I dont know if I should see this film. I would like to see it as the film features Forrest Whitikers portrail of one of the worlRAB most brutal dictators "Idi Amin", but then again I've been turned off it because the films main character is a fictional scottish doctor. Its like making a film about Hitlers reign and spoiling it by having a fictional Arawak Indian character in it.
Last King of Scotland
- Thread starter Kat T
- Start date
Crazykid 55
New member
You should see it, if but for the excellent acting alone. The fictional doctor is an amalgam of real people, it doesn't detract from the story at all. Although as the film goes along you will be realising what a plonker he was & he only brought it on himself!
ps. some very gory scenes - akin to 'A Man Called Horse'.
ps. some very gory scenes - akin to 'A Man Called Horse'.
Sir Nerdlaroid
New member
Might go catch this tommorow! 
It looks like a good piece of film making!
Anyone catch it tonight?
It looks like a good piece of film making!
Anyone catch it tonight?
sigh..... 
Yes,cribology,the Scots character is fictional(in fact an amalgam of 3 real people).
But if you knew anything about Amin,which you dont seem to,you would know that he had a strange mad passion for the Scots,from wearing a tartan tammy and playing the bagpipes to having a few Scots as his advisers/staff.Amin also publicly spoke for Scots independence and his love of Scotland,to the point of claiming he was the natural heir to its exiled Stewart throne.
A 'love' that horrified Scots at the time and now believe me....that is why it exists in the novel and the film.
This was due to have served in the British Army under Scots officers and being impressed by their courage and intelligence whilst defeating the Mau Mau terrorists,which Amin took part in.
So the Scottish element is very relevant.
Do us a favour and dae sum research afore ye post,ye ken?.....
Yes,cribology,the Scots character is fictional(in fact an amalgam of 3 real people).
But if you knew anything about Amin,which you dont seem to,you would know that he had a strange mad passion for the Scots,from wearing a tartan tammy and playing the bagpipes to having a few Scots as his advisers/staff.Amin also publicly spoke for Scots independence and his love of Scotland,to the point of claiming he was the natural heir to its exiled Stewart throne.
A 'love' that horrified Scots at the time and now believe me....that is why it exists in the novel and the film.
This was due to have served in the British Army under Scots officers and being impressed by their courage and intelligence whilst defeating the Mau Mau terrorists,which Amin took part in.
So the Scottish element is very relevant.
Do us a favour and dae sum research afore ye post,ye ken?.....
It was amazing ! saw it earlier, a really intelligent piece of cinema! Also loved the cinematography (the celebration scene in the middle of the film where the Dr goes off to have sex while its going on, anchored by the rock music is gorgeous! Love the lighting on the sex scene) I also really liked alot of the camera work!
Forrest Whittaker's performance was fantastic! aswell as James Mcavoys!
Forrest should get his baftas and Oscars!
Forrest Whittaker's performance was fantastic! aswell as James Mcavoys!
Forrest should get his baftas and Oscars!
BlahPaDaDoPii
New member
Yes, I enjoyed it too. The cinema was packed. Forest Whittaker was a revelation and totally commanRAB every scene he's in.
The one scene that felt a bit forced to me was how he impressed Amin.
It was certainly the best film I've seen for a while though.
The one scene that felt a bit forced to me was how he impressed Amin.
If felt a bit out of character for a nice middle class scottish kid to just grab a gun and shoot that cow.
It was certainly the best film I've seen for a while though.
Aye,sweetheart,dont you bother yir wee heed about the fact that Amin did (sadly)actually have Scots on his staff,was (sadly)obsessed with us and therefore a Scottish character in the film or the novel,even if fictional(actually an amalgam of three real Scots/British people) is absolutely CORRECT in the context of the story.....as any white man working for Amin WAS a Scot,Anglo-Scot or British.
You were wrong to criticise the use of a Scottish character given your woeful ignorance of the subject.
Now go away....
You were wrong to criticise the use of a Scottish character given your woeful ignorance of the subject.
Now go away....
B
Brandon Lawrence L
Guest
Eithout wishing to interfere in your argument chaps, the Garrigan character is thought to be loosely based on Amin's british adviser Bob Astles. Astles is still alive and living in the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Astles
As for teh violent content of teh film. I think it was used very, very sparingly and we saw more reaction than actual brutality. Which rendered it no less effective. However, the final act of violence against Garrigan is pretty horrific, but a moment that is earned by the plot.
In short, one of the best films I have seen in a very long time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Astles
As for teh violent content of teh film. I think it was used very, very sparingly and we saw more reaction than actual brutality. Which rendered it no less effective. However, the final act of violence against Garrigan is pretty horrific, but a moment that is earned by the plot.
In short, one of the best films I have seen in a very long time.
Your command of the English language isn't that great huh, what part of "...the Scots character is fictional" dont you understand? If I created a character based on several Scots and called him Dim Ayrshireman for instance. You'd tell me he was a real person, wouldn't you?
Since I started the thread, shouldn't it be you who should do one? So please do.
Since I started the thread, shouldn't it be you who should do one? So please do.
scatteredpolaroids
New member
'Your command of the English language isn't that great huh, what part of "...the Scots character is fictional" dont you understand? If I created a character based on several Scots and called him Dim Ayrshireman for instance. You'd tell me he was a real person, wouldn't you?'
Let me explain this slowly.....
This is a FICTIONAL film based on a FICTIONAL novel based on a real tyrant.ALL of what you see on screen is to some extent fictional,even though based on real people and real events.Dialogue,scenes etc are all fictional extrapolated from what we know went on,but they wont be and arent an exact copy.As we of course will never know EXACTLY what was said and what happened in certain situations.
Thats where a novelist and scriptwriters come in.....
As such,a fictional Scot in a fictional film based on a fictional novel given the real Scots and British who worked for Amin,is correct given the context and the history of Amin.
Why arent you complaining about the Gillian Anderson character who didnt exist in real life either?....
You are harping on as if a fictional Scot has been inserted into a REAL documentary on Amin called 'The Last King of Scotland'....
Its not!.
Its a fictional film with fictional characters,fictional scenes and fictional dialogue.......
Let me explain this slowly.....
This is a FICTIONAL film based on a FICTIONAL novel based on a real tyrant.ALL of what you see on screen is to some extent fictional,even though based on real people and real events.Dialogue,scenes etc are all fictional extrapolated from what we know went on,but they wont be and arent an exact copy.As we of course will never know EXACTLY what was said and what happened in certain situations.
Thats where a novelist and scriptwriters come in.....
As such,a fictional Scot in a fictional film based on a fictional novel given the real Scots and British who worked for Amin,is correct given the context and the history of Amin.
Why arent you complaining about the Gillian Anderson character who didnt exist in real life either?....
You are harping on as if a fictional Scot has been inserted into a REAL documentary on Amin called 'The Last King of Scotland'....
Its not!.
Its a fictional film with fictional characters,fictional scenes and fictional dialogue.......