“Australia,” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, is essentially a romance although director Baz Luhrmann freely mixes genres, making “Australia” also a western, a war movie and social commentary. In newspaper interviews, Luhrmann admits that an early influence on his career is “Lawrence of Arabia.” And from the swooping camera shots to the swelling music to the wide panoramic vistas, “Australia” certainly has an epic feel. For the most part, Luhrmann succeeds in keeping his audience engaged in his 2-hour-and-35-minute adventure. Needless to say, the plot is fairly complicated. “Australia” is narrated by a young boy of mixed race, Nullah (newcomer Brandon Walters), the illegitimate son of an Aboriginal mother and white father. And while it opens in 1939, shortly before World War II and the Japanese bombing of Darwin, Australia, it immediately jumps to an earlier time period. Drover (Jackman) has been hired to escort Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) to her husband’s cattle ranch. When they discover he has been murdered, Sarah is intent on selling the property, including the 1,500 head of cattle. However, a couple of things change Sarah’s mind: First, she meets Nullah; second she’s seduced by the beauty of the land; and third, she discovers King Carney (Bryan Brown) is trying to corner the local beef market and his condescending manner goads her into digging in her heels.
“Australia” seeks to address the ‘stolen generations’ issue of half-white/half-Aboriginal children who were taken from their families and re-located by the government. Nullah’s precarious situation and the way Sarah fights for him is one of the films most successful aspects. Also effective is the incorporation of Nullah’s magic man grandfather, King George (David Gulpilil), adding a dimension of magic realism. Nicole Kidman is wonderfully expressive, from the rather comic start to the heartbreaking finish and Hugh Jackman is appropriately dashing and macho as romantic lead and hero. Especially captivating is Brandon Walters whose character holds the movie together. If Luhrmann intended to rouse you to laughter and tears with magnificent visions and jolts of emotion, he succeeds. “Australia” is certainly worth seeing. 11/28/08
1 comment:
"Australia" has the makings of a classic and could be around for a long time. Kidman does a remarkabnle job as an English
aristocrat trying to take over for her dead husband in the cattle business. She is up against ruthless competition and quickly shows the depth of her character when put to the test. Unfortunately the "syrupy" ending and poor editing job is Australia's downfall.
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