Damon Mcknight
The movie 'Australia' was released in 2008. It is an adventure, drama, and romance film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. The film stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and tells the story of an Englishwoman who inherits a ranch in northern Australia and makes a pact with a stockman to drive 2,000 head of cattle across the property. The film premiered simultaneously in four locations in Australia on November 18, 2008, and was released in Australian and American cinemas on November 26, 2008.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | Australia |
| Year of release | 2008 |
| Genre | Adventure, Drama, Romance |
| Director | Baz Luhrmann |
| Cast | Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, Brandon Walters, Ben Mendelsohn, Essie Davis, Barry Otto, Aaron Pederson |
| Plot | An Englishwoman inherits a sprawling ranch in northern Australia and makes a pact with a stockman to drive 2000 cattle over the unforgiving landscape |
| Themes | Indigenous history, cultural traditions, colonisation, migration, World War II, life on a remote northern cattle station, love, humour, and tragedy |
| Filming locations | Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales |
| Soundtrack | Composed by David Hirschfelder with musicians including the Broome Pigram brothers, Ted Egan, and Rolf Harris |
| Runtime | 2 hours and 45 minutes |
| Release date | 18 November 2008 (premiere), 26 November 2008 (Australia and USA) |
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What You'll Learn
The movie was released in 2008
The movie Australia was released in 2008. It premiered on 18 November 2008 in four locations in Australia: Kununurra's Picture Theatre, Darwin's Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinema, Bowen's Summergarden Cinema, and The Greater Union Cinema in Sydney's George Street (CBD). It was then released in Australian and American cinemas on 26 November 2008. In most other countries, the film was released on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day of the same year.
The movie was mostly filmed in 2007, with principal photography beginning on 30 April 2007. The film's director, Baz Luhrmann, had conceived of the project years earlier, with initial casting negotiations taking place in 2005. The film was released during a period of relative stagnation for Australian cinema, with no Australian movies making $3 million at the box office in 2008.
The movie received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the performances of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, as well as the film's costumes, cinematography, and sweeping visuals. Others criticised the film for being overly long, muddled, and cheesy. Despite the mixed reviews, the film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design.
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It was directed by Baz Luhrmann
The 2008 epic romance-drama film 'Australia' was directed by Baz Luhrmann. Luhrmann is also a producer and co-writer of the film. The movie was released in Australian and American cinemas on 26 November 2008. It was also released in several other countries on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day of the same year.
Luhrmann is known for his attention to detail and accuracy in his films. 'Australia' is no exception, with the director conducting extensive research on the film's outfits, studying archival images and newspapers from the 1930s and 1940s. The film's costume designer, Catherine Martin, even interviewed descendants of the original Darwin stockmen to ensure the costumes' accuracy.
Luhrmann's attention to detail extended beyond just the costumes. The film includes a myriad of authentic details about life on remote cattle stations in Australia, which has been praised by critics. Baz Luhrmann lived up to his reputation as a stickler for detail, both before and during filming.
The film 'Australia' is known for its sweeping cinematography and robust movement, drawing audiences in with its innovation and vitality. Luhrmann's direction has been described as "entertaining," with the film itself being called a "testament to movie love." The film neatly dovetails the parallel stories of family and survival through its characters, Sarah and Nullah.
Luhrmann's direction of 'Australia' has been compared to his previous work, such as 'Moulin Rouge', with similar visuals that thrill audiences. The film has been praised for its style and humour, with Luhrmann mythologizing his homeland in a similar vein to how American directors approached Westerns.
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It starred Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman
The 2008 film Australia starred Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Kidman played Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocrat who inherits a cattle station called Faraway Downs after her husband dies. Jackman played a drover who helps Lady Sarah move her cattle across the property.
The film follows Lady Sarah as she travels from Great Britain to Australia in 1939 to meet her husband, Maitland, in northern Australia. However, when she arrives, she finds out that he has been murdered. She befriends Nullah, a young Aboriginal boy, who tells her that the station manager, Neil Fletcher, is stealing her cattle and working for the cattle baron King Carney. Lady Sarah fires Fletcher and, together with Drover, Nullah, and a group of loyal employees, they set out to take the cattle to supply the army and win a tender in times of war.
