Australia

So here we are again with a Baz Luhrman picture. As my avid readers know I adore his last work Moulin Rouge! Luhrman is a true auteur, a man unafraid and unapologetic of his vision. Moreso he is unafraid and unapologetic of critics. Luhrman has face a lot of critical snares on his journey, but in my eyes he has made another work great cinema. The best way to describe Australia is as a sweeping romantic epic in the vain of Old Hollywood, a bygone era where going to movies meant getting away. Luhrman still believes in that. Sure there are messages here about racism and war, but most of all it is a well told story with delightful characters, it has comedy, drama, tears, fears, and something for the kids. It is a movie, like all of Baz's movies, about vision and storytelling. Critics call it conventional and cliche but I am positive that is the point of this movie. Just as Moulin Rouge! was cliche, it is Baz's delight to work in cliche and push it to new creative heights. There isn't much use in explaining the story in detail as once you begin to watch the entire narrative is apparent, but you cannot help but watch it with eye stuffing wonder. Lady Sarah Ashley, played by Kidman who is never better than when directed by Baz, thinks her husband, a ranch owner in Australia is cheating on her so she leaves her easy life in England. She ends up in Australia, husband murdered, she meets the Drover (Hugh Jackman is native accent), there is a conspiracy against the ranch, a "half-caste" (half white, half aboriginal) boy whom they adopt emotionally, a war, some love, a stampede, expansive vistas, a ball, a kiss in the rain, etc etc etc. It is all very much in the vain of something like Gone with the Wind, but in my ignorant opinion it is better. It is sweeping and colorful and beautiful and lovely, it is a rhythmic and symphonic but never(sorta) does any break into song. Sadly I am in the minority in calling this one of the few truly great and visionary films this year.