The third and final part of the film is the rise of the hero. Drover becomes the reluctant hero after the couples’ dream is shattered by the Japanese bombing of Darwin to embers. The children are lost and evil triumphs it seems, but in the end King George plants a fatal stake in the heart of the villain — a “vampire” created by greed.
The storyline and screenplay (written in part by Luhrmann) of Australia combine to create a rich tapestry. Acting, depth, and breadth of story line, attention to detail, and emotional inspiration are the cinematographic ingredients that make a period piece like this both epic and memorable. The genre tends to be expensive because it recreates time periods in vast beautiful settings and this movie certainly put its budget to good use.
Despite a few small blemishes I believe that Australia will be atop many Best Picture lists come January 22.
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