Out of Africa (1985):
What’s It About?: Karen (Meryl Streep) is a baroness in a loveless marriage, which is mostly the result of her adulterous husband’s desire to get his hands on the family fortune. When she kicks her husband out of the house, and tries to manage her coffee business and the native Africans on her land, she also falls for the dapper Denys (Robert Redford). But their beautiful relationship is marred by his need to be free, her need to be loved, and his eventual death. Whoops! Did I give that away? Well, accept this as your excuse to not watch it.
How Good Is It?: BORING!!!! A little bit like watching epic paint dry, Out of Africa has some beautiful imagery and a smattering of vaguely interesting scenes, but it’s ultimately a dull chick flick that gives most chick flicks a bad name. The only entertainment I had was in Redford’s oozing charisma, which helped to prevent the film from being unbearable. His performance is as close a reason to watch this film as you’ll get, unless you find dull, Lifetime-esque drama to be somehow exceptional. Actually, it’s very similar to Gone With the Wind, only without excitement, an interesting female lead character and anything even vaguely resembling entertainment. So, if that’s your cup of tea…
Was it Best Picture?: I’ve only seen Witness (which is definitely better), but you’d have a hard time convincing me that either The Color Purple, Kiss of the Spider Woman or Prizzi’s Honor weren’t better as well. If you think Best Picture winners of the 80’s are generally classified as stuffy, pompous and thoroughly non-entertaining films, Out of Africa is easily the posterboy for your argument.
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