Cast: Kim Basinger, Vincent Perez, Liam Aiken, Garrett Strommen, Eva Marie Saint, Daniel Craig, Lance Reddick
Director: Hugh Hudson
Producers: Stanley R. Jaffe, Allyn Stewart
Screenplay: Paula Milne and Susan Shilliday, based on the book by Kuki Gallmann
Cinematography: Bernard Lutic
Music: Maurice Jarre
U.S. Distributor: Columbia Pictures
In order to dream, it is first necessary to sleep, and I Dreamed of Africa is the kind of movie that can quickly and efficiently put almost any movie-goer into a state of sound slumber. Gorgeous to look at but shallow on any meaningful level, Hugh Hudson's latest motion picture recalls those IMAX documentaries about Africa's wildlife. We see herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plains, elephants romping in the distance, and breathtaking shots of mountains and valleys. It's all very striking, and, unfortunately, pretty pointless, because the story used as a framework for Bernard Lutic's inspiring cinematography is thinner than tissue paper.
Another problem is that I Dreamed of Africa relies on the dubious acting ability of Kim Basinger. Admittedly, Basinger was good in her last role (for which she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar), that of a prostitute in L.A. Confidential. There, however, she fit snugly into the arms of a strong cast; here, she's supposed to carry the film. It's a task she's not up to. Admittedly, Basinger isn't as awful as in some of her worst work (The Real McCoy comes to mind), but she's not great, either. At best, this can be considered an uneven performance. There are times when she and co-star Vincent Perez (the European hunk who has never shown more than a scintilla of talent as a thespian) seem to be in a contest to determine who can be the least convincing. If I was the judge, I'd rate it a tie.
The story is bare bones in nature. It concerns an Italian woman, Kuki Gallmann (Basinger), who speaks with an impeccable American accent. After being seriously injured in an automobile accident, she evaluates a lackluster life and decides to marry Paolo (Perez), who has been by her side through her recuperation. Accompanied by her seven year-old son, Emanuele (Liam Aiken), Kuki and Paolo move to Kenya, where they intend to free themselves from the restrictions of society and live a life with meaning. Kuki is immediately enraptured by the beauty of the ranch Paolo buys, but life in Africa is not without dangers. Not only is the local fauna a constant source of uncertainty, but the presence of gun-toting poachers (who kill rhinos and elephants for ivory) presents an even greater threat.
I Dreamed of Africa is an episodic film, and moves rather clumsily from one segment to another. Despite the beauty of the photography, there is not a strong sense of atmosphere, nor do any of the "dangerous" sequences generate a real sense of menace. In fact, the film is constructed in a dull and pedantic fashion - one would think that a story relating the struggles of a civilized family coping with life on the African plains would be at least moderately interesting, but I Dreamed of Africa does little in the way of involving the audience. In addition, character development is poor; only Kuki occasionally emerges from the shallow sketchiness that defines every other personality who meanders through this film.
I Dreamed of Africa is based on the memoirs of conservationist Kuki Gallmann, but the "inspired by a true story" label in no way acquits a motion picture from the responsibility of telling an interesting tale. The director is Hugh Hudson, who was once a well-respected filmmaker (his credits include Chariots of Fire and Greystoke). Unfortunately, his work here looks like the product of someone who has lost his touch. If I Dreamed of Africa was better, it might warrant a comparison to Gorillas In the Mist or Out of Africa, but this film's lack of passion, focus, and structure would render any such discussion unproductive. Those in the mood to see some stunning moving pictures of the African landscape may enjoy parts of I Dreamed of Africa; those wanting to see a movie will have a different reaction.
© 2000 James Berardinelli