Australia (2008)
165 minutes
Rated: PG-13
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Brandon Walters
Grade: B-
There was a lot of potential for Baz Luhrmann’s epic, Australia, but through its lengthy run, it still fell short of being memorable. It really is a shame though. For all the great and beautiful things in this film, it just never was bold enough to stand out.
As the title declares, the story takes place in Australia. Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) travels from England to Australia to catch her unfaithful husband, but insteads arrives shortly after he was killed. She wants to sell the cattle station that her husband owned, but instead get involved in a battle with King Carney to keep her property. She decides to keep the land and in doing so befriends the colored and aborigines, especially young Nullah (Walters). Nullah is something special. He’s a half-caste young boy whom the authorities are after to send away. This is one of the bigger storylines this movie showcases; the way half-castes were treated in Australia during World War II. After his mother dies tragically, Sarah Ashley steps into the mother role and cares for him.
The film embarks on a number of adventures, none more explosive than the action sequences with Drover (Jackman) and the rest of the gang leading the pack of the cattle. There is an extremely suspenseful sequence when Fletcher attempts to sabatoge their route, but it ends in a bizarre way that’ll have many scratching their heads. I wouldn’t say it ruined the exceptional fast-paced chase, but it certainly dampered it.
The first half of the film concentrates on displaying the gorgeous landscape of Australia while developing the romance between Drover and Sarah Ashley as they drove the cattle to Darwin. This is where the movie shines, and the conclusion of the first half is applause-worthy.
On the other hand, the second half is very inconsistent and painfully predictable. Just as everything was wrapped up like a fairy-tale ending with Sarah Ashley, Drover, and Nullah happily living in Australia, things unravel quickly. Soon, everyone is split apart and World War II looms over the country. Japanese planes bomb Darwin and the film becomes a search-and-rescue story.
The special effects are very impressive in the second half of the film, but the story falters and it never makes an impact that all good epics do. Kidman and Jackman share a relatively good chemistry with one another, but nothing ever jumps out and grabs you. The characters are too two-dimensional and aside from the cute and loveable Nullah and the evil Fletcher, Kidman and Jackman were just too neutral.
Luhrmann wanted to make this movie as an anthem to his homeland and an eye-opener of racism that is still lingering in today’s society. Though it’s a powerful message, the POW gets lost somewhere from Australia to the United States. Sure there are similarities with Japan bombing both countries and the issue of interracial relationships, but Australia never hooked me in entirely. It was very pleasing to look at, but all-in-all it was an ordinary film.
Aside from all of its flaws, Luhrmann gets style points for being so bold. For as many things that went wrong in Australia, there are as many things great about it. It is an average film done on an enormous scale. It’s mildly fantanstic.
Posted by Rob Eng 
