Sydney Pollack (1934–2008)

Karen Dinesen is a wealthy Dane who marries Baron Bror Blixen and they move to the Ngong Hills in Kenya to grow coffee. There are innumerable setbacks agriculturally and matrimonially which cause the Dinesen’s divorce and later failure of their coffee farm. At her farm, Karen experiences an epiphany of personal enrichment; she was meant to be here and experience all that Africa has to offer; to smell the richness of the earth, breathe the air, and be one with the wildness. Then she falls show more in love with Denis Finch Hatton, an aristocrat and big game hunter from England. There are insufficient descriptors for this marvelously written love affair Karen Blixen had with Africa and Denys Finch Hatton. The book is replete with lyrical, emotive, poignant language that requires the reader to savour every paragraph. To me this book was a feast for the senses; I read the words, I spoke delicious lines aloud, I felt the words upon my tongue, and I heard the words as musical notes. It was a sensual experience. The only sour among the sweet and savoury was the dichotomy of an admiration (perhaps love) Karen Dinesen felt for animals poisoned by the blood lust of the sport hunter to kill for pleasure. A series of crushing personal disasters compelled Dinesen’s return home to Denmark with her leave taking being death by a thousand cuts. Dinesen herself said her experiences in Africa were the impetus for her becoming an author and while she is famous in her home country for other works, she will forever be defined by this book. Dinesen’s homes in both Denmark and Kenya are museums now, dedicated to her memory. show less

An actor in drag gets a job on a soap opera.

1.5/4 (Meh).

I don't understand this movie. It's not as problematic as I'd expected; it doesn't make the easy, cheap jokes. But then, there aren't many jokes at all. My wife and I counted them, and I think we got up to five (although admittedly a couple of them were very good). It's really not a comedy, unless you think the mere existence of drag is funny. I'm guessing it thinks of itself as a romance; if so, it fails miserably. I just don't get it show more what it's trying to do. And I would much rather watch the aborted subplot (important to the story but not actually featured in the movie) of Teri Garr and Bill Murray putting on a bad play in a barn.

(Apr. 2022) show less

Hasn't held up as well as some other movies I've loved. Two huge stars at the acting helm, but a curious lack of real chemistry. Still worth watching for the story and scenery. Read the book.