Released in 1985 and directed by Sydney Pollack based on Karen Blixen's autobiographical novel, "Out of Africa" chronicles life in colonial Kenya during World War I where a Danish baroness establishes a coffee plantation with her husband-of-convenience, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), and develops a relationship with a free-spirited big-game hunter, Denys (Robert Redford).
For some reason it's become fashionable to look-down on "Out of Africa" but, viewing it recently, it's obvious why it won Best Picture at the AA. This is a historical drama/romance with elements of adventure that just brims with confidence. Watching it, you're swept back in time to WWI-era Kenya. The writing and acting are thoroughly convincing. Take, for instance, the parting moment Karen has with Farah (Malick Bowens) at the end; it's low-key but dramatically potent. Sure, there are some slow parts, but that's the nature of the beast. If you want cartoony jungle action, like "Predator," "Out of Africa" won't work; but if you want realistic historical drama akin to "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) and "Nowhere in Africa" (2001), "Out of Africa" expertly fills the bill.
The film runs 161 minutes and was shot in Kenya (e.g. Shaba National Game Reserve) and England (e.g Castle Rising, Norfolk).
GRADE: B+
For some reason it's become fashionable to look-down on "Out of Africa" but, viewing it recently, it's obvious why it won Best Picture at the AA. This is a historical drama/romance with elements of adventure that just brims with confidence. Watching it, you're swept back in time to WWI-era Kenya. The writing and acting are thoroughly convincing. Take, for instance, the parting moment Karen has with Farah (Malick Bowens) at the end; it's low-key but dramatically potent. Sure, there are some slow parts, but that's the nature of the beast. If you want cartoony jungle action, like "Predator," "Out of Africa" won't work; but if you want realistic historical drama akin to "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) and "Nowhere in Africa" (2001), "Out of Africa" expertly fills the bill.
The film runs 161 minutes and was shot in Kenya (e.g. Shaba National Game Reserve) and England (e.g Castle Rising, Norfolk).
GRADE: B+