Tommy H
I ended up falling asleep. The characters just were not engaging enough for me to want to finish this.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
09/24/25
Full Review
chris m
for many, boring; for others, captivating.
'out of africa' is one of those films that divides opinions: some consider it slow, others perceive it as a work full of beauty and sensitivity. the truth is that, although its pace is unhurried, it never feels boring. sydney pollack opts for a type of cinema that does not seek to impress with artifices or advanced audiovisual techniques, but rather to convey emotions, build solid characters, and offer the viewer a deeply sensory experience.
the character development is, without a doubt, one of the most correct and carefully crafted in cinema. the evolution of karen and denys unfolds naturally, without rush or excess, and it is impossible not to connect with them. the on-screen chemistry between robert redford and meryl streep is undeniable; in fact, streep herself would later recall it as one of the best connections she has ever had in her career.
the cinematography is another of the film’s great strengths. africa is not just a setting but another character: the landscapes impress, fascinate, and envelop with an incredible visual power. the camera portrays them with respect and admiration, achieving a balance between postcard-like beauty and authenticity.
the music, composed by john barry, becomes an indispensable companion. its deep and enveloping melodies heighten the emotional weight of the story and give it a melancholic tone that is unforgettable.
pollack never fails: here he demonstrates his ability to tell stories with elegance, without overemphasizing, letting silences, glances, and gestures speak as much as the dialogues. 'out of africa' is a moving work, written and directed with wonder, that combines an intimate love story with a portrayal of cultures and landscapes that impress with their richness and contrast.
it may not be a film for everyone, especially for those seeking a faster pace, but those who let themselves be carried away by its rhythm will find a cinematic experience that moves them and remains in memory.
spanish:
para unos, aburrida; para otros, cautivadora.
'memorias de áfrica' es una de esas películas que dividen opiniones: algunos la consideran lenta, otros la perciben como una obra cargada de belleza y sensibilidad. lo cierto es que, aunque su ritmo es pausado, nunca se siente aburrida. sydney pollack apuesta por un cine que no busca impresionar con artificios ni con técnicas audiovisuales de vanguardia, sino transmitir emociones, construir personajes sólidos y ofrecer al espectador una experiencia profundamente sensorial.
el desarrollo de personajes es, sin duda, uno de los más correctos y cuidados que se pueden encontrar en el cine. la evolución de karen y denys se da con naturalidad, sin prisas ni excesos, y resulta imposible no conectar con ellos. la química en pantalla entre robert redford y meryl streep es palpable; de hecho, la propia streep la recordaría después como una de las mejores conexiones que ha tenido a lo largo de su carrera.
la fotografía es otro de los grandes aciertos de la película. áfrica no es solo un escenario, sino un personaje más: los paisajes impresionan, fascinan y envuelven con una fuerza visual increíble. la cámara los retrata con respeto y admiración, logrando que cada plano tenga algo de postal y, al mismo tiempo, de verdad.
la música, compuesta por john barry, se convierte en un acompañamiento indispensable. sus melodías profundas y envolventes elevan la carga emocional de la historia y le dan un tono melancólico que resulta inolvidable.
pollack nunca falla: demuestra aquí su capacidad para contar historias con elegancia, sin subrayar de más, dejando que los silencios, las miradas y los gestos hablen tanto como los diálogos. 'memorias de áfrica' es una obra conmovedora, escrita y dirigida con asombro, que mezcla una historia de amor íntima con un retrato de culturas y paisajes que impresionan por su riqueza y contraste.
puede que no sea una película para todos los gustos, especialmente para quienes buscan un ritmo más dinámico, pero quienes se dejen llevar por su cadencia encontrarán una experiencia cinematográfica que emociona y que permanece en la memoria.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
09/23/25
Full Review
Balakrishnan M
The cinematography, the score by the legendary John Barry and brilliant performances from Meryl Streep and Robert Redford make this film a memorable one.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
09/17/25
Full Review
Matthew D
A melodramatic romance set within stunning African vistas.
Out of Africa (1985) is Sydney Pollack's epic romance film. Pollack's beautiful direction keeps you engaged in each individual scene alongside the remarkable cinematography. Some of the wide shots looked a little out of focus and Pollack oddly chose a few green screen shots instead of the gorgeous African landscape in all its natural beauty. The plane sequence is particularly lovely to look at set to John Barry's dreamy score.
Out of Africa is far too slowly paced for a movie of this tremendous length. It's a nice romance film despite the daunting length. Pollack could easily have cut this feature down with some clever editing.
The romance is the key to Out of Africa. Meryl Streep is the star here as Karen Blixen. Her Danish accent is perfect and quite convincing. I forgot, as I watched Out of Africa, that she is not Danish by birth. It's really impressive. Her dramatic acting is of a higher caliber than the rest of the film's melodrama. She realistically portrays an unhappy wife and a longing divorcee.
Similarly, Robert Redford starts out as charming as Denys Finch Hatton, then leads into a man unsatisfied with routine and leaves later on. As impressed as I am by Redford's captivating performance, I wish he was in the first half more, as he is hardly present until the second half of Out of Africa, then suddenly he's always there, then he leaves. It's an uneven balance as you wish Redford had a bigger role. Streep carries Out of Africa.
As I stated, you believe in the romance of Out of Africa. The pretty setting, atmospheric music, biting dialogue, and grounded romance keeps you intrigued. Unfortunately, Out of Africa is merely a romance. The drama struggles of Streep's character living alone feel secondary at best. The racial and gender struggles of Africa in this period film feel background issues at most. Out of Africa is a massive undertaking with little to say about the larger cultural issues brought up throughout Out of Africa.
Next, the supporting roles in Out of Africa vary in greatness. Klaus Maria Brandauer is interesting as the philandering and negligent husband Baron Bror Blixen-Finecke. He definitely is underutilized as he actually disappears halfway into Out of Africa. Malick Bowens is excellent as Faran. His friendship and kindness to Streep's leading lady feel the most real relationship in Out of Africa in the end. Bowens plays it with a subtle knowledge and understanding as the servant and translator. Lastly, Suzanna Hamilton is charming as Felicity, though faintly remarkable due to the fact that she also disappears until towards the end of Out of Africa.
In all, Out of Africa uses Streep and Redford well while they are on screen together, but the unbalanced structure leaves you bored in many parts. Pollack's direction feels languid instead of innovative. The natural African backdrop is always inviting, but the clear animal cruelty is distracting. I like the romance, but I'll leave the melodrama in Out of Africa.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
09/16/25
Full Review
Jeff N.
Beautiful cinema and score. Beautiful!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
07/31/25
Full Review
K K
Merryl Steep gives a tour de force performance as she plays the Baroness as one could only imagine so well. The story rolls on and misses a couple of major historical moments key in the lives of the main characters. The lack of these is clearly masked by the sweeping landscapes and art direction. Touching moments and memorable persons push the viewer to wanting more..
Enough time has past since this beautiful movie.
A 3 part mini series re-make should do the trick!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
07/28/25
Full Review
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