Kim
Basinger startled the industry with L.A. Confidential. Almost written off as the
lesser half of a Hollywood power-marriage--suddenly she had artistic credibility.
In I Dreamed of Africa, Basinger's stock will suffer a bit, as she turns in a
performance that's at times strong, but mostly uneven.
Basinger
plays a daughter of privilege, who is convinced by new love Vincent Perez to start
a new life in Africa. With her young son and Perez, they decide to start over
in Kenya. While there, they discover a new world full of beauty, danger, and tragedy.
I
Dreamed of Africa, as directed by Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire), aspires to be
epic like Sydney Pollock's Out of Africa, but there seems to be chunks missing
from the plot, making everything seem muddled. This family remains in Kenya for
years, but we never get that feeling. Also problematic is the absence of chemistry
between Basinger and Perez. Without it, the audience can't sympathize with their
situations. Worst of all, there are moments in this film that should pack a dramatic
wallop, but instead fall flat--in particular, a funeral sequence that's downright
laughable.
Basinger
is supposed to be this strong independent female type, but she never seems to
go through any kind of transformation in this film. Unfortunately, this picture
pales in comparison to similar films with more character like Mosquito Coast which
featured an outstanding performance from Harrison Ford.
In
I Dreamed of Africa, you will see the beauty of this dreamlike world, but you'll
never feel its heart.
