''HE PRAYETH WELL THAT LOVETH WELL BOTH MAN AND BIRD AND BEAST" from THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER

Karen Blixen in Kenya, 1918

One of my very favorite movies is Sydney_Pollack's Out of Africa. Sydney was born in Lafayette, Indiana. I did not know this until I googled him, but since I was born in Indiana this means something to me. (From wikipedia: Sydney Pollack was born in Lafayette, Indiana, to a family of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine,^[1] the son of Rebecca (née Miller) and David Pollack, a semi-professional boxer and pharmacist.^[1] The family relocated to South Bend and his parents divorced when he was young. His mother, an alcoholic with emotional problems, died at the age of 37 while Pollack was a student.^[2]Despite earlier plans to attend college and then medical school, Pollack left Indiana for New York City soon after finishing high school at age 17. Read more)

The very special relationship between Karen Blixen (17 April 1885 – 7 September 1962), (Meryl Streep) and Farah (Malick Bowens) is one of the highlights of the film beyond the scenery and the way it was edited and presented with wonderful music, beyond the love story between Karen and Denis (Robert Redford), beyond Berkeley Cole (Michael Kitchen). Even the more minor parts are superbly acted.

I am reading two of the books used for the film ~ Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Storyteller by the wonderful writer Judith Thurman and Silence Will Speak: A Study of the Life of Denys Finch Hatton and His Relationship with Karen Blixen by Errol Trzebinski which is a dynamic book about the man played by Robert Redford.

Also, I especially enjoy the special features on the dvd, including Sydney's commentary with the movie.

Sydney prefers widescreen

Click the post title for Sydney Pollack : press conference (France) - Sydney talks about directing Robert Redford and says his only complaint is that RR is always late.

Tribute to Sydney Pollack

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There isn't much on youtube with clips of Out of Africa, probably due to copyright restrictions. But here is the burial scene of Denys.
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• Meryl Streep - Karen Blixen
• Robert Redford - Denys Finch Hatton
• Klaus Maria Brandauer - Bror Blixen/Hans Blixen
• Michael Kitchen - Berkeley Cole
• Malick Bowens - Farah
• Joseph Thiaka - Kamante
• Stephen Kinyanjui - Kinanjui
• Michael Gough - Baron Delamere
• Suzanna Hamilton - Felicity
• Rachel Kempson - Lady Belfield
• Graham Crowden - Lord Belfield
• Benny Young - Minister
• Leslie Phillips - Sir Joseph (this was presumably meant to be Sir Joseph Aloysius Byrne, who took office as the Governor in early 1931)
• Annabel Maule - Lady Byrne
• Dr. Steven Kee - Extra
• Iman - Mariammo

Academy Awards

The film won seven Academy Awards and was nominated in a further four categories.^[4]

Won

• Best Picture
• Best Director (Sydney Pollack)
• Best Art Direction (Stephen Grimes, Josie MacAvin)
• Best Cinematography (David Watkin)
• Writing Adapted Screenplay (Kurt Luedtke)
• Original Music Score
• Sound

Nominated

• Best Actress (Meryl Streep)
• Best Supporting Actor (Klaus Maria Brandauer)
• Costume Design (Milena Canonero)
• Film Editing (Fredric Steinkamp, William Steinkamp, Pembroke Herring, and Sheldon Kahn)

[edit] Golden Globes

The film won three Golden Globes (Best Picture, Supporting Actor, Original Score).

[edit] AFI

American Film Institute recognition

• 2002 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions #13
• 2005 AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores #15

"He prayeth well that loveth well both man and bird and beast" from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

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Part 2 of Sydney Pollack's interview (Out of Africa)
Sydney answers about actors not going out to "sell" a movie when it is released.
Uploaded by dvdguy2011

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WATCHING MY FAVORITE MOVIES...

..IT'S LIKE GOING TO THE WELL. IT'S LIKE COMFORT FOOD, ONLY IT'S COMFORT MOVIES.

Some movies I watch again and love them just as much as the first time. I know the reason I feel down a bit today. It is my issue to deal with. And I will. In the meantime, thinking about the movies that I love to watch makes me feel better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSqW9kYl7_U
Clint and Meryl
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This movie has always made me feel good.
She's Like the Wind composed and sung by Patrick Swayze

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNKrCuPGtzY
The Notebook
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Meryl Streep and Robert Redford

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCFyFqsWZXs
I'm with Denys on this one

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Ioan Gruffudd and company in Amazing Grace

Thanks!

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Now..I would like to ask you to...

Find An Event In Your Area

Dream for Darfur

events

www.savedarfur.org/dreamfordarfur

The Beijing China Olympics 2008 Theme is

ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM

We'd Like To Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur

Do Something to Use Your Freedom of Speech
To Stand Up and Stand Out Against Genocide
Don’t Be Complicit
Don’t Choose Silence
Don’t Choose Apathy
Don’t Choose Ignorance
Be Proactive
Be Alive
Be Aware
Be Present
Do Something To Tell Your Leaders To Lead
In This Human Disaster of Genocide
If Not You, Then Who?

The Genocide is Four and A Half Years Old
The Holocaust Went On For Twelve Years
…Before We the People’s Government Did Something Right
…Does That Mean We Are Going to Wait Eight More Years
Until We Decide Darfuri Families
Have Suffered Enough On Our Watch?!

Freedom of Speech means
nothing
if you don’t exercise it.

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