silly man.
  • After surviving a gun attack and now back home, Nicholas drinks.
  • Nicholas drinks, as do others.
  • Stone has a drink.
  • Nicholas drinks and then has more.
  • Stone has whiskey for Nicholas and himself.
  • Stone has a drink.
  • We see bottles of liquor in an airport store.
  • Some security personnel drink.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • We see bad lesions on a person's arm.
  • We see an injured cow lying on the road, bellowing in pain after being struck by Idi Amin's vehicle (not seen). As Nicholas tends to the leader's injured hand, he keeps yelling for someone to deal with the animal (meaning put it down). When no one does, he grabs a pistol, walks over and shoots it several times, killing it (with some bloody results).
  • Nicholas finds Idi Amin in a great deal of internal distress. After figuring out that beer and aspirin are the likely culprits, Nicholas holds a baseball bat against the leader's gut and has him stand up, causing him to let out a loud and long fart, thus relieving the pressure.
  • We see several views of dead and bloody victims after a deadly ambush.
  • We see that Idi Amin's men have captured some murderous guerillas, have them bound and on their knees. Some are hit and have blood on them.
  • Stone shows Nicholas photos of murdered people, including piles of dead bodies, and we then see quick flashback footage of the shootings that led to them.
  • Nicholas sees many people in distress (wailing, etc.) down inside a hospital and then sees the ravaged body of his lover lying splayed out, very bloody and possibly with her limbs severed from her body. He vomits from the sight of that.
  • We see then see men dragging Nicholas back into an airport (his face is bloody) and throw him into a low table.
  • Idi Amin talks of punishment for adulterers being hanging the guilty via hooks through their skin. He then has that done to one such man, and we see the motion and hear the sound of large hooks being ripped through the skin on his chest (and see the pained expression on the victim's face). With ropes attached to those hooks, others there then lift him off the floor via those hooks that stretch his bloody skin quite a bit. Later, he's lowered down and his chest is very bloody and has two holes in it.
  • Idi Amin's head of security shoots a man in the head, killing him (we see a pool of blood on the floor).
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • Nicholas' father seems to put down his son's degree in doctoring compared to his.
  • With her husband away but feeling the chemistry between them, Nicholas kisses Sarah, but she says she can't and thus walks away.
  • We hear that Idi Amin doesn't allow his epileptic son to be seen due to his condition that would make him look weak.
  • Various guerillas attempt to kill Idi Amin (and succeed in killing others).
  • After that, Amin becomes increasingly paranoid, and there's talk of people disappearing (presumably killed) after speaking out against him and the government.
  • Nicholas tells some reporters that Jonah was found to have been embezzling, but that's a lie and he knows it.
  • Nicholas goes to Kay's place where they have sex.
  • Stone shows Nicholas photos of murdered people, including piles of dead bodies, and we then see quick flashback footage of the shootings that led to them (done by Amin's men).
  • For those opposed to abortion: Kay discovers she's pregnant (by Nicholas) and implies she wants an abortion because Idi Amin will otherwise kill her. Nicholas says he can't (due to needing to perform the procedure in a hospital).
  • Amin or his thugs kill and dismember one of his wives for cheating on him (we just see the aftermath).
  • We hear that Palestinian terrorists have hijacked an Air France plane and landed in Uganda. They then let all but the Jewish passengers leave.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • Scenes listed under "Violence" or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material.
  • Following Amin's military coup, Nicholas sees soldiers with machine guns and tanks passing by, but the local are joyous over the change in government.
  • As Nicholas walks toward Idi Amin to assist with the leader's injured hand, various soldiers and guards warily hold their guns on him.
  • We see an injured cow lying on the road, bellowing in pain after being struck by Idi Amin's vehicle (not seen). As Nicholas tends to the leader's injured hand, he keeps yelling for someone to deal with the animal (meaning put it down). When no one does, he grabs a pistol, walks over and shoots it several times, killing it (with some bloody results), followed by the guards and soldiers there aiming their guns at him again.
  • Guerillas make a roadside attack, blasting a car in front of Nicholas' new convertible with gunfire (Idi Amin is in the car with Nicholas). They try to back away but are blocked, and thus speed by the shooters, running over one injured man and ducking as the guerillas fire at them. We then see several views of the dead and bloody victims.
  • We see that Idi Amin's men have captured some murderous guerillas, have them bound and on their knees. Some are hit, some have blood on them, and some guns are held to their heads (it's implied that they're executed).
