Australia
posted November 20, 2008 12:27 PM
It's no Outback Titanic...
There’s something almost deliciously audacious in naming a film after an entire continent—it conjures up an intoxicating sense of majesty and scale, the kind of sprawling, romantic epic that movie studios simply don’t bother making any more. Normally, this would be ripe territory for a nostalgia-kitsch auteur like Baz Luhrmann, whose passion for splattering his passions across the screen in such operatic indulgences as William Shakespeare’s Romeo+Juliet and Moulin Rouge would surely be multiplied tenfold if the subject were his native land. Normally. But Australia is anything but a normal film.
Undeniably ambitious, unabashedly melodramatic, unyieldingly Baz in every conceivable way, this costly, much-troubled, forever-in-production epic nonetheless falls short of its lofty ambitions; undone by an unfortunate combination of hubris, predictable studio meddling and fate. That’s not to say the film won’t have its admirers—there’s plenty to relish and enjoy in the nearly three-hour opus—but distributor 20th Century Fox’s hopes for an Outback Titanic should fall precipitously back to earth after second weekend word-of-mouth catches up with the hype.
It’s a particularly bad sign, in fact, when a film begins with a spoiler, the usual “historical backdrop” crawl going the extra step of telling audiences precisely where it’s all headed. That’s one thing if it’s the most famous maritime disaster in history but entirely another when the event in question is both little-known (outside Australia) and, in the overall dramatic context of the film, of relatively little importance. Nonetheless, audiences are immediately informed of the tragic events that befell the Australian port city of Darwin in the wake of Pearl Harbor, a similarly brutal Japanese attack that all but leveled the city and decimated its population.
With that anticlimactic detail now firmly embedded in viewers’ heads, Australia flashes back to that rosier time just a few years prior, when men and women of sturdy constitution lived an unmolested frontier lifestyle amid the pastoral beauty of a mystical land. The dirty little open secret tainting this backwater paradise is the longstanding government practice—detailed more seriously in Philip Noyce’s Rabbit-Proof Fence—of removing mixed race Aboriginal children from their families and placing them in the foster care of whites.
Not that any of this is even the least bit on the mind of Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), a proper Englishwoman who has made the long trek from the North Atlantic to the edge of the South Pacific to find out just what the devil her scoundrel of an absentee husband has been up to on their Down Under cattle ranch, Faraway Downs. What she finds instead is a dead husband, reportedly murdered by a local aboriginal magic man known as King George (David Gulpilil), and a ranch that is quite near total ruin. The source of the ruin—and quite likely the key to her husband’s death as well—appears to have less to do with the hardship of Australian life than the greed of monopolistic cattle baron King Carney (Bryan Brown) and a the treacherous station manager named Neil Fletcher (David Wenham) he has placed as his inside man at Faraway Downs.
To resurrect the ranch and beat Carney and Fletcher at their own game, Lady Ashley will need someone rugged, someone extraordinary, someone sweaty, hairy and manly with a Hugh Jackman-like square jaw, broad shoulders and throbbing pectorals—the kind of man who would star in a movie opposite Nicole Kidman if Russell Crowe had dropped out. A man just like… well, Hugh Jackman.
Though undeniably charming, Jackman’s itinerant cattle man Drover isn’t a terribly original archetype—like Humphrey Bogart’s Charlie Allnut in The African Queen and Michael Douglas’ Jack Colton in Romancing the Stone, he’s the frontier spit to a city woman’s polish, the diamond in the rough who puts the bloom into a lovelorn woman’s wilted soul—among other silly analogies and mixed metaphors. And when the two of them get together, by golly, they’re an unstoppable force of nature!
What has yet to be discussed here is the film’s narrator—a mixed-race Aboriginal boy named Nullah (Brandon Walters) whose mother works as a servant at Faraway Downs. Always at risk of being taken away by the authorities, Nullah serves the dual purpose of providing the film a kind of Greek Chorus while validating its cultural soul. Simply put, it’s okay to root for white colonials if an indigenous child this beautiful and this beguiling loves them, too.
