''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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ON ELECTION DAY BUSH ANNOUNCED (DID YOU HEAR THE ANNOUNCEMENT?) LEASING UTAH WILDERNESS FOR OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION

AMERICANS REJECTED 'DRILL, BABY, DRILL.'
BUSH SHOULD RESPECT OUR CHOICE

Source: www.onearth.org

By Robert Redford

Part of the change Americans just voted for in overwhelming numbers was to move away from the failed energy philosophy of "drill, baby, drill" to a more farsighted strategy, emphasized by Barack Obama, based on clean, renewable energy and efficiency. Yet on the very day that we raised our voices for change, the Bush administration dragged us in the opposite direction.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cynically chose November 4 to announce a last-minute plan to lease huge swaths of majestic wilderness in eastern Utah for oil and gas extraction one month before President-elect Obama takes office.

As its clock runs out, the Bush administration also is trying to open-up drilling all over the Rockies and Alaska, to green-light oil shale leasing, and to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Though sad, it's no surprise, coming as it does from the same crowd that designed a misguided national energy policy in secret meetings with the oil, gas and coal industries.

The BLM didn't just try to slip the audacious Utah lease maneuver past the American people on an historic election day, it actually hid the ball from its sister agency, the National Park Service, and then rejected the Service's request for more time to review the scheme.

Among the 360,000 acres to be auctioned for industrial development is pristine land near Canyonlands National Park, adjacent to Arches National Park and Dinosaur National Monument. This Christmas gift to the dirty fuel industry includes parts of Desolation Canyon, named in 1869 by the explorer John Wesley Powell, which has been proposed for national park status. In fact, the BLM itself described Desolation Canyon nine years ago as "a place where a visitor can experience true solitude -- where the forces of nature continue to shape the colorful, rugged landscape."

Words alone cannot do justice to the beauty of these places, but they do capture the absurdity of the Bush plan. Oil and gas drilling in Desolation Canyon? Industrial development along the meandering Green River? The thought makes one wince.

The Obama transition team already has signaled its opposition to the leases, and said that once in office the Obama administration will try to reverse them. Let's hope that's possible. Utah's eastern expanse is one of America's few remaining wilderness treasures. It's our land, it's our legacy, but will it still be here for our children and grandchildren? We made our wishes about that known loudly and clearly on election day.

We voted to take control of our own destiny by breaking our addiction to dirty fuels. We voted to re-power America with clean energy from wind, solar and geothermal power. We voted to use of our greatest resource, American ingenuity, to build economic, energy and climate security, and to preserve our natural heritage. Yes we did. And yes we can.

Robert Redford, an actor, director and environmental activist, is a Trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council and is the founder of Sundance, in Utah.

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Related stories:

Burning the Future: Coal in America ~ movie trailer

About the Film

Read the rave review in Variety!

Runtime:

89 minutes, Dolby 5.1 2008

Quick Facts:

36% of US global warming emissions comes from the approximately 501 coal-burning power plants that provide the nation with over half its electricity - more than all other sources combined.

Every eleven and one-half days, the explosive equivalent of the Hiroshima atomic bomb is unleashed upon the mountains of southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky - for coal.

Short Synopsis:

In Burning the Future: Coal in America, writer/director David Novack examines the explosive forces that have set in motion a groundswell of conflict between the coal industry and residents of West Virginia. Confronted by an emerging coal-based US energy policy, local activists watch the nation praise coal without regard to the devastation caused by its extraction. Faced with toxic ground water, the obliteration of 1.4 million acres of mountains, and a government that appeases industry, our heroes demonstrate a strength of purpose and character in their improbable fight to arouse the nation's help in protecting their mountains, saving their families, and preserving their way of life.

Reviews:

"This compelling and timely film burns through the 'clean coal' rhetoric of industry front groups, showing the harsh truth of the coal story and urging us all to curb our energy use and rely more on clean energy to power our society."

Bruce Nilles, Director, National Coal Campaign Sierra Club

"Burning the Future is a powerful and stirring account of the cultural and ecological impacts of an industry on its last legs - a testimony from the front-lines of resistance to coal."

Rebecca Tarbotton, Global Campaign Director Rainforest Action Network

"...This moving and disturbing story adds the human element to a sanitized political debate by telling the dirty truth about coal in America. Burning the Future just might help us move politicians to solve global warming and our country's energy needs through clean power now."

Pam Solo, Founder and President Civil Society Institute

"Think your electricity usage doesn't matter? Think again! Novak's film enlivens the phrase 'think globally, act locally' as you journey with West Virginia residents in their courageous efforts to save their beloved mountains, communities and ultimately life on earth as we know it."

Janet Keating, Co-Director Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition

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Mountain Mourning

Uploaded by agustgudmundsson

Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition www.ohvec.org

* Burning Waste Coal is Much More Polluting than Burning Coal

* Coal Impoundment Location and Warning System

* Mountain Justice

You Can End Mountaintop Removal

Mountaintop removal is a radical form of coal mining in which entire mountains are literally blown up -- and it is happening here in America on a scale that is almost unimaginable.