  • Sensing how Idi Amin and things have changed, Nicholas wants to return to Scotland, but Idi Amin won't allow that.
  • Stone shows Nicholas photos of murdered people, including piles of dead bodies, and we then see quick flashback footage of the shootings that led to them.
  • Idi Amin menacingly grabs Nicholas by the head and asks, "Is there something going on?" with Nicholas nervously saying there isn't.
  • We see a needle going into some skin (when Nicholas gives Idi Amin a shot).
  • Nicholas sees many people in distress (wailing, etc.) down inside a hospital and then sees the ravaged body of his lover lying splayed out, very bloody and possibly with her limbs severed from her body. He vomits from the sight of that.
  • Sensing that Nicholas is trying to poison their leader, Idi Amin's new head of security takes one of his pills and gives it to a young soldier. Nicholas then races out and makes that guy spit it out, thus confirming the security man's suspicion.
  • We see then see men dragging Nicholas back into an airport (his face is bloody) and throw him into a low table.
  • Idi Amin talks of punishment for adulterers being hanging the guilty via hooks through their skin. He then has that done to one such man, and we see the motion and hear the sound of large hooks being ripped through the skin on his chest (and see the pained expression on the victim's face). With ropes attached to those hooks, others there then lift him off the floor via those hooks that stretch his bloody skin quite a bit. Later, he's lowered down and his chest is very bloody and has two holes in it.
  • A doctor tends to a severely injured man and then tries to help him escape before Idi Amin's goons return to torture him some more.
  • When they learn their prisoner has escaped, some security personal break bottles in an airport store and then search all over for the man who's trying to sneak onto a plane with others.
  • Idi Amin's head of security shoots a man in the head, killing him (we see a pool of blood on the floor).
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • Handguns/Rifles/ Machine guns: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others (and an injured cow). See "Violence" for details.
  • Following Amin's military coup, Nicholas sees soldiers with machine guns and tanks passing by, but the local are joyous over the change in government.
  • Idi Amin and others carry ceremonial spears during a ceremony.
  • As Nicholas walks toward Idi Amin to assist with the leader's injured hand, various soldiers and guards warily hold their guns on him.
  • Nicholas uses a pistol to start an unofficial swimming race.
  • We hear the sound of an explosion and gunfire, and Nicholas and another doctor race up to the rooftop to see smoke and hear more gunfire coming from a distant, poor neighborhood.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "F*ck your clarification," "F*ck them," "It f*cking stinks," "Jesus f*cking Christ," "F*cked up," "F*ck it," "F*ck off," "F*ck your rights," "Makes you feel...like sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "Bloody awful," "You're mad" and "You're very cheeky."
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • An extreme amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 13 "f" words, 5 "s" words, 1 ass, 1 bollocks, 2 uses of "Jesus Christ" and 1 use each of "For God's sakes," "God," "Jesus," "Oh Christ" and "Oh God."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • We see various young adults running toward a lake (some in their underwear and/or bras) into which they jump in celebration.
  • We see a local Ugandan woman having sex on top of Nicholas (he's just met her). We don't see any nudity or the actual contact, but do see her body moving as well as the surprised and pleasured expression on his face and hear related sounds.
  • With her husband away but feeling the chemistry between them, Nicholas kisses Sarah, but she says she can't and thus walks away.
  • We see Nicholas shirtless as Idi Amin wants him to drive him in his new car, but Nicholas thinks he should get dressed. We then briefly see his full frontal nudity as he removes his shorts and pulls on some pants.
  • We see some women in standard bikinis and some shirtless men at a pool.
  • Idi Amin asks Nicholas if he's like the other British (despite him being Scottish) who are there in country "to f*ck" and take away.
  • Some female dancers wear midriff revealing tops, while the camera briefly focuses on their skirt-covered butts. We then see some bare-breasted dancers in small shorts doing some sexy dancing.
  • Nicholas goes to Kay's place where they passionately kiss, start to undress and then have sex while standing (we see his bare butt thrusting between her legs, but don't hear any related sounds as music plays on the soundtrack). This is inter-cut with footage from above of the bare-breasted dancers (in another location). We then see them lying together post-sex and see her bare butt (lying face down) and his bare chest (sitting face up).
  • At a news conference, a female reporter jokingly asks Idi Amin if he wrote to the Queen of England offering himself as her lover (he makes a joking remark back to her).
