Today’s film is Out of Africa. I watched this film purely for the landscape shots. I think that the countryside of Africa is absolutely gorgeous. I would totally move there if not for the malaria and other diseases they have there.
Our main character, Karen, married for title and money, not for love. Big mistake there. She moves to Kenya from Denmark with her husband with hopes to start a plantation. But her husband changes his mind, and his idea for a coffee farm loses them money. Meanwhile, Karen falls in love with the rogue big-game hunter, Denys, played by Robert Redford. She totally cheats on her husband with him, but it’s okay, because it’s true love.
Meryl Streep did a great job in this movie as Karen, and her character holds the movie together. Originally, she was not even considered for the part because the director didn't think she was sexy enough. She got the part because during her meeting with him, she went all out, wearing a push-up bra, low cut shirt, and everything. You gotta do what you have to the land the big parts.
Much romance and drama happens, and then Denys dies in a plane crash. So that’s the end. It would be a typical cheating-on-spouse love story, but what really sells it is the beauty of the surroundings. I liked how they tried to keep their stuffy European ways even in a wild setting. Some parts drag on, but it is an overall decent film. I will give this film a 6/10.
I avoided this film for a long time, but it got down to being one of the last Best Picture winners I had left to see, so I finally bit the bullet. I ended up liking it, or at least not hating it like I thought I would.
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