The horrors of World War 2 have provided the backdrop of numerous movies, but never has cinema set its focus on the land down under during these times of peril.
Australian born filmmaker Baz Luhrmann takes the viewer to the horrors of WW2 bloodshed in the Pacific with his 2008 western inspired romantic drama “Australia.”
Told from the flashback perspective of a young Aboriginal boy named Nullah, “Australia” achieves success with its acting, action, and romantic twists, all while sitting in the backdrop of a violent Japanese induced massacre.
I loved that three authentic Aussies take the staring roles, as nothing is worse than fake accents and overly stereotypical mannerisms.
Here we see Nicole Kidman staring as Lady Sarah Ashley, a regal countess from England who ventures to the perilous Australian outback in attempts to liquidate her husbands cattle ranch. Lady Sarah arrives to the rugged Northern territory of Darwin in a silk dress and surrounded by expensive luggage.
Helping Lady Sarah adjust is a rugged cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) who embodies all things manly but does so in a way that shows the true dangers and pitfalls of life in Australia.
The obvious clash of the classes is present from the onset; Lady Sarah is assumed to be incompetent in the ways of the world because of her sheltered aristocratic life, and is even refused entry to a local saloon – advised by the owner that the woman’s bar is next door. The tale of the Faraway Downs ranch is compounded by Lady Sarah’s budding relationship with Nulluh, the young native boy who lives on the ranch.
The dalliance between Lady Sarah and the cattle drover (a name is never given) is one of genuine love and affection. It comes across as plausible in every way though also quite predictable, but I guess that’s why its a story and not a biographical piece.
Drover and Lady Sarah are pitted in a deadly showdown with rival rancher Neil Fletcher (played by David Wenham) who provides the necessary antagonistic role and does so with a perfectly slimy fervor.
The story offers a good dose of action; we see Fletcher’s deadly attempts to stop Lady Sarah from delivering a giant herd of cattle and the standard dangers of the elements themselves. If that weren’t enough, 200 Japanese aircraft are making preparations to besiege the entire Australian continent.
Nicole Kidman presents the viewer the role of a powerful woman; one that comes from wealth but can still ride a horse and get by with the big boys. Lady Sarah is also wise to her husbands cheating ways advising before her trip that “there is only one reason why my husband has spent so much time down under and it has nothing to do with cows. At least not of the animal kind.” Humor like this is added well and creates a perfect balance to the otherwise serious situation.
My biggest complaint is the length of the movie. At 2:45 its a tough pill to swallow, though it does flow fairly quickly and has enough action and suspenseful moments to offset any slow romance type scenes.
While the war element is a side note, its also an interesting perspective to witness the brutality of the times from somewhere other than Pearl Harbor or the Nazi regime.
“Australia” is a very good movie, thats well acted and well written. Its a movie that makes me forget that I’m not a fan of the Western genre.
by – Matt Christopher