  • We see a dead woman's bare breasts, but the condition of her beaten body removes most any erotic element from that view.
  • Nicholas walks in and finds Idi Amin and others watching the porn film "Deep Throat." We don't see anything beyond a short clip showing some suggested sexual movement (nothing explicit), but hear related sounds, and Idi Amin wants to know if what they're seeing is medically possible (Nicholas says it is).
  • SMOKING
  • Nicholas smokes at least 5 times, while some background characters also smoke.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Nicholas' father seems to put down his son's degree in doctoring compared to his.
  • Idi Amin says his father left when the future leader was just a child (he was from a poor family) and that the British army took him in.
  • Nicholas is called to Kay's home where he finds her young son having an epileptic seizure (he gives him a shot and all is well).
  • Kay says that Idi Amin visits their children, but not her (she lives apart from him).
  • Amin or his thugs kill and dismember one of his wives for cheating on him (we just see the aftermath).
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • The film's historical accuracy as well as artistic license taken with the real story.
  • The comment that 80% of the locals would rather see a witchdoctor than a medical one (back in the '70s).
  • Idi Amin stating he knows precisely when he'll die.
  • A Brit tells Nicholas that a firm hand is the only thing Africans understand.
  • We hear that Idi Amin has many children from three wives.
  • Idi Amin comments that fear shows a man is weak.
  • We hear that Idi Amin doesn't allow his epileptic son to be seen due to his condition that would make him look weak.
  • Stone informs Nicholas of people disappearing after speaking out against the government.
  • Trying to defend Amin's policies to Stone, Nicholas says that this is Africa and thus you must meet violence with violence or you're dead.
  • Idi Amin asks Nicholas if he's like the other British (despite him being Scottish) who are there in country "to f*ck" and take away.
  • Idi Amin becoming increasingly paranoid.
  • We hear that Palestinian terrorists have hijacked an Air France plane and landed in Uganda. They then let all but the Jewish passengers leave.
  • VIOLENCE
  • We see an injured cow lying on the road, bellowing in pain after being struck by Idi Amin's vehicle (not seen). As Nicholas tends to the leader's injured hand, he keeps yelling for someone to deal with the animal (meaning put it down). When no one does, he grabs a pistol, walks over and shoots it several times, killing it (with some bloody results), followed by the guards and soldiers there aiming their guns at him again.
  • A dissenter is pushed to a car as he's arrested.
  • We hear the sound of an explosion and gunfire, and Nicholas and another doctor race up to the rooftop to see smoke and hear more gunfire coming from a distant, poor neighborhood.
  • Guerillas make a roadside attack, blasting a car in front of Nicholas' new convertible with gunfire (Idi Amin is in the car with Nicholas). They try to back away but are blocked, and thus speed by the shooters, running over one injured man and ducking as the guerillas fire at them. We then see several views of the dead and bloody victims.
  • We see that Idi Amin's men have captured some murderous guerillas, have them bound and on their knees. Some are hit, some have blood on them, and some guns are held to their heads (it's implied that they're executed).
  • Stone shows Nicholas photos of murdered people, including piles of dead bodies, and we then see quick flashback footage of the shootings that led to them.
  • We see some struggling in a hospital in large groups, with Idi Amin's new head of security backhanding another doctor, prompting Nicholas to push him aside, leading to a tense confrontation.
  • Idi Amin menacingly grabs Nicholas by the head and asks, "Is there something going on?" with Nicholas nervously saying there isn't.
  • Nicholas sees many people in distress (wailing, etc.) down inside a hospital and then sees the ravaged body of his lover lying splayed out, very bloody and possibly with her limbs severed from her body. He vomits from the sight of that.
  • We see then see men dragging Nicholas back into an airport (his face is bloody) and throw him into a low table.
  • Idi Amin talks of punishment for adulterers being hanging the guilty via hooks through their skin. He then has that done to one such man, and we see the motion and hear the sound of large hooks being ripped through the skin on his chest (and see the pained expression on the victim's face). With ropes attached to those hooks, others there then lift him off the floor via those hooks that stretch his bloody skin quite a bit. Later, he's lowered down and his chest is very bloody and has two holes in it.
  • When they learn their prisoner has escaped, some security personal break bottles in an airport store and then search all over for the man who's trying to sneak onto a plane with others.
  • Idi Amin's head of security shoots a man in the head, killing him (we see a pool of blood on the floor).



  • Reviewed September 12, 2006 / Posted October 27, 2006

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