Baz Luhrmann : Explore Baz Luhrmann’s 2008 film Australia, a sweeping epic set in the 1940s, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Discover its plot, production, critical reception, and the expanded series Faraway Downs.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Baz Luhrmann, renowned for his vibrant and visually arresting filmmaking style, embarked on an ambitious project with the 2008 film Australia. Set against the backdrop of the Australian Outback during World War II, the film intertwines romance, adventure, and historical drama. Starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, Australia offers a cinematic experience that captures the essence of the Australian landscape and spirit.
Baz Luhrmann
Australia follows the journey of Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch in northern Australia. She partners with Drover (Hugh Jackman), a rugged cattle driver, to drive 2,000 head of cattle across the treacherous terrain to a port for sale. Their expedition is fraught with challenges, including natural disasters, Japanese attacks, and the complexities of their evolving relationship. The narrative also delves into the plight of the “Stolen Generations,” Indigenous Australian children forcibly removed from their families.
Production and Direction
Baz Luhrmann co-wrote, directed, and produced Australia, bringing his signature flair to the film. The production was a monumental endeavor, with extensive on-location shooting in the Australian Outback and the Northern Territory. The film’s visual style is characterized by lush cinematography and grandiose set pieces, hallmarks of Luhrmann’s approach. The soundtrack, featuring compositions by David Hirschfelder, complements the film’s epic scale.
Critical Reception
Upon its release, Australia received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 54% approval rating based on 223 reviews, with an average rating of 5.90/10. The site’s critical consensus notes that while the film boasts “lavish vistas and impeccable production,” it is “unfortunately burdened with thinly drawn characters and a lack of originality.”
Metacritic assigns the film a weighted average score of 53 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews.”
Despite the mixed critical reception, some reviewers praised the film’s ambition and visual spectacle. Anne Barrowclough of The Times awarded the film four out of five stars, stating that it “defies expectation” and presents “an Australia of the 1940s that is at once compellingly beautiful and breathtakingly cruel.”
Faraway Downs: The Expanded Series
In June 2022, Bazmark Films and 20th Television announced a six-part limited television series titled Faraway Downs, reimagining the original film with additional unused footage. Post-production took place in Queensland at Brisbane-based studios The Post Lounge and Resin. The series debuted on October 21, 2023, at the SXSW Sydney Festival and was released worldwide on November 26, 2023, on Hulu and Disney+. Faraway Downs received mixed reviews from critics.
Soundtrack and Awards
The soundtrack for Faraway Downs was released digitally on November 24, 2023. At the 2024 ARIA Music Awards, the soundtrack won the ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album.
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Conclusion
Australia stands as a testament to Baz Luhrmann’s vision and storytelling prowess. While it may not have achieved universal acclaim, the film’s ambition, visual grandeur, and exploration of Australian history and culture offer a unique cinematic experience. The subsequent release of Faraway Downs provides an opportunity to revisit and reimagine the narrative, offering both fans and newcomers a chance to engage with the story in a new format.
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