Out of Africa (1985)

One of the worst movies to win the Best Picture Oscar in my opinion. Simply awful especially Meryl Streep’s accent (though she was Oscar nominated). This biography of Karen Blixen is predictably dull. Another Steven Spielberg snub (The Color Purple (1985) – 11 nominations without a single Oscar win) or just a weak year? It’s as if the Academy was trying to make up with (producer) Sydney Pollack who received his only Best Director Oscar for Tootsie (1982) losing to Gandhi (1982). Klaus Maria Brandauer received his only Oscar nomination (Best Actor) to date. The film won five other Oscars including (for Kurt Luedtke’s) Screenplay Writing. #15 on AFI’s Top 25 Film Scores list.

Blixen (Streep) marries a Baron (Brandauer) for his title. They settle on a plantation in Africa; she tries to get to know and help the natives. But her husband is frequently absent and unfaithful. So later she too has an affair with a big game hunter (Robert Redford) with a plane but he won’t be tied down.

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