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Movie Review – “Australia”

AustraliaIn spite of the fact that I am not a big fan of Nicole Kidman and the fact that this movie had a few slow spots, we both enjoyed this movie very much. We’re not sure if it was the film's lush epic beauty, the developing love story, or the desire to see the bad guy get his due, or the character of Nullah, the part-white aboriginal boy, but it all seemed to come together in what one could call a "sweeping romantic melodrama." The film has its problems at times, caused by its acceptance of mystical powers. If Nullah is all-seeing and prescient at times, then why does he turn into a scared little boy who needs rescuing? Then there is the cattle. The cattle are supplied mostly by CGI, which explains how they can seem to stampede toward a high cliff. This scene was a little hokey, but it also provides one of the movie's dramatic high point, with Nullah channeling the teachings of his grandfather.

Still, it is a gorgeous film, with exhilarating images and strong performances, and sweeping romantic melodrama. The kind of movie that is a movie, with all that the word promises and implies. We don’t think either actor will get any nominations, but feel the movie and director might. We give it [5-Stars]

SYNOPSIS: Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) inherits a sprawling cattle ranch. Australia’s largest land owner has been trying to purchase the property for years and will stop at nothing to take it over, including killing her husband. After his death, she reluctantly makes a pact with a stock-man (Hugh Jackman) in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand.

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