Australia
Release Date: 18th November 2008 -
Australia (Premiere)
Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Ingenious Film Partners
ScreenWest (produced with
the assistance of)
Bazmark Films
Dune Entertainment III
Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia
Genre: Drama
Rating: M
Runtime: 165 minutes
Budget: $78,000,000
Box Office Gross: $36,780,000
(Australia)
Budget: $78,000,000
Box Office Gross: $36,780,000
(Australia)
Plot Summary
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 by
Cast
Nicole Kidman - Lady Sarah
Ashley
Hugh Jackman - The Drover
David Wenham - Neil Fletcher
Bryan Brown - Lesley 'King'
Carney
Jack Thompson - Kipling Flynn
Brandon Walters - Nullah
David Gulpilli - King George
David Ngoombujara - Magarri
Ben Mendelsohn - Captain
Emmett Dutton
Crew
Story/Screenplay/Producer/
Director - Baz Luhrmann
Director - Baz Luhrmann
Screenplay - Stuart Beattie,
Ronald Harwood and Richard
Flanagan
Producers - G. Mac Brown
and Catherine Knapman
Co-Producer/Production/
Costume Designer -
Ronald Harwood and Richard
Flanagan
Producers - G. Mac Brown
and Catherine Knapman
Co-Producer/Production/
Costume Designer -
Catherine Martin
Director of Photography - Mandy Walker
Visual Effects Supervisor: Animal Logic - Andy Brown
Visual Effects Supervisor: The LaB Sydney - Tony Cole
Film Editors - Dody Dorn and Michael McCusker
Music - David Hirschfelder
Director of Photography - Mandy Walker
Visual Effects Supervisor: Animal Logic - Andy Brown
Visual Effects Supervisor: The LaB Sydney - Tony Cole
Film Editors - Dody Dorn and Michael McCusker
Music - David Hirschfelder
Review
I was very keen to review the 2008 film 'AUSTRALIA' for Australia Day. Though I have not seen any movies directed by Baz Luhrmann; Baz has certainly made his presence well known with his cinematic hits over the years. One of his recent movies 'AUSTRALIA' was supposed to be a fictional tale about what life once was in Darwin before the bombing in 1942. In its obvious veins, the plot-line shares similarities to the epic classic 'Gone with the Wind' and pays tribute to its old cinematic qualities. The director developed a film that actually makes sense to some aspects of the Aussie culture and it is an inspiring romantic breath of fresh air. Addressing the issues of war, racial prejudice and land-property rights, without giving away spoilers, it can be said that 'AUSTRALIA' is an emotional roller-coaster that arrives at a happy ending which leaves viewers in a satisfied mood. This movie was not without weaknesses, some of the writing and parts of the film were elementary and unnecessary.
Some of the actors include Hugh Jackman who gives a natural performance as The Drover, which the character is bluntly described as a sort of a suave and old-fashioned romantic hero. Nicole Kidman was at first over-the-top at the beginning as the leading female, but she improves throughout out the film and creates love chemistry with Jackman. Other actors that performed well were Brandon Walters being a promising young fresh actor and David Wenham who takes on a character with a black-hearted nature.
Some of the actors include Hugh Jackman who gives a natural performance as The Drover, which the character is bluntly described as a sort of a suave and old-fashioned romantic hero. Nicole Kidman was at first over-the-top at the beginning as the leading female, but she improves throughout out the film and creates love chemistry with Jackman. Other actors that performed well were Brandon Walters being a promising young fresh actor and David Wenham who takes on a character with a black-hearted nature.
'AUSTRALIA' wasn't as a master medium of mediocrity as other critics had called it, because of its over-length and tedious melodrama. It's an opportunity for Aussies to watch and overcome the misfires that hindered the movie's spirit and find it to be enthralling.
No comments:
Post a Comment