Unyielding stab at epic drama

Ruwini Jayawardana

Drover and Sarah at the ranch

When two of the biggest Hollywood stars come together to work on a movie there is always a lot of buzz and speculations. Fans wait breathlessly counting the days to see the production unfurling on screen while theatre owners picture a lineup of full house shows.

It is quite disappointing when a film of such caliber bombs at the box-office and fails to touch the audience’s heart. Baz Luhrmann's ‘Australia’ is one example of how star power alone cannot save a film.

The movie comprises a corny storyline of how a hero triumphs over the rifle-bearing thugs of the region. Caught in the midst of the battle are a glamorous aristocratic lady and a spirited young lad. After a series of incidents the hero manages to send the villains into exile, ensure the child’s safety, win over the people of the town and capture the heart of the lady.

This basically sums up the structure of ‘Australia’. The movie is an attempt to rejuvenate the old-fashioned movie epic. You get Hugh Jackman donning the avatar of a manly and honourable cattle driver named Drover and Nicole Kidman stepping into the shoes of British noblewoman Lady Sarah Ashley. The latter has to transform from merely cooing over kangaroos to adapting to the harsh climate and lifestyle of the town while the former needs to bring out his heroic colours and sweep his misfit-partner off her feet.

Kidman and Jackman as Sarah and Drover

Lady Sarah Ashley and Nullah

Yet this is a typical Hollywood movie set in another landscape. It is more of a western meets war experience with a romance to spice up the incidents.

Then you have the oversized, ruthless villain of the movie in the form of Neil Fletcher acted out by David Wenham. He not only schemes against the lead pair but also shows lack of affection towards his own 12-year-old half-caste son, Nullah.

Melodrama is at its height in the occurrences along the cattle drive. Each episode seems to be set to enhance the heroic quality of Drover and add one more reason to why Sarah should fall for him.

As in most cases of the Western American genre movie ‘Australia’ too encompasses several implausible episodes. Some of these are seen when Darwin is attacked by the Japanese in 1942. The characters fall apart in these instances. Even the headstrong Drover seems at a lost on what to do. It is only the star power of the lead characters which hold the collapsing film together.

Though the movie has its shortcomings ‘Australia’ embodies its own charm. The breath-taking outback landscapes and the ancient grandeur is brought out through costumes and architecture. The introduction of the Aboriginal boy’s character gives a novel twist to an otherwise all too familiar tale. His character is acted out well by Brandon Walters. He also acts as the bridge which draws Jackman and Kidman together into a relationship of mutual respect and understanding.

A sub plot is also emerges in the case of projecting how the half Indians are torn between conflicting cultures. Nullah is more of an outcaste in this case and Lady Sarah saves him from being sent off to a mission school and raised as a déraciné white child. One is reminded of scenes from movies like ‘Pearl Harbor’ and ‘From Here to Eternity’ in the war scenes. All in whole ‘Australia’ is entertaining but fails to reach the expected mark.