"Australia" Better Than Critics Said

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 01:07:30 AM EST
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I watched "Australia", the epic movie with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman tonight... Comcast and Netflix both have it available.

After the dismal reviews, I wasn't expecting much except beautiful scenery. But I liked it, especially the second half which had more action, and the young Brandon Walters as Nullah, a half-Aborigine, half caucasian boy. I wanted to pluck him from the screen and fight Nicole Kidman for him. I also would have leapt at the chance to do a "walkabout" with his grandfather "King George."

Now I want to re-watch Peter Weir's "Last Wave" -- the 1977 film about a white lawyer who defends a group of aborigine kids on a murder charge and in the process learns about "Dreamtime." (Trailer here.)

I remember being so fascinated by "The Last Wave" and "Dreamtime." For months, I defined everything that happened by it. Even now it reminds me that anthropology and the study of indigenous cultures don't get enough attention.

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"Australia" Better Than Critics Said | 13 comments (13 topical)

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My Aussie friend recommends (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Cream City on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 01:25:29 AM EST

The Rabbit-Proof Fence, based on a fine book -- a true story, and the story of its making with the first people there is something, too. So is the result, the national Sorry Day, and finally an apology just last year by the p.m. who will be here this week to the aboriginal peoples for the treatment of them.

The Aussie also likes the flick Australia, so to heck with the reviewers.

Rabbit-Proof Fence was (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Jeralyn on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 01:27:02 AM EST

really a good movie. Which reminds me Whale-Rider is too.


LOVED Rabbit Proof Fence (5.00 / 2) (#7)
by shoephone on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 02:12:29 AM EST

and Walkabout is, by now, a certified classic. Saw Jenny Agutter in MI5 recently. It made me realize how old we are all getting!

So many excellent Aussie movies. The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith...

And Peter Weir is also a big favortie of mine. Back in the early 80's the Fox Venice Theater (in Venice, CA) had a weeks-long Weir festival. Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Plumber are two other great ones directed by him that were shown during the fest.


And on our own indigenous Americans (none / 0) (#3)
by Cream City on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 01:45:30 AM EST

I hear good things from colleagues in Native American studies about expectations for the upcoming PBS series, We Shall Remain.

Thanks for tips on Aussie flicks I have yet to see -- in preparation for that magic land in a few months. I have a long list of websites and a stack of books I'm studying, too, including an absolutely gorgeous photo book sent by my Aussie friend and her family. The bushfires came within a mile of them, but they tell me their beautiful land will rebound fast -- as have the incredible people there for eons.


We lived in Australia for several years (none / 0) (#4)
by Inspector Gadget on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 01:57:04 AM EST

Of all the places around the world we lived and traveled, that was my least favorite country.

We were there during the Lindy Chamberlin dingo trial. "Cry in the Dark" is the most accurate movie based on a true story that I've ever seen.


Which part? It's so huge (none / 0) (#6)
by Cream City on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 02:09:54 AM EST

so I hear different reactions, often depending upon which city, region, etc.

We may be mainly in Victoria -- "Melbin," Philips Island (can hardly wait for the famous Penguin Parade to the dunes!), etc. -- where the bushfires hit so hard. But a family member visiting there now reports that the area is absolutely beautiful and loves the city and Aussie people, too.

I'd like to get to Sydney as well, but I'm not supposed to tell the "Melbinians" that, so I'm told.:-)


: Two locations (none / 0) (#11)
by Inspector Gadget on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 10:07:32 AM EST

Gladstone, QLD (about 500 miles north of Brisbane) and Melbourne.
I found Brisbane to be quite interesting. The biggest Poinsettia's you can imagine...big as a house.
Beaches are gorgeous.

Australia (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by kayla on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 08:12:36 AM EST

I really liked Australia, too. I was really surprised because, based on the reviews, I thought it was going to be awful.

I liked it too (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by BernieO on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 09:49:20 AM EST

Particularly the emphasis on storytelling. Some of my friends didn't realize that Australia is called OZ so they missed the symbolism of that movie being part of the story. Watching the scene where the boy sneaks into watch the movie made me realize how magical movies must have seemed at that time.

The idea that everyone's life has a story and if your story stops, you are not living was very meaningful to me. I have long believed that people think of their lives as stories that are unfolding. We have scripts in our heads for how things should unfold. This gives us a sense of purpose and direction but can lead to problems if life does not unfold the way our stories predict.

Humans are storytelling creatures. That is why it is so much more effective to teach in story format - e.g. Jesus's parables. Our minds work best if we can fit things into a story or story-like frame. In fact, the idea of "frames" in political debate that Lakoff writes about is all about evoking stories to communicate with people - the character of the stern father versus (Republican)the nurturing mother (Democrat).

I also thought that the movie captured the feel of the aborigines' mystical view of life, as I understand it, as well as the all-too-familiar clash between modern and premodern cultures. I would be curious to know what the reaction of the aborigine community was to the movie.

A Cult Aussie Film (none / 0) (#12)
by squeaky on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 01:18:24 PM EST

Wake in Fright. on google video.

Since its release Wake In Fright has developed a reputation as Australia's great lost film, as its unavailability on video or DVD and its absence from television screens has meant that it has been little seen since its release.

Wiki

Here's a heartbreaking film (none / 0) (#13)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 04:16:58 PM EST

within the indigenous Maori culture of New Zealand: Once Were Warriors.

"Australia" (none / 0) (#15)
by good grief on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 11:29:48 PM EST

sound track near end features a thread of Edgar Elgar's haunting Enima Variation (IX), "Nimrod," one of my faves. Here's a nice performance of the full piece (4 mins) by Univ of Cincinnati Orchestra (among many versions on YouTube).

"The Last Wave" I, too, admired greatly, a truly mysterious film. "What we see and what we seem are but a dream, a dream within a dream" -- I associate with "The Last Wave" but it's actually from another Peter Wier film, "Picnic at Hanging Rock."

: Typo: Should be "Enigma" Variation (nt) (none / 0) (#16)
by good grief on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 11:31:21 PM EST