The first impression I had for this movie, was that "Well, looks like a documentary of World-war II", but surprisingly its a lot lot more than that! Its a beautiful drama in its entirety! Now..
If you are expecting another pearl harbour from it, let me tell you that it is not!
If you are expecting another romantic love story, with fate driving them apart,
and destiny bringing them back together again, let me tell you that it is not!
CAST
Nicole Kidman - Lady Sarah Ashley
Hugh Jackman - Drover
Brandon Walters - Nullah
David Wenham - Neil Fletcher
CREDITS
Director - Baz Luhrmann
Screenplay - Stuart Beattie and Baz Luhrmann
PLOT
Its a story of a young Aboriginal (a person having a white father and a black mother) child Nullah, an English Aristrocrat's wife Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), and a Drover (Hugh Jackman), and their journey to finding a truthful existence!
When Sarah's husband is killed following a dispute over the ownership of a Ranch in Australia, Sarah with the help of a Drover and a bunch of crew-members, sets out to finish the job left undone by her husband! During their trials, Darwin is attacked by the japanese troops and the ups-downs, good-bad things that follow is this movie all about!
Why watch this movie?
Some pure cinematic brilliances, like the scenes of bombed Darwin following the Japanese attacks were just so charismatic, that you could almost feel the painful vibes of a war! Some, ecstatic performances! Some, nearly perfect camera shots!
This one scene where the herd of cattle is shown running through the edge of the rocky terrain, couldnt have been better!
A little dragged perhaps, but nevertheless, the movie is worth watching, just because of the sheer soulful screenplay and cinematography!
The clumsy narration of the aboriginal kid, with flawed english and a unique sweetness attached was an instant liking for me! If you get glued to a movie that you could relate to and its characters, and can bear a few painful minutes, this one is a movie
you should surely try!
PERFORMANCES
Hugh Jackman as the kind-hearted Drover, does a fabulous job, loved every inch of it!
Nicole Kidman, delivers on similar lines of Cold mountain, not as enchanting, but quite fabulous!
The little kid, Brandon Walters does a decent job with some sweet scenes and a commendable overall act! Others like the cunning brother in law David Wenham, supercedes with a outright act!
BEST SCENES
1) The one where Sarah is rejoicing her first experience watching a hopping Kangaroo, which gets interrupted unexpectedly!
2) The scene where Drover finds a row of empty shoes, fantastically picturised!
3) The scene where Sarah consoles Nullah after the mother's death!
4) The scene where Sarah asks about Drover's life
"I was married once, abigail, as before I went off to war!"
"And what happened?"
"I marched off from Mother England, by that time she was sick, with TB, but back then the hospitals wouldn't treat...........Blacks!"
CONS
The only bad thing about this movie was that I could relate an ending at almost three places in the movie! I am sure you would too! Some scenes could have been a little shorter, and were uncanny at times! A little shorter version of this flick, would have been an even greater experience!
Lenghthy, running time 2 hrs 45 mins!
VERDICT
Stricly depends on your choice of films, timed at 2 hours 45 minutes, this one is a Long movie, and not everyone could bear a hollywood movie that long! If you have watched a movie this long and liked it, you would most probably enjoy this one too! As I mentioned before, you would find a few scenes that would seem to be the end, so prepare to be dissapointed!
Drama lovers, lovers of authentic feel-good movies, and cinema lovers, should give it a try, I am sure it would not dissapoint you!
Hope, this review was helpful!
Take Care!
