As you may expect Baz Luhrmann's Australia is a brash, outlandish, epic film that aspires to the classic likes of Lawrence of Arabia and Ben-Hur. But it's in its attempts to encompass an array of elements that it fails to work as it should. By aiming for what seems like as much as physically possible it achieves very little; it's a beautiful looking and well-acted bit of a mess.
Australia tells the story of Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), an English aristocrat who travels to the titled country just before World War II to protect the land she has inherited after the death of her husband. Before his death, her husband had set it up for a cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to help her drove her cattle from her land to the nearest town of Darwin to sell them. On their journey through unforgiving landscape, the two try to make their way to their destination whilst trying to evade the man who wants her land and eventually experience first-hand the bombing of Darwin by Japanese forces.
It's easy to see why certain people would find Australia appealing, particularly those who favour sweeping, fairy-tale like romance. It's got the two good-looking leads, the magnificent Australian landscape as the backdrop and a certain tributary tone to those classic, epic movies of the '50s and '60s. But it ceases at that point to work; the film tries to encompass so many different elements and spends so much time on each of them that it actually fails to make any of them successfully integrate. It feels forced and contrived in a way that makes eyes roll and causes groans aplenty.
What exactly is Australia? A melodrama? A romance tale? A war film? A historical piece? An ode to the titled country? A sweeping epic? Or all of the above? It very well aims to be all of those things but in its attempts to try a bit of everything it seldom successfully achieves any of them. It's also because of this that the film has a strange lack of any sort of emotional punch; all of this stuff is happening on-screen that should be pulling at your heart-strings or keeping you hooked but it doesn't. It oddly keeps us steps removed from what's going on, we're never emotionally invested it. And we rightly should be.
Article comments
1 - K G
Unfortunately even critics get it wrong.
This review has totally missed the point of the film and by doing so has revealed a lack of professional experience and objective ability. It becomes apparent halfway through the review that it has been viewed from the outside, while measured with local prudence? Much akin to an American, reviewing an Australian film, and suggesting that all of the details are incorrect!
"Although events depicted aren't exactly predictable" - So if it's not predictable, it aint Hollywood ?
"I honestly didn't think that so much stuff happening on the big-screen could be so uninteresting." - Tell that to the Stolen Generation.
"The film has its two leads on-screen for the majority of the film but we never become attached to them as an audience member." - Oh my.... where do I start with this? The lead character of the film is Nullah. This character directs the storyline and is truly what the film is about. Nullah depicts Australia in fine form.
It is HIS story. And beautifully told.
2 - Ross Miller
I didn't say that if it's not predictable it's not Hollywood. I wasn't speaking about it being a Hollywood film, I was speaking of this film itself.
The leader character is Nullah? I disagree. Who's names are on the all the posters and trailers? Yes, I know that's to "sell the film" but to me they were the main characters. After all they are on-screen most of the time, certainly more than the little boy is.
And of course I'm viewing it looking from the outside in; I'm not Australian (and don't know much about the culture etc). I then have to give my opinion as that outsider. It might be that since I'm not "in the know" already about some of the things that the film depicts make me "miss the magic".
Just my opinion, to each their own.
3 - STM
Ross: "and don't know much about the culture".
There isn't much to know ... it's virtually identical to American culture, with some subtle differences (like the convict gene that makes Australians look down on authority figures).
But not for nothing has Australia (the country) been tagged Little America.
4 - Belle 2
Oh no, here we go again! This makes two bad reviews of a movie I LOVED. Once again, I question myself. Am I too easily pleased? Am I too naive? I don't have the answers, all I know is that this movie, unlike any others in a long time, kept me at the edge of my seat. I was invested in the characters. I did care about what happened to them. I was engrossed in the movie to the point that I was unaware of the passing of time. I agree with KG above that Nullah was the main character of the movie. All the other characters supported him. His story is what will remain with me!!
5 - Michelle
Sadly Ross, you've missed the point on Baz Luhrmann's film making style. He is high camp, light on character detail and does like to make them look a little foolish. The characters in both Strictly Ballroom, and Moulin Rouge are a testament to this.
Please go and see both of those movies, along with Romeo and Juliet to get a feel for his film making style.
#3 â€" December 31, 2008 @ 08:12AM â€" STM
Have you ever been to Australia, and do you know any Australians? Many Australians hate the US, and want nothing to do with it. There was a collective sigh of relief, when by an overwhelming landslide, the US ass kissing Prime Minister was kicked out of office, but then you'd not know that.
6 - Dr Dreadful
Oooooh boy...
7 - STM
Lol. Best attempt yet at a put down by a rebel without a clue.
When you say many Australians don't like Americans, Michelle, do you mean a couple of thousand university students doing arts and smelling of cheap patchouli oil, Mullumbimby madness, rank dreadlocks and stale VB who might at the drop of a hat lend their name to any kind of protest from PETA, to Greenpeace, the Vegan anti-cheese movement, to the G20, or APEC, or picking on the World Youth Day pilgrims, or do you mean the rest of us - the many millions of us who work, raise families, have mortgages and don't jump up and down too much and who don't think badly of Americans at all (despite what many of us might think of the outgoing US administration)?
