Picture 58: Out of Africa (1985)

Welcome to 1985 and yet more Meryl Streep. Enjoying a purple patch, Meryl returns for her 3^rd Best Picture in 7 years. Sydney Pollack’s highly acclaimed Out of Africa won 7 Academy Awards but does its appeal span generations and continents?

We join Streep’s character, Karen Blixen, in 1910’s Denmark. Unlucky in love, the 28-year-old Blixen decides to relocate to Kenya and set up a farm with her male friend who she joins in a marriage of convenience. A tumultuous few years follow. We are also joined by the dashing and elusive adventurer Denys Finch, played by Robert Redford.

This is not a slushy rom com as outward appearances may depict. Far from it. Out of Africa is gritty, engaging and terribly sad in places. It’s a nod to the fragility of existence. A fragility not changed by borders nor continents nor cultures. Littered with some fantastic views of the Serengeti, it’s reminiscent of Taylor’s Wildest Dream’s video, only with better music and more realism. A respectable 8/10 and a fitting farewell to Meryl from this blog. That’s right, nobody in history has ever starred in 4 Best Pictures. Onwards!

Reflections:

1.     To live fully is to suffer fully.

Rating: 8/10

Oscar Best Picture Rankings:

1. The Godfather (1972)

2. Casablanca (1943)

3. The Apartment (1960)

4. Rebecca (1940)

5. The Godfather: Part II (1974)

6. The Sound of Music (1965)

7. Ordinary People (1980)

8. The Deer Hunter (1978)

9. A Man for All Seasons (1966)

10. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

11. Ben-Hur (1959)

12. Lost Weekend (1945)

13. Gandhi (1982)

14. Rocky (1976)

15. Annie Hall (1977)

16. Amadeus (1984)

17. All About Eve (1950)

18. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

19. Hamlet (1948)

20. How Green Was My Valley (1941)

21. Out of Africa (1985)

22. Gone With the Wind (1939)

23. West Side Story (1961)

24. Mrs. Miniver (1942)

25. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

26. Wings (1928)

27. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

28. You can’t take it with you (1938)

29. Patton (1970)

30. Terms of Endearment (1983)

31. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

32. On the Waterfront (1954)

33. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

34. Midnight Cowboy (1969)

35. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

36. Marty (1955)

37. Oliver! (1968)

38. Cimarron (1931)

39. Grand Hotel (1932)

40. The French Connection (1971)

41. An American in Paris (1951)

42. From Here to Eternity (1953)

43. It Happened One Night (1934)

44. My Fair Lady (1964)

45. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

46. Cavalcade (1933)

47. The Sting (1973)

48. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

49. Going My Way (1944)

50. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

51. Chariots of Fire (1981)

52. All the King’s Men (1949)

53. In the Heat of the Night (1967)

54. Gigi (1958)

55. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

56. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

57. The Broadway Melody (1929)

58. Tom Jones (1963)

Previous or current ranking leaders are in bold.

With credit and thanks to the patrons of the Best Picture Film Club:

Dr Sophie Bloomfield – Fashion Correspondent

Dr Caspar Briault – Head of Cynicism

Dr Conrad Charlton

Dr Sophie Clarke

Dr Kate Diomede

Dr Fionnuala Durrant

Dr Josh Fisher

Dr Joseph Gallaher – CEO and Founder

Dr Joseph Hamilton

Dr Adam Holland – Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Dr Sid Mohan - Divisional Lead for the 1980s

Dr Hannah Morrison

Dr Meera Radia