The film was directed by Baz Luhrmann and also starred Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, and David Wenham. It received mixed reviews, with some praising the performances of Kidman and Jackman, the cinematography, and the entertainment value, while others criticised the script, pacing, and character development. Despite this, the film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design.
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It was filmed across four Australian states
The 2008 historical adventure drama film Australia was filmed in various locations across four Australian states: New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, and South Australia. Each state offered unique and diverse landscapes that helped capture the beauty and vastness of the country.
New South Wales, known for its diverse scenery, provided a range of filming locations. The crew filmed in Sydney, using the city's iconic landmarks and stunning architecture as a backdrop. They also ventured to the small town of Bowen, located in the Hunter Valley region, known for its picturesque countryside and rolling hills. Additionally, they filmed in the remote and rugged Breelong region, capturing the beauty of the Australian Outback.
Queensland, famous for its tropical climate and diverse environments, was also a key filming location. The production took advantage of the state's diverse landscapes, filming in the lush rainforests of Mossman Gorge and the Daintree National Park, as well as the dry and rugged Outback regions around Cloncurry and Longreach. The state's diverse natural wonders helped showcase the varying environments of Australia.
The Northern Territory, known for its red-hued Outback landscapes and rugged beauty, played a significant role in filming. Locations such as Katherine and Darwin captured the unique charm of the region, with its vast open spaces and distinctive terrain. Filming also took place in Kununurra, Western Australia, taking advantage of the stunning landscape and the Ord River.
Finally, South Australia and its diverse locations added to the film's authenticity. Adelaide, the state's capital, offered a range of urban settings and architectural styles. Filming also took place in the Flinders Ranges, known for its rugged Outback scenery and stunning natural formations. The crew also ventured to the remote and sparsely populated Coober Pedy, a unique town known for its underground dwellings and opal mining.
By filming across these four states, the production team was able to showcase the diverse landscapes, environments, and cultural aspects that make Australia unique. Each state provided a different perspective on the country's beauty, contributing to the epic scale and scope of the film.
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The plot involves an Englishwoman inheriting a ranch in Australia
The 2008 film Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann, is set in the country's northern region in 1939. The plot centres on an Englishwoman, Lady Sarah Ashley, who inherits a ranch in this remote part of Australia. Lady Ashley travels to the country, flying on a Qantas plane, to take charge of her sprawling property, known as Faraway Downs. She makes a pact with a drover, played by Hugh Jackman, to help her move 2000 head of cattle across the unforgiving landscape.
Lady Ashley encounters various characters during her journey, including Nullah, a young Aboriginal boy whom she finds at Faraway Downs. Nullah's grandfather, King George, is a magic tribal elder who plays a pivotal role in the story. The film also features a range of other characters, such as Neil Fletcher, the station manager who plans to take over Faraway Downs, and King Carney, a cattle baron who owns much of the land in the region.
The film explores themes of indigenous history and cultural traditions, colonisation, and life on a remote cattle station. It also touches on World War II and the Japanese bombing of Darwin, adding elements of romance, humour, and tragedy to the narrative. The cinematography is sweeping and robust, drawing audiences into the vast landscapes of northern Australia.
The film generated mixed reviews, with some critics praising its entertainment value and attention to detail, while others found it too long and muddled. Despite this, "Australia" remains a significant film, showcasing the country's natural environment, history, and indigenous culture to a global audience.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie 'Australia' was released in 2008.
Filming for 'Australia' began on 30 April 2007, and was mostly completed in 2007.
The movie was released in Australia and America on 26 November 2008.
The movie 'Australia' is about an Englishwoman who inherits a ranch in northern Australia in 1939 and makes a pact with a stockman to drive 2000 head of cattle over the unforgiving landscape.
The movie 'Australia' stars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, and Brandon Walters.
