Eric SamulskiBroad, But Beautiful Movie Brings "Australia" to the Silver Screen
December 6th 2008 02:15
It's a funny thing when a culture so universally liked can have so little known about it. Yet it appears to be the case when it comes to Australia. While it continually ranks as the best viewed country in the world, most people don't register more than sun, surf and sandals when it comes to the continent. Although all three are large and incredible parts of the culture, it took a recent movie to show what the country is all about.
"Australia," Bazz Luhrmann's epic movie with an all Australian cast, shot on location, set forth to depict the creation of today's most well-loved country. Except rather than focus on the beach and laid-back nature of his home, Luhrmann focused the movie on the tensions between the white settlers and Aboriginal cultures in Australia. To do this, Luhrmann got Aboriginal actors to play key roles alongside the more publicized superstars, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. The beauty of this decision is that it not only gave the movie more credibility and believability, but the Aboriginal actors proved more than capable of sharing the same screen. David Ngoombujarra, as Magarri, the only character at all linked to The Drover's (Hugh Jackman) past and Brandon Walters, who plays Nullah, the boy loved by The Drover and Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) as the two most prominent Aboriginal actors and also provided most of the movies emotional center.
The plot revolves around Lady Ashley, who has come to Australia to confront her husband, only to find that he was killed due to the importance of his cattle farm. She remains in Australia to save the farm from the clutches of cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown). With the help of the Drover, who she hires to run her farm, she sets out to make money and hold off her scheming ex-foreman, Fletcher (David Wenham). However, as can be expected, her love for the country, Nullah and the Drover keep her in Australia longer than she expected.
While the movie suffers from being far too broad (it stretches over many years and doesn't exactly skim over events), it is to be expcted when telling the story of a countries foundation. It is understandable that Luhrmann suffered through cutting out parts of his story and what results is basically a three part series tied together into one movie. The beauty in the project is in what it represents. An all Aussie cast and crew telling the story of their country and the trials that it had to overcome. It presents a story that is not known to the majority of the world, but hits home on many levels due to most countries past issues with similar civil rights discrepancies.
The film is beautifully shot and although it focuses on the deserty and rock sections of Australia instead of the blue oceans, the movie still captures the vast beauty of the country. Many people may be scared off by the two hour and fourty-five minute timing that the movie clocks in at, but the story is more than full enough to hold your attention and the images on screen are compelling and emotionally resonant. It truly is a greta example of films ability to bring people together to tell stories that need to be told and Mr. Luhrmann deserves all the credit in the world for that.
"Australia," Bazz Luhrmann's epic movie with an all Australian cast, shot on location, set forth to depict the creation of today's most well-loved country. Except rather than focus on the beach and laid-back nature of his home, Luhrmann focused the movie on the tensions between the white settlers and Aboriginal cultures in Australia. To do this, Luhrmann got Aboriginal actors to play key roles alongside the more publicized superstars, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. The beauty of this decision is that it not only gave the movie more credibility and believability, but the Aboriginal actors proved more than capable of sharing the same screen. David Ngoombujarra, as Magarri, the only character at all linked to The Drover's (Hugh Jackman) past and Brandon Walters, who plays Nullah, the boy loved by The Drover and Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) as the two most prominent Aboriginal actors and also provided most of the movies emotional center.
The plot revolves around Lady Ashley, who has come to Australia to confront her husband, only to find that he was killed due to the importance of his cattle farm. She remains in Australia to save the farm from the clutches of cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown). With the help of the Drover, who she hires to run her farm, she sets out to make money and hold off her scheming ex-foreman, Fletcher (David Wenham). However, as can be expected, her love for the country, Nullah and the Drover keep her in Australia longer than she expected.
While the movie suffers from being far too broad (it stretches over many years and doesn't exactly skim over events), it is to be expcted when telling the story of a countries foundation. It is understandable that Luhrmann suffered through cutting out parts of his story and what results is basically a three part series tied together into one movie. The beauty in the project is in what it represents. An all Aussie cast and crew telling the story of their country and the trials that it had to overcome. It presents a story that is not known to the majority of the world, but hits home on many levels due to most countries past issues with similar civil rights discrepancies.
The film is beautifully shot and although it focuses on the deserty and rock sections of Australia instead of the blue oceans, the movie still captures the vast beauty of the country. Many people may be scared off by the two hour and fourty-five minute timing that the movie clocks in at, but the story is more than full enough to hold your attention and the images on screen are compelling and emotionally resonant. It truly is a greta example of films ability to bring people together to tell stories that need to be told and Mr. Luhrmann deserves all the credit in the world for that.
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