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.