I liked Australia to an extent. It's definitely an event film, the likes of which have not been seen this year (unless you count The Dark Knight, which I don't). The film is gorgeous to watch and bomastic, and yet also undeniably tepid.
There is something very stale and trite about this whole affair, which is understandable since it is riffing on the trite and stale. Though for some reason, I can pop in my old VHS of The African Queen and still be amazed each time, and yet Australia just doesn't do it for me. Jackman and Kidman have good chemistry together, but they're both privy to sudden inexplicable acting changes throughout the film. In this sense, the film is classic surreal Luhrmann, though in no way, shape, or form does it even approach the awesome wackiness of Moulin Rouge! For the most part the film works fine until it suddenly shifts gears and we're in a different film altogether.
Basically, strong enough first two acts; tremendously lacking third.
It should kill at the box office though, and satisfy a fair amount of people. No harm, no foul. Just nothing amazing either.
I sort of wish I wasn't late for Benjamin Button. Oh well, there's always the weekend.
Have a good pre-Turkey day week.
--DM
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