AUSTRALIA (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 1.8|5.0 Starsì

Australia’s overall storyline is poor. There is no specific plot; the broken storyline drags on and on and ON. The movie should have been produced as a documentary about 1930s Australia with a series of narrators rather than actors. The movie almost recoups itself with the Japanese invasion of Australia. But, even these redemptive scenes fail and leave the overall effect of a lagging movie. The movie is ineffectively directed by Baz Luhrmann.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

During World War II Lady Sarah needs to get 1,500 head of cattle from her cattle station to Darwin.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Baz Luhrman for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman, and Baz Luhrman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Carney Boy #3 (Shea Adams), Bull (Eddie Baroo), Ramsden (Ray Barrett), Sergeant Callahan (Tony Barry), Misson Boy (Jamal Sydney Bednarz), Constable #1 (Damian Bradford), King Carney (Bryan Brown), Carney Boy #1 (Nathin Butler), Essential Services Woman (Tara Carpenter), and Magarri’s Niece (Rebecca Chatfield).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. The film tries so hard to be an epic via the 165 minutes of running time, but it doesn’t fill that running time with good story.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers