|
By
NICK ZEGARAC
Can a prudish countess find passion and heartache amidst the wild safaris of Africa? Meryl Streep and Robert Redford illustrate in "Out of Africa" a sweeping love story set against the backdrop of colonialist turmoil and civil unrest. This is one of those big, BIG character driven melodramas that, for some inexplicable reason, Hollywood has stopped producing.
Based on a true story -- "Out of Africa" follows the exploits of Karen Blixen (Streep), a headstrong woman who is determined to find adventure and meaning in her life. She allows herself to be swept under by the passion of a notorious womanizer, Baron Finecke (Klaus Maria Brandauer). However, once in Africa, and infected with syphilis by her philandering husband, Karen is left to fend for herself against the violent backdrop of tribal unrest and British colonization. Enter Denys Finch Hadden (Redford), a game hunter with a penchant and a passion for all the things that Karen has dreamed of. The two begin a passionate affair that culminates in tragedy and despair. This is a film of surreal and genuinely haunting beauty, coupled with a story that will surely enthrall.
Universal Pictures has given us an adequate print of the movie, considerably cleaned up and remastered for DVD. However, there are several occasions where pixelization, edge enhancement and aliasing problems genuinely distract. Colors can seem a bit muddy at times. The cinematography is breathtaking and quite often presented with exceptional clarity and depth. However, there are cases where a soft haze seems to intrude. Black levels are generally solid though here too, occasionally there is an excessive amount of film grain noticed. The soundtrack is 2.0 surround and well represented for its age. Extras include a wonderful making-of featurette, interviews and a trailer. |