Mountaintop removal is devastating hundreds of square miles of Appalachia; polluting the headwaters of rivers that provide drinking water to millions of Americans; and destroying a distinctly American culture that has endured for generations.

But mountaintop removal can be stopped -- with the help of people like you.

Source: www.ilovemountains.org

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* Kentuckians Protest Strip Mining Rule Change

* Uncontrolled strip mining and mountaintop removal in West Virginia is destroying the beautiful landscape and mountain heritage of our people.

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* See Youtube video by clicking this text. Sunday, July 20, 2008 at National Coal Corporation's Zeb Mountain mine in Campbell County, Tennessee, four protesters were arrested in solidarity with United Mountain Defense, Three Rivers Earth First!, Mountain Justice, Christians for the Mountains and coal-impacted residents of Appalachia.

These brave individuals gave speeches of hope for solidarity amongst miners, activists and entire communities that are affected by the devastations of surface mining for coal. Holding hands and singing Amazing Grace along with more than 50 protesters behind them, they crossed the line onto National Coal's property. Once across the line police calmly handcuffed and arrested them.

Having already destroyed more than 1,300 acres of Zeb Mountain, Knoxville-based National Coal has set its sights on other peaks across the state. Among the places it wants to mine is land in Sundquist Wildlife Management Area, a public game preserve that drains into Nashville's drinking water supply.

One of those arrested yesterday was Eric Blevins of Grandview, Tenn. "I crossed an artificial line today because Appalachia is my homeland, and its life is being destroyed far faster than it can regenerate," he said. "I wanted to open people's minds to how insane it is that we allow corporations to own land without loving it and keeping life sustainable."

The march began with a prayer led by Christians for the Mountains and included political theater, giant puppets, speeches, and renditions of "Rocky Top," one of Tennessee's state songs. It was organized by United Mountain Defense, Mountain Justice and Three Rivers Earth First!
Text by kymtnjustice
www.mountainjusticesummer.org

Contact your U.S. Senator - Contact information

Contact your U.S. Representative - Contact information

Contact President-elect Obama - Contact information

THAT CERTAIN SOMETHING – IT’S SO ENJOYABLE…

ISN’T IT? You see it. It happens between actors. I wonder do they know it is special too? Those are the scenes that I can watch over and over and never get tired of them. It happens for me with Dirty Dancing. But then I think of the magic of the music and the way Patrick Swayze moves. It happens for me with Robert Redford.

I’ll start with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTvjEkBGte0

The Horsewhisperer with Annie Graves (Kristin Scott Thomas) and Tom Booker (Robert Redford):
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV0mwryvjwU

Robert Redford on Charlie Rose
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoH7lIwcdEI

Dirty Dancing - Solomon Burke’s Cry To Me - Patrick Swayze:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKhiqXUsaS4

Dirty Dancing – The Time of My Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VSuCtebBT0

Hungry Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvcqt_4NOds
Wonderful Video Montage of Dirty Dancing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agpA1opKiwY

The Bridges of Madison County
Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QYmzgAgQyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSqW9kYl7_U

The Notebook
Ryan Gosling and Rachel Adams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNKrCuPGtzY

I fell for the television ABC show, Brothers and Sisters, last year when Kevin and Scotty were coupled. Kevin is played by Matthew Rhys of Cardiff, Wales. Read more about Matthew Rhys: http://ioanzone.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=114&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60 Matthew is special as an actor, but I especially liked Luke MacFarlane, aka Scotty Wandell, son of Wally and Bertha, paired with Matthew’s Kevin. Then came Chad played by Jason Lewis for Kevin’s love interest. Okay… so I didn’t like Chad with Kevin. Jason just didn’t look comfortable being his gay character. Then came along Eric Winter as Jason MacAllister, a minister-brother of Rob Lowe’s character, Robert. Eric Winter – I like. But tonight we got a lot of looks at Luke MacFarlane’s Scotty again. And you know what, I sat there and said to myself “They just have something special”… when they are together on the screen. So Kevin didn’t let Scotty get the kiss he was going for – but they are going to try to be friends while Eric is a missionary in Malaysia. I say send Kevin to Malaysia - that would be so cool.

In the meantime, I like not knowing ahead of time what is going to happen, but I think it is obvious that Kevin’s loyalty to his boyfriend, Jason/Eric Winter is going to be tested. It just was set up in tonight’s episode. It is always good writing for Kevin’s character when Jon Robin Baitz is writing the script and tonight was no exception to that.

This one includes the Kevin and Jason irresistible kiss:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQReNI2oJl4

Last season’s Scotty and Kevin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6YiMkHHx_Q

This is one of my two favorite scenes with Kevin and Scotty, however there is one little move that Kevin does at the end that is cut off in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQPsSiSC3eo

And this is the other favorite scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErljOzjR_-k