Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hrs, 45 mins
Cast:
- Nicole Kidman
- Hugh Jackman
- David Wenham
- Bryan Brown
- Jack Thompson
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Review - "Australia"
Reviewer: Charise Payne
Rating:
When I think of the movie Australia, the word epic comes to mind. This beautifully-shot, ambitious film tells the story of the Northern Territory of Australia between 1939 and 1941 during World War II.
Nicole Kidman plays Lady Sarah Ashley, an Englishwoman who inherits a sprawling cattle ranch that her now-dead husband left barely holding its own. To make sure the ranch stays afloat, Ms. Boss, as she is called, forms an alliance with The Drover (played by Hugh Jackman). His job is to help her drive the cattle to town so she can earn enough money to fight the other local cattle baron, King Carney (played by Bryan Brown).
The film is divided into two sections: the arrival of Mrs. Boss to Australia, her emotional adoption of a half-Aboriginal boy, the cattle drive, and her romance with the Dover. The film actually does feel like it stops, and you expect it to end until you realize some major plots have not been resolved.
The second half of the film involves the Japanese attack on Northern Australia — the city of Darwin to be exact — and the consequences and aftermaths of the attack. The second half of the film had me in tears. I loved the drama and how it emotionally tugged at my heart, but the ending was fairly predictable. The best part of the second half for me was the education the film provides. I never knew about the Aboriginal socity and how children were taken from their families for being half Aboriginal. I also had no clue about the Japanese attacks on Australia. The sorrow I felt after this film caused me to do more research about how World War II affected Australia as well.
This is what a great film gets you to do: to think for yourself. And Baz Luhrmann certainly knows how to make great films. With his earlier films credits, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo+Juliet, and Moulin Rouge, Luhrmann has proven his ability to make a film that moves you but also captivates your mind.
My one issue with the film was the artifical settings. Australia is a big, beautiful film, shot by Mandy Walker, but there were scenes that didn't match the film. They were recreated in the studio, but instead of doing a realistic backdrop, the scene would have an artifical, dream-like quality to it. Luhrmann's style is very theatrical, and these scenes would have been perfect for Moulin Rouge, but they didn't work in Australia. Why use fake scenery when you have the beauty of the outback within your grasp?
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman do an excellent job bringing the truth out in their characters, but for me, the movie was stolen by the 12-year-old Aboriginal boy Brandon Walters. He completely enthralled me, and his performance was wonderful.
Australia is an impressive film that will captivate your heart. It does have its flaws, but they shouldn't stop you from seeing this film. If you are looking for a romantic action/adventure, Australia is a must-see.
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