Australia Movie Review

Baz Luhrmann's epic tale of World War II era Australia is as sprawling as the landscape but sadly not quite as mesmerizing.

While the performances of Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, and adorable newcomer Brandon Walters are solid, the story comes off a tad bit schizophrenic and feels like it's not quite sure what it longs to be.  Each of the storylines could have made their own beautiful film, but being mashed together like they are makes it difficult to focus.

Our story begins as Nullah, an interracial child who is half white/half Aborigine, narrates the arrival of Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman). She has come from England to retrieve her husband who owns cattle in Australia.  Upon her arrival she discovers that things Downunder are not as she imagined they would be. 
All of the half-caste children are being removed from their mothers and shipped to a mission island to "breed the black out of them."  This shocking custom was practiced in some places as late as the 1970s.  An official apology to the "Stolen Generations" was offered by the Australian government on February 13, 2008.

Apart from all of this, Lady Ashley discovers that her husband's cattle is being pilfered by a rival baron who is attempting to buy him out of his land.

Hugh Jackman enters the picture as the Drover who runs the cattle.  Together, he and Ashley form an alliance to save her business and her land. 

Meanwhile World War II is breaking out and we witness the attack of Dover by the Japanese. 

In the midst of everything there is romance, growth,  murder, intrigue, laughter, tears and even a stampede. 

Luhrmann's tale is a beauty to behold as I have said before.  The cinematography is nothing short of stunning and the score is perfect.  There are some clear visual references to films such as Gone With the Wind and he deftly weaves a juxtaposition between his film and The Wizard of Oz.

I wanted so badly to enjoy this film and I did but I was left wishing he had done more with each portion of the story.  In the end, Australia comes off as a Jack-of-All-Trades, Master of None.  But I did cry.  Alot. 
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