As the years roll by and World War II moves to the fore, it becomes clear that Luhrmann is aiming higher than he ought. The African Queen, Places in the Heart, Out of Africa and Doctor Zhivago as well as the 1948 Howard Hawks/John Wayne cattle opus Red River, all figure into the potpourri he desperately hopes will become the movie to forever define what it means to be Australian. Unfortunately, the result is more about what it means to be Baz. Luhrmann’s retro-art fetish and love of theatrical artifice are more subdued than in previous films, but still unmistakably present. Liberal use of CGI is well-integrated, as it was in Moulin Rouge, but ends up unduly distracting from Mandy Walker’s otherwise mesmerizing cinematography of Australia’s unique natural beauty.
Even still, whether or not Luhrmann’s aesthetic sensibilities were the right fit for a story of this type—and it appears they weren’t—the greater problem centers on the story itself, which aspires far too hungrily to be compared to great screen romances of the past to ever take on a life of its own. Nearly everything here feels derivative, like a flashy touristic bauble, a souvenir replica of the real thing. It’s a magnificent fraud, but a fraud just the same.
Just how much of this is the result of studio meddling one can only guess —Fox’s reported insistence that Luhrmann change the downer ending to something more upbeat is only one apparent point of interference and probably the least objectionable. That even the film’s harsher moments feel sanitized for the sake of a PG-13 rating is indicative of the more stifling contractual restraints with which studios now routinely blunt even the dullest narrative edge.
Nevertheless, Australia is not a complete failure. Though it repeatedly falls short of its lofty aspirations, audiences with appropriately tempered expectations will find much to enjoy. Beyond a clunky and often embarrassingly corny setup, the film eventually settles in with a steady tone and pace, yielding enough honest moments to at least draw even with the missteps.
To some, it may seem a spectacular sin to spend so much money and effort on a film of such little ultimate consequence. But if movies themselves are an art form of little consequence—which they are—then Baz’ worst sin here is to have attempted tackling a film ill-suited to bringing out the best in him. Whatever the film’s demerits—or Luhrmann’s—they’re a small thing compared to the countless Hollywood studio films of far greater expense which fail so routinely that they scarcely even appear on the public radar. That so much attention, both positive and negative, has already been lavished on Luhrmann’s effort suggests that this magnificently messy epic, despite all appearances, may yet have its day.
Distributor: Fox
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, David Gulpilil, David Ngoombujarra and Brandon Walters
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Screenwriter: Baz Luhrmann, Stuart Beattie, Ronald Harwood and Catherine Knapman
Producers: Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown and Catherine Knapman
Genre: Period Drama
Rating: PG-13
Running time: 165 min.
Release date: November 26, 2008
29 Comments
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Steph said:
Thank God there's at least one reviewer being honest. I'm here in the actual country, Australia, and the media are just lapping this up, hook line and sinker. There's a great article by an Aussie journalist, Aaron Darc, that's so honest you can only read it on his blog! www.aarondarc.com it's well worth the read, if you don't understand how this film fits into the local industry here. This expensive crap is drastically ruining the film industry here.
November 21, 2008 12:46 AM
Steven said:
I just stepped out te the Q&A and he director kept comparing the slavery issue in Gone With The Wind to the Abo racisim in is. He must becareful -- slavery in GWTW was portrayed NOT dealt with. see Rabbit Proof Fence.-- it's better.
November 23, 2008 5:14 PM
Wongsawatra said:
I don't think Rabbit proof fence is better than Australia.
I think Australia is a lot more better.
