I was shocked and disturbed to find the top movie this weekend was “Four Christmases” and “Australia” came in 4th in terms of box office receipts. I haven’t seen “Four Christmases” and you know how much I love Reese Witherspoon, but “Australia” is one of the best movies I’ve seen in years! It has classic written all over it!
This film has everything a movie-lover could ever want: romance, action, adventure, history, thrills and suspense, and it is SO BEAUTIFULLY MADE!!! Set in northern Australia in the late 1930s around the town of Darwin and at the Faraway Ranch out in the bush, the story is told from the perspective of a young “creamy”: half aboriginal, half European kid, who you end up loving.
But there is so much to love about experiencing this transformative journey with these memorable characters, I don’t know where to begin. I loved the way it intertwines the history of the treatment of aboriginals in Australia with the kid’s story. I loved all the movement around northern Australia with phenomenal panoramic shots of the land that time forgot. I loved the mysticism of the aboriginal culture mixed in with the European worldview.
And then, from a writer’s perspective, I loved the lines about the uselessness of material objects when really all we ever own is our own stories. This is something I fully realized only recently. I have come to value my stories like never before. That’s when I stopped selling them to others and started writing my own books.
I think I also enjoyed the fact that the stars of the show, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are in their 40s and they portray authentic older adults who have lost their first loves, and therefore realistically have gigantic fears around loving someone new. They are older and therefore completely understand the risks involved in trusting in life enough to love again.
I could go on and on, but instead I will only say SEE IT!
See it on some afternoon when you have plenty of time (it’s almost 3 hours long!) and you want to escape into an amazing new world, one very different from that which surrounds you now. See it for the wonderful anthropology and history lessons you will gain on top of the fascinating story! JUST SEE IT!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, I’ve gotta disagree–at least in part. The first half of the movie I thought was somewhat cartoonish. Hugh Jackman–yes, that man is a testament to hours spent lifting weights! but Nicole Kidman? I thought she was stiff and I can’t stand what she’s doing to her lips. So in terms of portraying authentic forty-pluses–not so much.
Yes, Nicole did appear painfully thin! It didn’t notice her lips, though.
I meant more the characters portrayed, not their appearance. Hollywood will never allow realistic looking 40 or 50-year-olds on the big screen and maybe that’s a good thing???
Laura Lee
Living in Aus – country Aus in fact, I should have seen the movie before I comment, but I haven’t. The only other review I have come across also stated the disappointment in the look of the characters. I do know the movie hasn’t been the box office hit they thought it would be. Must make an effort to go and see it. Will let you know what I think.
Brigit:
Please see it and then consider writing up a guest post on a true Aussie’s opinion of the movie…Please! My reader’s would love it!
Laura Lee