Spring Break
Movie Review - "Australia" wastes its epic potential
Amy Wright
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Culture
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I wanted to enjoy it, but every time I would relish a spectacularly shot sequence, I was confused by its shifting focus and lackluster romance. This sweeping epic is breathtakingly beautiful, but the recycled emptiness of its characters and themes had me bored.
Set in northern Australia at the cusp of World War II, "Australia" follows English Aristocrat Lady Ashley (Nicole Kidman) as she comes to take control of her sprawling ranch with the help of a rough cattle drover (Hugh Jackman), only to face a Japanese attack on their land.
This overlong epic, sitting at almost three hours, had me questioning the importance of its never-ending plot. I repeatedly felt the film was coming to a close, only to watch it rejuvenate itself on yet another plot line.
"Australia" finds its major flaw in reaching too far. It tries to be about a number of things, but winds up really being about nothing in particular.
Even now, I can't nail down the specific focus of the movie. It still doesn't make sense. In the trailer, Kidman urges, "We can't let them win." But I still don't know who "they" are.
The brightest beacon of light is its fantastic cinematography. Audiences will fall in love with beautifully sweeping shots of the awe-inspiring Australian countryside. From waterfalls to deserts, with brilliant stampedes of horses and a thoroughly stylized bomb sequence, the visual scope is absolutely majestic.
Perhaps in contrast to the overwhelming beauty of some scenes, parts of the film actually seemed a little dull, which came as the biggest surprise of all. With Luhrmann at the helm, I was worrying about overindulgence, though it seems he managed to escape at least that accusation.
Luhrmann also brings a heavy dose of aboriginal flavor to the table, filtering in much tribal culture with legends and "Black Magic." The tale's narration by Brandon Walters, a boy of actual aboriginal descent, is perfect in its sincerity.
Walters as the mixed-race orphan Nulla alluringly frames the entire epic. With wide, trusting eyes, the boy's impish joy clashes brilliantly with his wise insight. His magnetic performance is actually reminiscent of the "Black Magic" his character claims.
Other performances left me wanting more.
"Australia" is supposed to be an epic romance. But where is the romance? The relationship between Kidman and Jackman lacked depth and skipped development almost entirely. It was as though I blinked and suddenly they were a picture-perfect family, complete with adopted child.
Even more annoying, I felt no connection or passion from their performances. The characters felt more like overblown caricatures of clichéd stereotypes. From these Hollywood veterans, I expected far better.
Unfortunately, "Australia" seems to distract itself away from its epic potential. It's too bad nobody realized this six months ago, because with some careful tweaking, this could have been a truly great film.
awright@unews.com
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