November 25, 2008 4:42 AM
Pamela said:
You know - some times ordinary people just want to watch a decent film. We don't always want to be taken into some inner self journey that has us cringing at just how awful we can be, or visit yet again the seedier sides of life or humanity. We don't always want to be sworn at, poked at, provoked, or have to turn our eyes from the torment and torture on screen, be it emotional or physical. Film makers today, make films for other film makers - but Baz has made a film for the audience. Just let us escape in peace for a while, let us just have a quiet think about our history, (yes I'm an Aussie), the failures of the past, the promise of the future. Can we just look up and out of ourselves for five minutes - watch a simple story that has a laugh at itself and still makes a worthy point to mainstream Australia about our aboriginal people and even Japan invading Darwin - a history that matters to Australians. This film is for us - just as so many other films are made for Americans, Brits, etc. Comapare it with some of the rubbish we've had to endure over the years from overseas film makers. Heaven forbid we just have a moment to enjoy one of our own stories. Baz is Baz - you can see his handprints all over his films, with his green screen scene shifts and enriched colour - so what? I've just been to see it and there were a heap of oldies in the cinema who loved every minute of it - remembering when they were little kids, and the Japanese attacked Darwin. I could hear them talking about it. Do you think they care about all the production points made in the above critique? Good on Baz for thinking beyond the elite and delivering what he said he would. Anything the studios removed will be included on DVD anway.
November 25, 2008 9:51 PM
Jack Stack said:
Luhrmann should have hired Kate Winslet and Russell Crowe who may have had real screen "chemistry" instead of attractive but uninteresting Kidman and Jackman who look good but that's about all. And he should have researched the myth of the "stolen children" and portrayed the real reason aboriginal or part aboriginal children were removed and, even today, are being saved from violent, abusive, deplorable and sexually threatening environments. If many of these children had not been saved - not "stolen" -they would have finished up dead.
November 26, 2008 12:46 PM
Linda said:
We viewed Australia last night in the East Kimberley town of Kununurra, out in the open air with lightning as a backdrop. It was fantastic!
November 26, 2008 1:47 PM
Alex said:
I'm also from down under, and I thought Australia was bloody aweful mate! Not the Australia I know...
The Australian Film Industry is in a dreadful state. With the bureaucrats in charge being unaccountable to no one.
The problem down under is: poor script development, tax breaks and nepotism...The latest flop being an 8 million dollar pot boiler called The Tender Hook, which, like Australia, is filled with nice scenery behind a god awful story and an undercooked script.
Alex
November 26, 2008 3:13 PM
Joe said:
I live in Darwin and have been eagerly awaiting the release of this film.
What a disappointment!
The film tried to do too much and ended up falling abysmally short of its mark on all fronts.
Its treatment of the Stolen Generation issue was both superficial and biased. The Cattle Drive provided some spectacular scenery but the story was quite unconvincing. John Wayne, James Stewart & Co have been there before and have been considerably more successful. The romance just happened rather than developed. As for the bombing of Darwin, one wonders why they had to stray so far from the truth and include an attack on the so-called "Mission Island".
Darwinians, who have been fed every bit of propaganda about the film since its inception, will feel doubly disappointed for the minimal exposure it receives in the final cut of the film.
For all its hype, "Australia" is a film that you just look at rather than one in which you become emotionally engaged
November 26, 2008 4:37 PM
Jeff Rafter said:
"But if movies themselves are an art form of little consequence—which they are—then Baz’ worst sin here is to have attempted tackling a film ill-suited to bringing out the best in him."
This serves as a better indictment of the reviewer than Luhrmann. If the reviewer doesn't lend any merit to movies, why am I subjected to their review on boxoffice.com?
November 26, 2008 6:26 PM
tegor said:
Forget the hype and just enjoy the movie, it's a great ride.
November 27, 2008 11:00 AM
Anonymous said:
Cant wait to see it will be GREAT
P.S See TRANSPORTER Amazing, special type of movie really loved it!!
November 27, 2008 8:56 PM
Anonymous said:
Kidman nor Jackman have any charisma or believable charactor acting skills. The movie is corny. Yawn....
November 28, 2008 3:46 AM
no name said:
I HAVE NEVER LAUGHED SO HARD!!
CORN ON TOP OF CORN! DON'T GO SEE THIS AS A SERIOUS MOVIE.
November 28, 2008 9:25 PM
Andrew King said:
i live in australia and i am giving this movie a wide berth.
nicole kidman was born in america (hawaii) lives in america wants to raise her child to look sound and act american and can stay in america and stop pretending to be australian.
