Out of Africa: A movie review

Last night I saw for the first time "Out Of Africa". Filmed in 1985, it won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The film's photography and costume design are both pretty stunning, and I suppose the acting is well done considering the stellar cast. If you want to see beautiful shots of the African landscape and 1920's aristocratic fashion, go ahead and watch it. Other than that, I have to say I thought it wasn't worth my time. I though it was one of the most euro centric, paternalistic, materialistic and neo-colonialist films I've ever seen.

The story takes place in Kenya, from the protagonist's marriage and departure for Kenya in 1913, until her return to Denmark in 1931. A wealthy dane, Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep), moves to Africa to marry her second cousin for convenience (she marries for his title and he marries her for her money). They start a coffee plantation together and hire an entire local tribe to work on it. Their marriage predictably fails. Karen develops feelings for another man, a safari hunter called Denys Finch-Hatton (Robert Redford). From then on the film seems to be about their luxurious lives, going on safaris together, listening to their newly invented phonograph and flying in their plane. At this point, this is where the film turns as interesting as watching paint dry. Why should we care about this people's lives? Don't ask me. Even the romantic scenes are way too long and way too slow. Lastly, I thought the few unfortunate scenes where the film attempts to show Blixen as 'caring' towards the natives were absolutely paternalistic and condescending.

It is interesting for me to see and I ask myself, How is it that this film was, and is still, so popular? How is it that all these racist and paternalistic themes didn't offend the hell out of people? After all it was released in 1985. Oh wait..."The Blind Side" is nominated for Best Picture and it's 2010... never mind.

"New Slang" by The Shins

This is a song by The Shins that I really like. Here's a link to their website (pretty cool site). In fact I like it so much that I transcribed the changes and been playing it on bass. Feel free to capture/copy them if you feel like it.

I first heard it as part of the soundtrack of the movie "Garden State" which I loved also. Within it's simplicity the song evokes a lot of bitter sweet and nostalgic feelings in me, and I found the movie to be a lot like that as well. I'm posting the a link to the song as well as the movie trailer below. I highly recommend it!


Lyrics:

Gold teeth and a curse for this town, were all in my mouth.
Only, I don't know how they got out, dear.
Turn me back into the pet, that I was when we met.
I was happier then with no mind-set.

And if you'd 'a took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the king of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

New slang when you notice the stripes, the dirt in your fries.
Hope it's right when you die, old and bony.
Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall,
Never should have called
But my head's to the wall and I'm lonely.

And if you'd 'a took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the kind of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

God speed all the bakers at dawn may they all cut their thumbs,
And bleed into their buns 'till they melt away.

I'm looking in on the good life i might be doomed never to find.
Without a trust or flaming fields am i too dumb to refine?
And if you'd 'a took to me like
Well I'd a danced like the queen of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

Here's the trailer...

Is life, Stranger than Fiction?

Also from my MySpace Blog.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Movie Review: Stranger Than Fiction.

I just love that feeling a good film sometimes gives me. That certainty of how ironic and unreal life sometimes seems. This movie brought up so many questions about life, death, purpose and humanity. In my opinion, a work of art. I am a huge fan of good cinema and this movie has a little of everything. If you enjoy magic realism of the likes of "Being John Malkovich" this movie will be an absolute treat. The script was pretty funny, not to mention the amazing cast: Maggie Gyllenhal, Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hofman.

I truly enjoyed this film. I really liked Maggie Gyllenhaal's performance, but then again, I'm biased because after I watched "Secretary" and I just melt with her performances everytime. This was a pretty good film with a remarkable cast, and even though it's premise is very similar to Kaufman's films, I loved it. Will Ferrell's performance was excellent. If you are like me, a sentimental fool who enjoys surrealism and magic realism, you will enjoy it!

Any other surrealism lovers out there? Any other film of this kind I should watch out for?

Here's the preview....

Temple Grandin: Living with Autism

I heard this piece on NPR's Science Friday "Talk of the Nation" and I though it was fascinating. They where interviewing a woman called Temple Grandin. To give you a little background, Temple Grandin revolutionized the cattle business in this country and a lot of her ideas and designs became standards in the industry. In addition to the fact that she's exceptionally good at what she does, she was diagnosed with Autism at the age of four and has written a bunch of books, one of them being "Thinking in Pictures". For those of you who are into education and psychology, this woman's life story is absolutely inspiring.

If you have the time, I encourage you to listen to the interview. After I listened to it, I googled her and found a video (posted below) on youtube, where she talks about her experience being a highly functional person with Autism.

HBO just released a movie called "Temple Grandin" starring Claire Danes, based on this woman's life. I still haven't had a chance to see it (Don't have HBO) but I can't wait for it to come out on DVD to order it on Netflix. Has any of you out there seen it already? Would love to hear your reviews.

Here's a really cool video of Temple... I watched the whole thing...she's amazing!