Australia, the movie

[_moksha]

I think it would be great if the Australians filmed a remake of Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, with a real life Australian taxi driver in the lead. If I was in charge of casting, I would make sure he was both handsome and had a penchant for posting on Mormon related message boards.

[_Ray A]

I think it would be great if the Australians filmed a remake of Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, with a real life Australian taxi driver in the lead. If I was in charge of casting, I would make sure he was both handsome and had a penchant for posting on Mormon related message boards.

I qualify on three counts:

1. Taxi driver.

2. Australian.

3. Posts on message boards

[_Roger Morrison]

Saw Australia last night. A reel Love Story where saying "sorry" was OK. Good performances, nice scenery put to good entertainment value. $7.00 a ticket. AND some good previews of Tom Cruise in a Nazi drama; Meryle Streep, in a Roman Cathlic drama & a Disney Nature film. All look VG...

Mok, "Taxi Driver"??? How can a guy in his 30's know of that one, eh?

Canada apologized for our mistreatment of our natives just recently. Has the USA done that as yet????

[_harmony]

Ray? Jason? Liz? Have you seen it yet?

[_Ray A]

Ray? Jason? Liz? Have you seen it yet?

Not yet, Harm, but might get along today sometime. I need someone to go with, don't like going alone. Might ask my daughter.

[_harmony]

Ray? Jason? Liz? Have you seen it yet?

Not yet, Harm, but might get along today sometime. I need someone to go with, don't like going alone. Might ask my daughter.

Well, dang. I'd go with you, but it's a bit of a trek. I'd love to see it again, though.

[_Ray A]

Well, dang. I'd go with you, but it's a bit of a trek. I'd love to see it again, though.

Thanks for the offer anyway. I'll probably amble along sooner or later.

[_Ray A]

Here's a review by the former editor of the local paper:

Baz Luhrmann's romantic epic Australia wasn't released in time to be eligible for the Australian Film Industry awards at the weekend, but it gets my vote for film of the year. I loved just about everything about Australia, from the way the cinematography captured the sheer grandeur of the landscape and the awesome cattle droves to the fact the casting agents managed to squeeze in just about every Australian actor of note from the past 40 years.

They're all there, from industry veterans such as Ray Barrett, Jack Thompson, Bruce Spence, Bill Hunter, Arthur Dignam, David Gulpilil and Barry Otto to contemporary actors such as David Wenham and Ben Mendelsohn. Graeme Blundell (a.k.a. Alvin Purple) missed out on a bit part, but he was just about the only one. And the lead actors did a great job. Hugh Jackman was seemingly made for his role as Drover, while I thought Nicole Kidman gave the performance of her career.Of course the adorable Brandon Walters absolutely stole the show as Nullah.


Throw in a good dose of romance, heroes and villains, suspense, mysticism, some history lessons about the Japanese bombing of Darwin in World War II and the shameful treatment of Aborigines, and it was quite a show.

But most of all I admired the film's ambition. Australia is a magnificent, over-the-top spectacle that reflects Luhrmann's operatic roots. Sure there are some cliché's and exaggerations, but they just add to the entertainment. It certainly kept me totally absorbed for the full 160 minutes.

My taste in films doesn't often coincide with the critics, but the Washington Post was spot on when it described Australia as "insanely entertaining - a shamefully enjoyable ride".

Of course there have been any number of critics who don't agree with the Washington Post. When you think big, you inevitably invite divided opinions - and quite a few critics seem to think that it is decidedly uncool to praise a big melodrama such as Australia.

But I couldn't believe the comments from some US critics, who described the film as too racist. Didn't they get that the film was a commentary against racism?

Yes, Australia was a very racist country 70 years ago, nowhere more so than in the Northern Territory. Some would argue that not much has changed in the Top End, but hopefully we've made some progress across the country since then.

Luhrmann's treatment of the racism of the times is both realistic and poignant, from the ostracism of Drover by other whites for associating with Aboriginals, to the callous indifference of the authorities who refused to evacuate the half-caste children from Darwin in the face of the Japanese bombing, instead sending them back out to the mission island to become a virtual front-line against the Japanese.

There was also the great irony of Nullah's parentage.

If this movie can help to reinforce to this generation of Australians the moral bankruptcy of racism, thereby encouraging people to be more tolerant in their daily lives, then it will have performed a great service.
But entertainment is its main focus, and it does that very well.

And don't wait until it comes out on DVD. This is one film you have to see on the big screen.

Nick Hartgerink is a former Mercury editor who now runs his own media consultancy.

[_harmony]

He loved it as much as I did! Now I want to go see it again!

[_Yoda]

Ray? Jason? Liz? Have you seen it yet?

Haven't had a chance to go to the movies at all yet. :(

I was traveling last week for work. I sang for a voice conference at ECU.

Hopefully, I'll get to go next week. Seeing Australia and the new Bond movie are on my "to do" list. :)