Lifestyle and Leisure
Epic canvas daubed by Luhrmann
Review of Australia, by Andrew Collier
From its opening, as the camera flies over stunning, rocky landscapes and vast desert spaces, Baz Luhrmann's Australia can only be described as epic. Then again, what do you expect from the man who brought us the visual spectacular Moulin Rouge.
Luhrmann's vision for the film was a Gone with the Wind grand-scale film combined with a love-song for his home country, hence the longing shots of Aussie landscapes.
The film also manages to cram in themes of indigenous family relationships, culture-clash comedy, epic love story and historical events. As a result, we have Aboriginal actor Brandon Walters character, Nullah ,forced to facing prejudice and kidnap at the hands of the authorities, Nicole Kidman's aristocratic Lady Sarah Ashley playing off against Hugh Jackman's rugged man of the land, and the World War II bombing of Darwin - all in one film.
Suffice to say, that despite all these elements to tie together, and a lengthy running time, the film works on the big screen, creating a real sense of the grand scale of its locations and is an affectionate postcard to the director's homeland.
Some liberties have been taken with historical events, and at almost three hours, squirming in the cinema seats is inevitable, but in other areas Luhrmann triumphs, such as his sensitive handling of Aboriginal traditions ('going walkabout', for example).
Australia, the country, has never looked better, and the film succeed in prompting many cold Brits into thinking about moving Down Under to sample some of this country's breathtaking scenery and go on an epic adventure for themselves.
Rating: 6
NOT QUITE GONE WITH THE WIND, BUT THIS TRIP TO AUSTRALIA IS STILL WORTH TAKING.
Emigrate Aspirational Value: 10
Australia has never looked as good as when it is framed by Baz Luhrmann's camera and made in co-operation with the country's tourism board.
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