There's an Australian book out called Little America ... maybe you should read it.
And although I haven't spent my whole life in Australia, because as a boy I lived for a while in Europe and the middle-east, the best part of 40 years here probably qualifies me to know a bit about the place and how it works, what it looks like, and who we do and don't like.
John Howard wasn't kicked out because he was kissing George Bush's arse - he was kicked out because of WorkChoices (=NoChoices) and his attempt to undo 100 years of legislated protection for workers and the good Aussie commitment to a fair go for everyone that is a pillar of this society ... but you wouldn't know that would you, since I suspect you're not Australian as we don't use the term ass here unless we're describing a medium-sized odd-toed ungulate of the equine family or its equally stubborn but younger cousin, the Law.
Most of us just thought Howard's toadying up to Bush was funny ... and pathetic, just like his attempts to play cricket.
True: None of it helped him much, but ultimately it wasn't the reason he got the heave-ho. Australians hate toadying but they hate even more governments with a 1950s conservative mindset who inevitably go out of their way to divide this country into two Australias - the haves and have-nots ... and pressure on the hip-pocket nerve is a way more important issue than arse-kissing when it comes to getting rid of PMs whose time has come.
So, sorry, Michelle, you're wrong on all counts.
8 - Dr Dreadful
Stan,
Is 'Mullumbimby madness' what I think it is, or is it some uniquely Aussie hooch I haven't heard of, distilled from concentrated wichity grub juice, funnel web venom and eucalyptus oil?
9 - STM
Nah, it's what you think it is Doc.
I must mix up a batch of the other stuff though and see how it goes.
If I am capable of ever getting back to you Doc, I'll let you know if it's any good.
10 - STM
PS,did you notice that silly Michelle never came back for a second go
11 - Dr Dreadful
These driveby commenters are something, ain't they?
12 - STM
Maybe she's got on the mullumbimby madness.
If so, it's unlikely she'll be able to move or speak for a few days at least, especially if she's not used to it. Blows yer head orf.
Natural super-strong organic hydroponic, that stuff ... growing wild in places up there too.
At least I hope that last batch was growing wild. Wild crops CAN grow in rows, can't they?
See, this is the great thing about Oz - it's not just watermelons, cabbage, sugar cane, hippie girls stuck in the late-1960s, and tropical fruits that grow naturally up on the far north coast.
13 - Gray Hunter
The only issue I had with the movie was its length. Take at least half an hour off and it would have tightened up nicely.
And I agree that Nullah was the driving force, the "main character" of the movie.
14 - kia
i found the idea of the film before it appeared on screen odd. I am Australian, but you don't have to be Australian to know of its 'laid back' culture (especially in WA which is sometimes jokingly expressed as 'wait a-while') and certainly not a 'larger than life' kind of place.. which tends to be baz's style (which im a sucker for i admit). So i was suprised by how i found myself loving the film, and though it made me late for work it was so long ( the curious case of benjmin button ..titanic all of tese are long but good entertaining movies) , i enjoyed (almost) every second of it. This isn't because i found myself as i usually do drawn into the romance of the film - this is not what i think is the main point in the film as someone pointed out, but the little boy who stole my heart - i would adopt (yes at 18) him if i could. it is the focus i think on this little boy and his troubles and intrests in a land i've never found very intresting myself- that had me hooked. when you speak of 'squirming' i only found myself doing once, at the point where nicole kidman did her wide eyed gasp out of her tent at hugh jackman pouring water over his shirtless back ("please.." i remember whispering to my friend). but ive only really been pleased by hugh jackman because of his successful efforts in musical theatre. parts which my friend said we 'squirm-able' were those in which hugh jackman would say the cliche aussie slang such as 'bloody oath', but i found myself there laughing - i am under the impression he had this dialogue present for humour which is expressed also in many American movies such as when they say 'shrimp on the barby' etc - which is usually found funny.. i find it funny anyway!
as many people are accused of in reviewing (or in my case simply giving my opinion) i could be accused of being bias. as i have explained the fact of me being a young straight female who is usually drawn to the romance of films is not an issue here (see above), so the only other bias (and an important one at that) could be my being Australian. I admit im proud of baz's success as an australian as well as nicole kidman's and hugh jackman's but i myself am not a fan of my countries film industry (and theate at that) because of our 'tall poppy sydrome'(chopping down anyone who threatens success above them or someone they know ro love) which is a problem in our small competitve country.
oh haha and the politics discussion that got into this amused me. it is true some or many australian's dislike American's however not ALL australian's do. For me this is untrue and although i take more of a liking to the european culture ..and dislike the violence america has seems to have, i infact have a friend that goes back and forth from the US to travel its many famous cultured states that she loves so much. and even most australian's who have seen one of obama's speechers put him on a pedestal. without america i wouldn't have most of my favourite movies or television shows :P thats another way of looking at it.
I would also like everyone to know that i have read all of these posts and agree with at least one thing ..almost everyone has said. and although i have no qualifications in this matter besides completing high school, my opinion isjust as relevant as the next internet lurker.
:) keep smiling everyone