Australia is director Baz Luhrmann's latest film. Luhrmann is also responsible for Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet. Australia stars Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman and tells the epic love story between an Australian ranch hand (Jackman) and a very proper and highly refined English woman (Kidman). The film is similar to Luhrmann's other films in it's delivery. Australia is more interested in telling an epic tale with stunning visuals and a highly stylilized delivery rather than any form of reality. I think a lot of the criticism directed towards the film is due to the film's advertising strategy. The film was billed as an epic and prepared the viewer for a gritty, epic and realistic portrayal of life in Australia, but that is not what Australia is at all. It is a lighthearted farse with epic sequences, beautiful scenery, and amazing costumes and sets. The Australian ranch hand is known as the drover and his real name is never revealed, which should tip off viewers to the type of film they are dealing with. The movie is set in Darwin, Australia during World War II. Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) is fresh off the boat from England in search of her husband's cattle station deep in the outback. She meets the drover (Jackman) and he takes her out to the station. She finds out her husband is dead and learns of his valient struggle against the monopolistic Carney Cattle Company. She decides to stay and try to sell her cattle to the Australian Army. The drover helps her drive the cattle to the seaport and beat the Carney Company and they fall in love. Lady Ashley befriends a young orphaned Aboriginal boy named Nullah and takes him in. Nullah goes off to school and Lady Ashley and the drover prepare to head back to their cattle station, but the Japanese surprise attack Darwin. The second half of the movie deals with the chaos of the Japanese attack and the attempts of the drover and Lady Ashley to find Nullah. I really enjoyed Australia and highly recommend it. Do not expect too much however. It is a lighthearted picture with amazing photography and amazing costumes, not a film full of realism.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Australia - Recent Release Review
Australia is director Baz Luhrmann's latest film. Luhrmann is also responsible for Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet. Australia stars Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman and tells the epic love story between an Australian ranch hand (Jackman) and a very proper and highly refined English woman (Kidman). The film is similar to Luhrmann's other films in it's delivery. Australia is more interested in telling an epic tale with stunning visuals and a highly stylilized delivery rather than any form of reality. I think a lot of the criticism directed towards the film is due to the film's advertising strategy. The film was billed as an epic and prepared the viewer for a gritty, epic and realistic portrayal of life in Australia, but that is not what Australia is at all. It is a lighthearted farse with epic sequences, beautiful scenery, and amazing costumes and sets. The Australian ranch hand is known as the drover and his real name is never revealed, which should tip off viewers to the type of film they are dealing with. The movie is set in Darwin, Australia during World War II. Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) is fresh off the boat from England in search of her husband's cattle station deep in the outback. She meets the drover (Jackman) and he takes her out to the station. She finds out her husband is dead and learns of his valient struggle against the monopolistic Carney Cattle Company. She decides to stay and try to sell her cattle to the Australian Army. The drover helps her drive the cattle to the seaport and beat the Carney Company and they fall in love. Lady Ashley befriends a young orphaned Aboriginal boy named Nullah and takes him in. Nullah goes off to school and Lady Ashley and the drover prepare to head back to their cattle station, but the Japanese surprise attack Darwin. The second half of the movie deals with the chaos of the Japanese attack and the attempts of the drover and Lady Ashley to find Nullah. I really enjoyed Australia and highly recommend it. Do not expect too much however. It is a lighthearted picture with amazing photography and amazing costumes, not a film full of realism.
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