Australia is a new modern epic, that is very good, but its no Gone with the Wind

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.  

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(RE-POSTING FROM 7/6/08)

“The Invasion” a decent remake, a decent rental
 

 Its almost been a year since “The Invasion” hit theaters (August 2007), and its one of those movies I wanted to see, but just kept putting off… for one thing, it didn’t do so well at the box office (only making $15 million with a budget of $80 million)… and it didn’t get a lot of buzz after it hit theaters… but it was also overshadowed the weekend it opened against “Superbad” and by four other movies still playing and winning at the box office “Spider-Man 3″, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”, “Transformers”, and “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”… needless to say, I finally saw it and… it was a pretty good rental.