Australia Movie - A Review

By June Williams On December 10, 2008 In Reviews: Movies 9 Comments

Australia Movie Review

Australian - American - British Historical Fiction film starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman

6/10 English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley inherits a ranch in Australia. When she arrives to inspect it, she learns of plot to steal the cattle.

“Crickey mate she’s a beaut!”

australia, movie review, hugh jackman, nicole kidman

Australia (2008)
Australian-American-British historical drama film

The previews for this film scream screen epic. I won’t lie. It is an epic, yet not the story of an entire country but instead it shows life in one part of that nation continent during a very particular time in history.

The Australia movie possesses characters that engage an audience, a gripping storyline and it is visually compelling. The role of Lady Sarah Ashley is played by Nicole Kidman, who seems to be at her best when she plays this sort of upper class uptight yet highly principled woman.

Ms. Kidman may have lost her way in The Golden Compass; you might have wondered if Scientologists sabotaged some of her other flicks such as The Stepford Wives and Bewitched (made post Tom Cruise) but in this film she shines brightly.

Hugh Jackman, whether as Wolverine in X-Men or Van Helsing in , has gained a tremendous following among Sci-Fi fans. His mere presence as almost every person born with two XX chromosomes will attest to (and a certain number with the XY combination as well) is a testament to sheer male animal magnetism and he is an extraordinary talent as an actor.

Jackman’s performance as Drover in Australia alone could have made this a hit. Other stand-out performances in Australia are that of Brandon Walters who plays a multi racial boy with a destiny, David Gulpilil as King George the boy’s grandfather and a man of great wisdom and magic and David Wenham who portrays the very villainous Neil Fletcher so well you forget that he has played Faramir in Lord of the Rings.

shakespearean insults, literary shirtsWhile watching the film there is a scene so climactic in nature that I thought the film must be near the end. I was fooled. What followed was even better than the first half of the film thanks to the growth of two of the central characters and the absolute lack of growth of the villain, although we do learn a bit about how he came to be the man he is.

There is a beautiful interface between The Wizard of Oz and Australia. I wouldn’t dream of saying anything more and ruin it for you but it sure pulled on my heartstrings.

This movie is dedicated to the Lost Generations. Children who were taken from their Aboriginal mothers and families to live in dreadful conditions, forced to work as domestic servants and to live on the white people’s’ government-controlled missions and reserves.

Please don’t get the impression that this is a film that will be preaching at you about racism and abuse. In fact it is about love, respect and decency warring against corruption, fear and ignorance. For me this is a perfect Christmas movie in that it shows the value of love and family which is a perfect accompaniment to the season.

by June K. Willams

Summary
Australia Movie Review
Article Name
Australia Movie Review
Description
6/10 English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley inherits a ranch in Australia. When she arrives to inspect it, she learns of plot to steal the cattle.
Author
BuzzyMag.com
Opt In Image
LIKE MOVIES?

Stay current on the BEST and WORST new releases

Get FREE Movie Reviews straight to your inbox!

June Williams

June Williams

June, also known affectionately as Buzzy Lady #2, has been with the company since it began. She was born in Manhattan, raised in the Bronx (the first 12 years in the heart of the south Bronx) and spent most of her adult life living in Westchester County N.Y.

Always a Science Fiction fan and dabbler in writing she had thought herself too practical to pursue a career in the field. Before coming to Buzzy she spent over 30 years in the travel industry, then one day decided it was time to spread her wings and plunge into publishing. Everyone she knew thought she had gone slightly daft but as this was not the first time they had expressed that opinion she took the red pill anyway and now spends all of her time putting together projects that make each day a pleasure.

Related Posts

  • flip

    I loved this review. I have been looking forward to seeing this movie. Now, after reading this review, I want to see the movie more than ever. Totally agree on the comments about Jackman’s animal magnetism.

  • June Williams

    He is all that and more. Were you aware that he sings and dances on a professional level? He played the lead in a musical about Peter Allen called the Boys from Oz as well as Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma and bunches of other musical performances. It just ain’t fair for one man to have that much talent AND be that attractive

  • Christie

    Thanks for the review. I was already thinking of seeing this movie because I love historical epics and you’ve confirmed that this movie fills that bill. I also like Hugh Jackman. I saw him in an interview and he mentioned that this film was about Australia and a WWII attack similiar to Pearl Harbor. I had never heard of that so my interest was piqued even more.

    BUT… you really snagged me with the Wizard of Oz reference. I’ll have to see it now.

  • Robin

    I think it’s nice to see Nicole Kidman in a role that shows she is a talented actress. She has had a few roles in the past that made you wonder what she must have been thinking, Eyes Wide Shut comes to mind. As for Hugh Jackman, I think his future movies will just keep getting better, and show us even more just how great of an actor he is.

  • June

    Christie-I am so happy you are going to give this film a chance. It is a pity when something is sunk before the general population has even had a chance to give it a try.

  • June

    Robin-I agree that Nicole Kidman is sometimes cast in roles that are less than glorious. Just part of being in the business of show business. Sometimes a role well on paper but just not work on screen. Other times it is just important to keep working while waiting for that perfect role. It just ain’t all that easy especially for a woman in film EVEN in the 21st century.

  • Susan Smith

    I’m a big fan of Nicole Kidman so I really wanted to see this movie.I thought the movie was a big too slow and long in length for me to really love. I did think Nicole and Hugh had chemistry together so the story was beliveable. I felt it wasn’t one of Nicoles best movies.

  • B. W.

    Thanks for the review. Sounds like an interesting movie. I may rent it.

  • Helen

    I’m a huge Baz Luhrmann fan and thought this was the second best movie that he directed, second to Strictly Ballroom. The only drawback I felt was I Nichole Kidman’s performance in this role. I felt that Brandon Walters performance was far better than Nicole’s. I just felt that he held passion in that role and that was what I found lacking in Nicole’s performance.