November 30, 2008 1:03 AM
Nina said:
Yes, it is Baz to the hilt, and Nic leaves me a bit cold, but it was after all an entertaining 165 minutes - I didn't yawn and I enjoyed the story and the beauty of our north. I'm glad I saw it.
November 30, 2008 8:25 PM
hecxs said:
I saw the movie the first day it came out. I loved it!! (I'm not Australian by the way). I turned to the internet to see how much money it was making throughout the opening weekend and I couldn't believe the nasty reviews this beautiful movie was getting. This movie DID impact me and gave me a take home messages: all you are is your story, that's all you take with you when you die (I loved the way this message was conveyed in the movie). The scenery of the movie was amazing, the music incredible, the performances excellent. I honestly don't know what movie the damn critics watched when they give bad reviews on this movie. I'm glad I saw the movie (saw it twice BTW) before I read what the critics thought about it.
December 3, 2008 3:24 PM
P. Federick said:
this is a good movie I can confirm.
100 percent
December 12, 2008 1:24 AM
joey said:
After a initial slow 30 minutes the movie becomes outstanding.
December 18, 2008 1:34 PM
mahmoud habib said:
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
December 26, 2008 3:45 PM
AussieBloke said:
Bad boy bubby is the best Aussie film. My mrs made me watch this, I fell asleep after 2 hours. For real I was not even tired, it was that boring.
Who gives a toss about the Australian Outback, Darwin, the bombing. Most Autralians dont.
Why would a international audiance care?
If they wanted to make a love story in Australia why not make a modern one set in one of our beautiful cities and put a Real Australian flavour to it.
This Movie was rubbish. At least i got a little snoooze
December 26, 2008 5:58 PM
Danny Ib said:
This is one of the best movies i have watched.
I am not a big kidman fan, but she was amazing. So was Hugh.
It is honestly in my top 3 movies of all time.
Who ever disses this movie, definitely have no heart.
Great actors in this movie, who played each role great.
WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 30, 2008 5:30 AM
goldie-k said:
Loved the movie--will see again--refreshing for a change and scenery is beautiful!!
January 1, 2009 2:18 PM
Johny said:
Good story line, didnt expect it to go for 3 hours haha so i didnt enjoy the whole movie as i was not on schedule for other activities but the composition of the movie was generally 5/5 but i think the movie had too many endings in it as far as the 'love' story was going or maybe thats just because i was hoping it would finish sooner then later, acting in it was very well done and was very nice to see that with such a romantic story line that some key moments in australia history could be portrayed so well. Thats my take on it and i hope i will watch it again, ill definately buy it but im not sure when ill have a spare 3 hours for it haha.
January 3, 2009 6:39 PM
AussieBloke2 said:
To AussieBloke, your a wanka!
January 8, 2009 9:33 PM
Anonymous said:
I loved this movie. It was so refreshing to see a movie about the better side of mankind. It was about love. It was about human kindness. It was about humans loving humans despite their differences. It was not full of cursing. It was not full of sex. It was not dark. It was not brooding.
So it is not surprising to hear one viewer state he hated it and another stating it was one of the best films ever.
January 9, 2009 9:08 PM
Michael K Mullen, Macon ga. said:
I loved this movie. It was so refreshing to see a movie about the better side of mankind. It was about love. It was about human kindness. It was about humans loving humans despite their differences. It was not full of cursing. It was not full of sex. It was not dark. It was not brooding.
So it is not surprising to hear one viewer state he hated it and another stating it was one of the best films ever.
January 9, 2009 9:11 PM
dana said:
it is very very good film
January 17, 2009 6:12 PM
Johnny said:
I HAVED TRAVEL AROUND AUSTRALIA 3 TIMES AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT "I LOVED THE MOVIE AUSTRALIA", I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DVD
January 26, 2009 6:55 AM
emo said:
endings in it as far as the 'love' story was going or maybe thats just موقع العاب because i was hoping it would finish sooner then later, acting in it was very well done and was very nice to see that with such a romantic story line that
March 20, 2009 1:18 AM