An Australian Gone With The Wind

I recently reviewed the trailer of Baz Luhrmann's epic new trailer for his upcoming adaptation of the Great Gatsby. Now i will analyze his latest theatrical release; 2008's Australia, an epic starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

The film is, of course, set in Australia, in the 1940's, before the imminent start of the second world war. It tells of an English lady who travels to Australia to retrieve her husband who has settled there, who finds him dead and is then left with the decision of what to do with his withering cattle ranch in the Australian outback. There she meets The Drover, and becomes embroiled in a world of racism, cattle droving, attempted murder and a dizzying romance.

The film firstly has a fantastic visual identity, like all Baz Luhrmann pictures, and the sets and vistas are simply incredible. The costumes are simply amazing, with Kidman's red kimono dress a standout. The other costumes are all also wonderful, with costume designer; long time Luhrmann collaborator Catherine Martin, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her work on this film, manages to add a realism to the costumes, yet also makes the costumes imaginative and visually delightful.

The performances in the film are also great, with Kidman, Jackman and Brandon Walters performances as standouts. Brandon Walters performance is particularly stunning, with him managing to add a great depth to the character, with the child being cute and carefree, yet also having a sense of the great power that this child holds, and with the weight of the world seeming to sit on this young boys shoulders, given the intense struggle that he has been through.

The Red Kimono Dress

The pairing of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman is simply genius, with the audience being able to always sense the intense sexual chemistry between them throughout the movie, and with the glamour and intense of fourties film icons. The films pacing is pretty good, however at 2 hours and 45 minutes, this film is more than a little long, however the film doesn't seem to drag, and i was generally entertained throughout.

Overall Australia is a good film, yet not a great film. It succeeds greatly thanks to strong performances from its lead actors, and has great visuals and stunning vistas. The film however is long, and rather fails in its attempts at an aborigine racial subplot, yet remains an entertaining romp. Rating: A-

Drover: Welcome to Australia...