Out Of Africa- Actually, my first time through this behemoth. It is a Best Picture winner, and it currently has audio description on Netflix. All best Picture winners should have audio description. I say this, because I think Netflix also has Parasite, which does not. But, this is a 2 hour, 40 minute movie that felt like three. runtime doesn’t always bother me, as I didn’t feel it with the brutalist or Oppenheimer, but I did here. Meryl Streep stars, and is great, but she is always great. the debate becomes about which performances she should have actually won for. I would have swapped her this year for Whoopi Goldbergg, which would have made Whoopi the groundbreaker back in the 80’s. I’m not big into every single film with a white savior complex, which this film is somewhat guilty of. However, the score is lovely, and I’m certain that because they shot in Africa it is a beautiful film. The audio description is really strong, trying to capture the beauty of the landscape, while measured against period costumes, acting choices, and lion attacks. the lion scene is terrific. This is a much better audio description track than my quality check for Tank was yesterday. The attention to detail is such that they even point out when Streep brushes away cigarette ash. Redford’s accent is non-specific, and he sounds like he’s from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, which is why he wasn’t nominated, because Streep’s accent is consistent and flawless. I can think of better films from 1985, and films that weren’t nominated that would make for a better best Picture winner. Not only would the color Purple have been a better choice, but what about Back to The Future? ran? Brazil? Choices.
Fresh- Final Grade: B+, Audio description: A-
Lion King At The Hollywood Bowl- Not a full performance of the show, more like a DVD special feature. They sing some songs, and there’s a lot of retrospective interviewing going on with people involved in the Lion King. Actually, Jennifer Hudson dominates this as she talks about this being a full circle moment for her, since she sang circle Of Life on American Idol. Original singing voice of Simba makes an appearance, but not Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and a misguided casting of North West to sing I just Can’t Wait To Be King feels like Disney is clout chasing. Like and subscribe to Disney? But, aside from Hudson singing Circle Of Life like she was put on this planet to do just that, the highlight was Jeremy Irons performing be Prepared. the audio description is mostly limited to introductions, but it does mention some backup dancers, and when scenes from one of the movies is playing. It is functional. This isn’t a movie, nor a full production of anything. I would equate this to a special feature on an Anniversary release for a DVD/BluRay. I havent’ seen enough f that material, or thought about how to grade it, to put a grade on anything here, because there’s really nothing like it. It isn’t a concert, it isn’t a making of, it isn’t a full retrospective. it features songs from the cartoon, the stage show, and even Mufasa. It is everything and nothing.
