Australia

Genre: Drama & Romance
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, John Jarratt, Jacek Koman, David Wenham,
Director: Baz Luhrmann

It's hard to say what exactly is the main background or the central theme of Baz Luhrmann's latest movie, “Australia”, opening this week in US theaters. From a broad point of view, taking up the Aussie movie tradition, the movie evolves on Australia's wild and arid fields, bathed in the red sunlight, almost to beautiful for the seemingly trivial central motive: British uptight lady versus brutal Aussie “red-neck”. Watching how the movie unfolds poetical landscapes, angel choirs and other human based controversies, the honest presumption is that Luhrmann is trying to pay homage to his native country, while making a blast out of his directing.

The movie stars Nicole Kidman playing Lady Sarah Ashley, who arrives at her husband's cattle farm in the vast Northern Territory in September 1939. She crosses the estate guided by a mysterious, gorgeous and rough cattle helper, simply named the Drover, played by Hugh Jackman. Jackman is exceptional in this role, which distinguishes him in every way from his Wolverine side, showing talent capable of sustaining Kidman's precious mannerism and cold beauty, burning them down with warmth and sheer force pouring out from his bear muscles (thanks for the fan service, Mr Luhrmann) and breath taking scenery. Anyway, when Kidman finds out her husband was killed and the farm is on the verge of being sold out at ridiculous prices, she takes up her herd and playing Little Bo Peep with cattle embarks on a “Gone With the Wind” voyage with Jackman who helps her along the way...in various ways.

Keeping it serious, the movie changes from the romantic-wild west-adventure story in a World War II drama. As they reach the city of Darwin, they have to witness the Japanese bombarding of Darwin, which actually happened in 1942. Either way, Luhrmann is quite capable of sustaining credibility of the movie's transitions, but we only wished that he could do it more evenly original, and not making the last part of the movie a “Pearl Harbor” remake. Nevertheless, if anyone wishes to see the movie, the 156 minutes of entertainment are sure to bring quite an experience for the viewer. With so many types of themes, intrigues and characters in one movie, it's easy for the movie not to be taken for granted, but if you mind your skepticism, maybe around this Christmas you might feel emotional again.

Previous weeks:

Comments

Your Comment: