The nearly 3 hour run time of Australia is noticeable, but the movie’s plot didn’t drag – there’s just a lot of story to tell

With its sweeping scenes, set pieces, costumes and great cinematography, Australia could get some Academy Awards – Nicole Kidman could get a nomination, but Hugh Jackman probably won’t – there’s just too many strong performances from male leads already this year – and more to come in the next few weeks

 “Australia”

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for some violence, a scene of sensuality, and brief strong language) (2 hr, 45 min)

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Tony Barry, David Gulpilil, Brandon Walters, David Wenham, Jack Thompson

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Genre: Period Adventure/Drama/War/Western/Epic

The Plot: Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a stock-man in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand.

MY TAKE (spoiler-free): I’ve always wanted to go to Australia, in middle school I even had a pen pal from Australia and was jealous when my grandparents went to Australia and literally – all I got was a t-shirt.  The scenery and the sweeping landscapes in this movie may be enough to hold me over for a few more years.

While other modern epics like Lord of the Rings (2001), Gladiator (2000), Empire of the Sun (1987), are better, Australia is a dramatic look back at a time in history when most Americans were focused on the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the U.S. involvement in World War II.

In Australia, the film’s smart casting of native Australians Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman pays off – as they grab the accent and effortlessly breathe life into their characters.   Their chemistry is great – going from prickly to passionate over the movie’s nearly 3 hours.  

Some of the more memorable moments of their chemistry are in the first half of the movie when the two first meet and are getting to know each other.  When Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) wants to help Drover (Jackman) drive cattle across the arid land she professes to know something about riding horses from her days of riding back on the family estate in England and he quips back “this aint trotting”.

Through the early moments of the film, we see that this time in northern Australia’s history is thick with racial tension between the white folk and the aborigines and the condemned children called “creamies” that are the byproduct of the two classes.

Nicole Kidman and Brandon Walters in "Australia" courtesy 20th Century Fox

And that’s where one of the real gems of this movie comes in: 12 year old Brandon Walters, who plays the aboriginal child Nullah, who’s father is one of the bad white men in the movie.   Walters shines as Nullah, carrying lines of great depth and meaning and moments that he totally pulls off in his first movie role – his is another great example of child acting this year!!!

THE BOTTOM LINE: The imagery and depth of this movie is so strong, complimented by good acting performances and a good story… I give it 7.9 out of 10… knowing that it probably won’t win any major awards, but it is a very solid movie.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

 
“Australia” poster courtesy 20th Century Fox

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