Australia

Reviewed by:
PG-13

Directed by: Baz Luhrmann

The Skinny: At the onset of World World II, an English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) is forced into the Outback to save her dead husband's cattle ranch, which is being threatened by a crooked beef baron (Bryan Brown). She enlists the aid of a strapping cowpoke known as "The Drover" (Hugh Jackman) because he, um…drives (droves?)... cattle, and a half-breed Aborigine boy (Brandon Walters).

The Good: Luhrmann was obviously impressed with how kiwi Peter Jackson turned the Lord of the Rings trilogy into one long travelogue for New Zealand, and aims to do the same for Ozzie land. He mostly does so, because this movie is really beautiful to look at in parts. It also makes every effort to be one of those "movies they don't make anymore," meaning it's corny and old-fashioned. But it's trying to be corny and old-fashioned, so it…succeeds? And Jackman obviously relishes the opportunity to be Clint Eastwood rather than just resemble him.

The Bad: For every three shots of breathtaking landscape, Luhrmann insists on some weirdly stylized green-screen shot that's jarring and distracting. The nearly three-hour film also bites off way more than it can chew, juggling the human drama of Kidman's fish out of water, the mistreatment of half-breed Aboriginal children, the struggling Australian beef industry, the threat of World War II, and—why the fuck not?—environmentalism and world peace and whether or not there's a God. The shoe-horned Wizard of Oz stuff combined with its (intentional or not) corniness makes for a concoction that's sappy enough to be harvested by Canadians and poured over waffles.

Casting Wide: The movie was originally set to star Heath Ledger, but he bowed out to do the Dark Knight. (And then die.)

Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? The landscape shots are pretty to look at on the big screen, but this isn't anything you need to rush out and see.

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