Robert Redford: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

2. Denys Finch Hayton - Out Of Africa (1985)

Out of Africa is based on the memoirs of Danish author Karen Blixen, published under the pseudonym Isak Denisen. It follows the author (Meryl Streep) as she enters into a marriage of convenience with her aristocrat friend Baron Bror Blixen (Klaus Maria Brandauer). The couple move to East Africa and start a dairy farm, but Karen is unhappy due to her husband's womanising. She develops a friendship with local big-game hunter Denys Finch Hayton, which grows into something more after she throws her husband out.

Out of Africa has some huge narrative problems, most of which stem from Sydney Pollack's refusal to 'cut his luvvies', i.e. remove scenes present in the book which aren't helpful in telling the story on film. Its biggest problem, however, is the complete lack of chemistry between Redford and Streep. While Streep's performance is typically showy and preening, Redford looks almost bored in her company: his delivery is flat, his facial expressions are limited, and he seems confused or reluctant in the part. Throw in a relationship that has little or no development and you have one disappointing epic.