Critics weigh in on Australia

ABC’s AM today reports that after costing many millions of dollars and generating an extraordinary amount of hype, the film “Australia” has finally had its premiere, and the critiques are mixed.

“Deliriously camp and shamelessly overdone”, says one.

“An uneven romantic melodrama which looks magnificent”, says another.

“A film that not so much represents the future of Australia’s film industry but a mesmerising”, throwback, says another.

AM’s Karen Barlow reports.

KAREN BARLOW: The epic film with the record breaking Australian budget got a big red carpet send off last night.

Sydney CBD streets were blocked as thousands of guests and fans came to see what all the fuss is about.

Many of the screams were for star Hugh Jackman who confessed to a slight case of nerves.

HUGH JACKMAN: I am pumped. I am so excited about it, it has been two years in the making and it’s so funny this very cinema I used to come to as a kid – play space invaders just around here.

KAREN BARLOW: There was relief from director and writer Baz Luhrmann who was still finishing Australia a few days ago.

BAZ LUHRMANN: You know, I’m just so happy we’re here, people gave so much, they gave relentlessly, and now it is done.

KAREN BARLOW: The filmmaker insists the $130-million film did not go over budget and despite rumours he gave the film the ending he wanted.

But he and the crew and cast like Nicole Kidman, say it was a tough film to finish.

NICOLE KIDMAN: The stamina that it takes to work, it took almost nine months to shoot this film and the travelling and the heat because obviously I have really fair skin.

KAREN BARLOW: Australia is a world war two romance with spectacular landscapes and social commentary. It highlights poor black and white relations and the Stolen Generations.

Actor John Jarrett is expecting great success for the film.

JOHN JARRETT: It is the biggest thing since Clark Gable died. It is going to be immense, yeah, I think it’s going to be huge.

KAREN BARLOW: And critics such as Margaret Pomeranz from the ABC’s At The Movies says there’s a lot riding on the film, especially with $40-million worth of taxpayers’ money being used with a tourism advertising tie-in.

MARGARET POMERANZ: You know, this is a tremendously important film for Australia, every man woman and child has an investment in this film, and its years of work for the filmmakers. So it’s important that it works on a number of levels and I am sure it’s going to work here in Australia.

KAREN BARLOW: Do you think it fair to put that on one film? All that pressure?

MARGARET POMERANZ: Well in a way, they’ve have embraced it, haven’t they, with all the publicity and the association with Tourism Australia. So I just, we all want it to work, we all want it to work.

KAREN BARLOW: The reviews will start pouring out from today.

Jim Schembri from The Age has some reservations.

JIM SCHEMBRI: Well I thought the film was good but not great. The problem with the film is that it’s just too long.

KAREN BARLOW: And so the prospects of saving a stumbling local film industry?

JIM SCHEMBRI: I don’t think any single film can do that. All this stuff about this film sort of being the, heralding a new age for Australian cinema, no no no no no.

We need about four or five good years of good films not just one good film around Christmas time.

KAREN BARLOW: Veteran actor Bryan Brown who plays cattle baron King Carney in Australia agrees.

BRYAN BROWN: It won’t do anything for the industry in Australia beyond get people to see this movie, I mean the movies been here before it the movie will be here after it.

The movie just will have its place but they have spent a lot of money and I hope they get it back.

TONY EASTLEY: Actor Bryan Brown ending that report from Karen Barlow.

A Report by The Mole