Rated PG-13 for some violence, a scene of sensuality, and brief strong language.
165 Minutes

Directed By: Baz Luhrmann
Written By: Stuart Beattie and Baz Luhrmann
Staring: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Brandon Walters, Bryan Brown, Tony Barry, Ray Barrett, David Gulpilil, Jacek Koman, David Ngoombujarra, Angus Pilakui, Jack Thompson, Kerry Walker, and David Wenham as Neil Fletcher
Mrs. Boss! We gotta get those fat cheeky bulls into that big bloody metal ship! -Nullah

Review

I did not expect to be blown away or fall in love with Baz Luhrmann’s epic tale “Australia”.  In fact, I’d hesitated watching it on more than one occasion just because of the length and on the basis of my not exactly falling in love with Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet or Moulin Rouge.  Both films are highly overrated in my thoughts, but the idea of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman together was invigorating enough for me to settle down and stay up far too late watching this grandiose story of romance and adventure.  Without the lure of Kidman and Jackman I may have missed this beautiful, though lengthy, tale.

What do I know about the history of Australia, the Outback, cattle driving, their treatment of their indigenous people, or when they were attack by the Japanese in the late thirties and early forties?  Essentially nothing, so the historical accuracies playing in the back round held no force with me outside of curiosity.  I was whisked into a new world along with Lady Sarah Ashley, who in a fit of frustration heads to her husbands Australian cattle station to try and convince him to sell it as it has been a monumental money pit.  When she arrives she is met by the likes of hard edged cattle driver called “Drover”.  Drover is color blind and is given a hard time by locals for treating the indigenous or the mixed children of Australia as equals.  He takes Lady Ashley to her ranch only to discover her husband murdered, the ranch in shambles, and a small boy of mixed race that immediately strikes her curiosity.  Being forced by the surrounding cattle company that dominates the area to sell, she discovers they’ve been stealing her cattle and in a moment of rage decides to drive the cattle back herself.

There is a mood to this film that the audience is subject to falling victim to immediately.  Besides the expansive eye candy of Australia itself you have the stunning beauty of Nicole Kidman and the rugged manliness of Hugh Jackman , with a haunting score that really emotes every scene perfectly.  The characters are well written and well acted.  The story itself is intriguing and exciting and executed wondrously.  There isn’t much to lose your attention or let you run astray, even more a more action oriented film is what you seek.

The natural glory of Australia’s beautiful landscapes were showcased magnificently throughout the entirety of the film.  It’s rustic feel, the glorious colors, it’s raw beauty, and it’s dangerous exterior have just as much character and soul as the sentient parts of the film.  There is a real life of this wild land that people like myself probably know very little about or understand.  The country itself and the spectacular cinematography is a gratifying visual addition.

Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman hold the film together, but Brandon Walters, the boy who plays Nullah, is the most refreshing aspect of the story.  At the end of most movies nowadays it’s surprising if I remember any of the characters names other than the the leads, but in this film it’s impossible not to get to know each of the characters, even if their time onscreen was brief.  There were serious issues and emotions Australia tackled and wouldn’t have succeeded in telling each of their stories, and really let the audience understand each of their individual plights and what it must have been like to be them was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the film.

There is some feel Australia constantly omits that makes me think of movies made before, where length and Hollywood meant nothing.  It was all about telling a story, truly seeing our characters evolve and unveil, and more importantly, really experience moments of grief, happiness, or love to the point of almost being uncomfortable.  So many films are shot so quickly from one scene to another.  Australia’s length did play against it in the final forty minutes, and perhaps could have shaved off an extra fifteen minutes, but I  preferred those extra fifteen to having it too short and missing the invigorating bonding of characters and the expansive shots of the glorious Outback itself.

In attempt to avoid making my review as long as the film I will say what really gets you in this story is the genuine investment you have in each of the characters, who are all tragically flawed (save maybe Nullah ), and yet find their best selves within each other.  I really cared what happened to every single one of them and that’s a rare thing to feel at the movies anymore.  If someone wants an action oriented typical movie, Australia is not going to deliver.  It builds on character tension, realism, fantasy, and standing in the moment.  I can see that this film wouldn’t appeal to everyone for many reasons, but it sang to me.

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