Seeing It Today
Sydney Morning Herald Critic Sandra Hall, who's been on the beat for 30 years, has posted the best-written review of Australia yet. "Nothing succeeds like excess," she begins. "Oscar Wilde coined the phrase and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Baz Luhrmann has it embroidered on scatter cushions all over the house.
This still of Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman exudes a certain you-know-what, in part because of the placement of Jackman's right hand.
"Not that he needs reminding. It is a mantra stamped on everything he does and Australia is the apotheosis. It has become the movie as superhero, charged with the job of rescuing the Australian film industry and giving us a new and shiny view of ourselves. And shiny it certainly is.
"It's also much too long at almost three hours, deliriously camp and shamelessly overdone -- an outback adventure seen through the eyes of a filmmaker steeped in the theatrical rituals and hectic colors of old-fashioned showbiz. To quote Oklahoma, one of the few Hollywood classics not to lend its influence to Luhrmann's style, or rather medley of styles, the corn is as high as an elephant's eye.
"And so strong is his urge to celebrate the exoticism of old Australia that you half-expect to see the elephant, as well, lumbering across one of those majestic stretches of the Kimberley. Yet the film's vigor and yes, its passion -- that overused word -- do engage you.
"Anachronisms abound. Kidman and Jackman speak quaintly of doing a drove. There's an action sequence that pushes the concept of the cliffhanger much further than it was ever meant to go, and Sarah's romance with the Drover is rife with Mills & Boon moments."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 19, 2008 at 7:47 AM
comment #1
nemo
says ...
Thanks for the Mills & Boon link. That crack was pretty funny, but like most Americans, I would have had no idea what it was all about.
Posted by nemo
at November 19, 2008 8:11 AM
comment #2
guylodge
says ...
It's not really a crack -- "Mills & Boon" is a standard description for any kind of florid romance. I never realised that it's not a known term in the US.
Good review, though. I really can't wait to see this.
Posted by guylodge
at November 19, 2008 8:48 AM
comment #3
actionman
says ...
Interesting. The review reads like a pan yet she gave the film ***1/2.
I don't know what to make of this film...
Posted by actionman
at November 19, 2008 9:24 AM
comment #4
nemo
says ...
Americans would know Harlequin romance (apparently owned by the company) or bodice ripper.
I can't wait either. I loved all the overripe excessiveness of Moulin Rouge, even the anachronistic pop songs that in their original context I never cared for.
Posted by nemo
at November 19, 2008 9:26 AM
comment #5
erniesouchak
says ...
That still only works because you can't see Kidman's freakishly Botoxed face.
Posted by erniesouchak
at November 19, 2008 9:31 AM
comment #6
rr3333
says ...
Jackman is the Sexiest Man Alive!
Amazingly, Seth Rogen came in 2nd.
Posted by rr3333
at November 19, 2008 10:24 AM
comment #7
Chase Kahn
says ...
'Deliriously camp and shamelessly overdone'...those are my biggest concerns going in, but for some reason all of these people -- in the end -- are won over.
Posted by Chase Kahn
at November 19, 2008 10:48 AM
comment #8
Chase Kahn
says ...
By the way, actionman -- that's 3 1/2 stars out of 5...
Posted by Chase Kahn
at November 19, 2008 10:57 AM
comment #9
Sonic Boom
says ...
"Shamelessly overdone" is exactly why I wanna see this. I expect nothing less from Luhrmann.
Posted by Sonic Boom
at November 19, 2008 11:03 AM
comment #10
actionman
says ...
Got ya, Chase...I didn't realize. Makes more sense now.
Posted by actionman
at November 19, 2008 2:11 PM
comment #11
guylodge
says ...
Actionman: Given that she admits to being engaged by the film's vigor and passion, the review hardly reads as a pan.
Posted by guylodge
at November 19, 2008 3:14 PM
comment #12
bmcintire
says ...
Wow, Jeff actually liked TWILIGHT, any chance he won't hate this with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns?
Posted by bmcintire
at November 19, 2008 6:23 PM
comment #13
D.Z.
says ...
I wonder if Jackman's "sexiest man alive" mention in People will save the film.
Posted by D.Z.
at November 20, 2008 12:01 AM
comment #14
actionman
says ...
Guy -- the review read, to me at least, that she was only partially on-board with the film. ***1/2 our of ***** is a decent rating. She had some good things to say and some weak things to say. Overall, I guess it's more of a mixed-positive review than an outright pan.
Posted by actionman
at November 20, 2008 10:37 AM
comment #15
janee
says ...
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Posted by janee
at May 19, 2011 1:38 AM