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In colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness has an ongoing affair with a big game hunter. On one hand, Sydney Pollacks’ Oscar-winning best picture is long and subdued. But on the other hand, it does a great job transporting you to another time and place. The wildlife, cinematography, and music score (another fine work from John Barry) will whisk you away whether you want whisked or not. I also appreciate its central theme about the difference between love and ownership (if you love Robert Redford, set him free…) By the time it was over, I was a little sad to leave Meryl Streep’s Kenyan coffee farm. I’m not sure the Danish accent works all that well for Streep, though. Redford is plain and understated, as usual — nothing terribly exciting performance-wise. I enjoyed Klaus Maria Brandauer’s performance as the scoundrel husband, though. Malick Bowens is also great as Streep’s right-hand man.

It’s taken me years to finally see Out of Africa. I suppose I’ve always held a grudge against it for beating The Color Purple for Best Picture. Having finally seen both films, I still say Purple should have won.

Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound, Best Music Score

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress (Streep), Best Supporting Actress (Brandauer), Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design