Out of Africa

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Out of Africa is drawn from the life and writings of Danish author Isak Dinesen, who during the time that the film's events occured was known by her married name, Karen Blixen-Flecke. For convenience's sake, Karen (Meryl Streep) has married Baron Bor Blixen-Flecke (Klaus Maria Brandauer). In 1914, the Baron moves himself and his wife to a plantation in Nairobi, then leaves Karen to her own devices as he returns to his womanizing and drinking. Soon, Karen has fallen in love with charming white hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford), who prefers a no-strings relationship. A woman who prides herself on her independence, Blixen finds herself unhappily in thrall to a aloof man -- and doubly unhappy for living out such a cliche situation. Although Redford received a lion's share of criticism for his too-American performance, Streep has rarely been better, and the film's perfectly measured pace is offset by David Watkin's stunning location photography. The movie was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 7, including Best Picture, Best Director for Sydney Pollack, Best Adapted Screenplay for Kurt Luedtke, and Best Cinematography for Watkin. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Subtitle: Eng
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: 5.1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • "Song of Africa" original documentary
  • Feature commentary with director Sydney Pollack
  • Production notes
  • Cast & filmmakers
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Universal web links

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Adapted Screenplay - 1985 (Kurt Luedtke)
•     Won Best Art Direction - 1985 (Stephen B. Grimes, Josie MacAvin)
•     Won Best Cinematography - 1985 (David Watkin)
•     Won Best Director - 1985 (Sydney Pollack)
•     Won Best Picture - 1985 (Sydney Pollack)
•     Won Best Score - 1985 (John Barry)
•     Won Best Sound - 1985 (Chris Jenkins, Peter Handford, Gary Alexander, Larry Stensvold)
•     Nominated Best Actress - 1985 (Meryl Streep)
•     Nominated Best Costume Design - 1985 (Milena Canonero)
•     Nominated Best Editing - 1985 (William Steinkamp, Pembroke J. Herring, Sheldon Kahn, Frederic Steinkamp)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actor - 1985 (Klaus Maria Brandauer)

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts

•     Won Best Adaptation - 1986 (Kurt Luedtke)
•     Nominated Best Actress - 1986 (Meryl Streep)
•     Nominated Best Cinematography - 1986 (David Watkin)
•     Nominated Best Costume Design - 1986 (Milena Canonero)
•     Nominated Best Score - 1986 (John Barry)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actor - 1986 (Klaus Maria Brandauer)
•     Nominated Sound Award - 1986

• Directors Guild of America

•     Nominated Best Director - 1985 (Sydney Pollack)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Won Best Original Score - 1985 (John Barry)
•     Won Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pictu - 1985 (Klaus Maria Brandauer)
•     Won Best Picture - Drama - 1985

• Los Angeles Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Actress - 1985 (Meryl Streep)
•     Won Best Cinematography - 1985 (David Watkin)

• National Board of Review

•     Won Best Supporting Actor - 1985 (Klaus Maria Brandauer)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 1985

• New York Film Critics Circle

•     Won Best Cinematography - 1985 (David Watkin)
•     Won Best Supporting Actor - 1985 (Klaus Maria Brandauer)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Meryl Streep - Karen Blixen-Finecke
       Robert Redford - Denys Finch Hatton
       Klaus Maria Brandauer - Baron Bror Blixen-Finecke
       Michael Kitchen - Berkeley
       Malick Bowens - Farah
       Joseph Thiaka - Kamate
       Stephen Kinyanjui - Kinanjui
       Michael Gough - Delamere
       Suzanna Hamilton - Felicity
       Rachel Kempson - Lady Belfield
       Graham Crowden - Lord Belfield
       Abdullah Sunado - Esa

• Director:

  Sydney Pollack

• Producer:

  Sydney Pollack

• Screenwriter:

  Kurt Luedtke

• Book Author:

  Isak Dinesen, Errol Trzebinski

• Cinematographer:

  David Watkin

• Composer (Music Score):

  John Barry

• Featured Music:

  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Editor:

  Pembroke J. Herring, Sheldon Kahn, Franz Steininger, Frederic Steinkamp, William Steinkamp

• Production Designer:

  Stephen B. Grimes, Herbert Westbrook

• Art Director:

  Colin Grimes, Cliff Robinson

• Co-producer:

  Terence A. Clegg

• Associate Producer:

  Judith Thurman, Anna Cataldi

• Executive Producer:

  Kim Jorgensen

• Set Designer:

  Josie MacAvin

• Costume Designer:

  Milena Canonero

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Peter Handford

• Makeup:

  J. Roy Helland, Mary Hillman, Gary D. Liddiard, Norma Hill-Patton

• Special Effects:

  David Harris

REVIEW:

• Out of Africa gives its audience one of the screen's great rarities -- an intelligent romance combined with the sweeping perspective of a great epic. Never mind that Robert Redford is much too American to be convincingly British, he conveys a stoic sense of adventurism that makes him an ideal screen match for the reserved passion of Meryl Streep. The film's tech credits are top-notch, particularly the cinematography of David Watkin, whose spectacular location shooting makes the film a visual treat. A clear favorite on Oscar night, Out of Africa took Best Picture, Best Director Sydney Pollack, and five other awards, including one for Watkin. ~ Richard Gilliam, Rovi