MovieChat Forums > Out of Africa (1985) Discussion > I concur with Meryl Streep's criticisms ...

I concur with Meryl Streep's criticisms of the film

posted 10 years ago by GuyOnTheLeft
5 replies | jump to latest

I love this film, don't get me wrong: nine out of 10 says it all. But there always were a couple things that bugged me, and watching her interview on the DVD it turns out she has the same issues.

She says she is more interested in the native characters and does not want to see the colonial lifestyle romanticized. Therefore, she was particularly not fond of the scene where the men in the club invited her in for a drink at the end. She says "oh, now they want to have a drink with me? Who gives a *beep*" or something along those lines.

The other thing was in her not wanting her character to be portrayed as so needy and possessive, so demanding in trying to settle Denys down that she comes across as a bit of a nagging shrew. Her words were "I think Isak Denisen was more interesting than that." I don't know whether that was true or not in real life, but it sounds like there was little enough known about their relationship that the filmmakers certainly could have had leeway to tone that down a bit if they would have agreed with Streep and chosen to.

--------
Daily single-tweet movie reviews:

[–] Queenbee60 10 years ago

I just saw the film for the first time, a few days ago. I don't know if it deserved the Oscar for Best Picture, but it was lacking in the development of certain characters. Some, like the woman who asked Karen, how to get a man, weren't needed. In romanticing the relationship they apparently needed Karen to be slightly obsessed with Denys.
I found it hard to believe, that she stayed married to Bror after he gave her syphllis.

[–] gorye 10 years ago

Are your questions about film or reality?
Those differ a great deal.

Because of the words "it hard to believe, that she stayed married to Bror after he gave her syphllis" I may guess you're talking about the real Karen-Denys story.

Then imagine, Karen was greatly not slightly obsessed with Denys and wanted to marry him badly. She was very vain and after Bror married again, this placed her in the highly uncomfortable position - there were two Baronesses Blixen in the same time. Marrying so high as to Finch Hatton meant a lot for her. Alas, no one is perfect...

Denys had no wish to marry. He was rather homosexual. You see, in real life Berkeley was not living with Somaly woman. He was living with Denys. And only after his lover Berkeley died Denys came to live with Karen. Maybe just for convenience and comfort - who knows? He never told us why.

[–] Queenbee60 10 years ago

Perhaps the screenwriter should've stuck with reality. Karen in a relationship with a bisexual or homosexual man in that era, would've been interesting enough on it's own. I'm glad I saw it, as I am a big fan of Meryl's, but was disappointed.
I've read elsewhere that many believe that most of her films are forgetful. She's been in quite a few duds, this is better than most of them.

[–] gorye 10 years ago

I prefer reality, too.

Talking about Meryl doing duds, again, no one is perfect. Everyone did a lot of bad films - actors in the first place I mean.

You see, no one knows what to come of it, in the end. Great scripts or not, famous directors and actors or not - one never can be sure in the result. Look at the lists of the films any famous and talented director or actor is in - and you'd be surprised. And "rubbish" not always meant the honest aim just for money.

They just never know. Happily, Art is a Mystery.

[–] Queenbee60 10 years ago

Apparently, Universal is thinking of doing a remake of Out of Africa. If this is true, hopefully, they'll go the reality route. Not sure, if fans/critics are ready for it, though!