The new trailer for Australia is out — it’s Baz Luhrmann’s latest, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Some are already saying that it’s a shoe-in for the top movie of all time in Australia, and the trailer itself doesn’t look very bad, though I am concerned — with Luhrmann, Jackman, and Kidman involved — that there will be musical numbers. It is nevertheless considered a top Oscar contender.
But before you get even a little excited about the trailer, it will behoove you to know what the film is about: An English aristocrat (Kidman) inherits a piece of land the size of Maryland and, with the help of a stock hand (Jackman) has to drive 2,000 cattle over the tract of land, all the while dodging bombs, during WWII’s bombing of Darwin by the Japanese.
Yeah, it’s got it all: Romance! Cattle! Bombs! Moooooooooooooo (*Boom*)!
Hugh Jackman + natural Australian accent + probable shirtlessness + extreme gruffness = a good time at the movies.
Posted by: NotBlonde at September 30, 2008 2:04 PM
Oh, and am I sad or normal for not knowing that Japan bombed any part of Australia during WWII? Or not knowing that Australia has been affected in any war, ever?
Posted by: NotBlonde at September 30, 2008 2:05 PM
I hope you find somtething honorable, monitorman.
Probaby something in the middle, NotBlonde. Just don't tell me you've never heard of Gallipoli!
Baz Luhrmann + Hugh Jackman = yes please. In my world, anyway. Music or not.
NotBlonde, I tend to think you're on the normal side. Most Americans don't even know much of the history of our own country, let alone other countries. And ours is only a couple of hundred years old- there's not that much history to know! I've always been embarrassed about my own lack of historical knowledge, but it's always been one of those things I have great difficulty getting interested in reading about.
Posted by: Anna "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at September 30, 2008 2:25 PM
I don't know why, but I have some unnatural admiration for La Kidman. Don't judge. She looks motherfuckin' fierce in the beginning of the trailer. If she wants to shoot poison in her face, hey, go nuts. You don't see her telling me to quit smoking, do you?
I'm so seeing this. Exploding cows!
Posted by: Nicole at September 30, 2008 2:28 PM
Nicole , I also adore Nicole Kidman. She's come a long way from her curly red hair days. The woman is versatile. Watch "Practical Magic" and follow it by watching "Eyes Wide Shut" and finish with "The Hours" and you'll see a talented actress. The woman is a freak, and I mean that in a good way. Plus, Jodie Foster called her a bitch in "Panic Room"!
Nobody actually said Gallipoli was in Australia. Just that it was something we ought to know. =/
Posted by: Mac at September 30, 2008 2:56 PM
[sticks fingers in ears] LALALALALALALALLALALALALA!
I don't care I don't care! I love Baz, therefore I will see this.
It looks like the love child of Man from Snowy River ("if I needed your help, MATE, I would've asked for it!")and Far and Away and you know what? I'm ok with that.
Posted by: Stella at September 30, 2008 2:56 PM
Baz had me at Strictly Ballroom. This will probably be a good one for me and my mom. It's got that Out of Africa vibe: the high-born woman transported to the wilds of a foreign country tasked with something completely out the realm of her experience, wooed by rugged man of the land, lovely costumes, good cinematography.
Yeah, I'll see it.
Posted by: Alabamapink at September 30, 2008 3:10 PM
Ooh, Pink, you just made me want to see it even more! When does it come out again?
Posted by: Anna "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at September 30, 2008 3:16 PM
Anna according to IMDB it's release date is Nov. 26. Just in time for the holidays. And the Oscar race.
Posted by: Alabamapink at September 30, 2008 3:26 PM
Nicole Kidman aside (I can take her or leave her), I'll watch anything with the promise of a bare chested, accented Hugh Jackman and the possibility of a nice ass shot.
Posted by: MissNev at September 30, 2008 3:43 PM
Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, we love you! Amen!
Posted by: zh at September 30, 2008 3:54 PM
ooo ooo Out of Africa that's a better love child than Far and Away...
and like Pink said, Baz had me at Strictly Ballroom. I even watched his Romeo and Juliet because I LOOOVE the man's vision.
Posted by: Stella at September 30, 2008 4:10 PM
Someone already mentioned, but I must agree - HJ with his actual normal accent and any potential nudity = must be seen. NK is just a side note. Like wallpaper, or something.
Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at September 30, 2008 4:15 PM
I've had Jeager Bombs, Cherry Bombs, Car Bombs, and I can't wait to pre-game for this movie with multiple rounds of Cattle Bombs. Not sure what the bartender will give me when I order this, but if it dulls my otherwise violent reaction to Nicole Kidman I'll be forever indebted.
Posted by: Coco Bravo at September 30, 2008 4:27 PM
What's the story with the little girl? The trailer I saw made that the main focus? Is there any discussion of the lost generation? Or did that happen later.
Posted by: ChrisD at September 30, 2008 5:45 PM
Add me to the list of those with an unusual affinity for Nicole Kidman. I'm not even sure how many of her movies I've actually seen, but I damn sure like her.
Also, add me to the list of those with a very normal affinity for accented, shirtless, scruffy Huuuugh. Yes, please.
Posted by: Gabs at September 30, 2008 5:45 PM
I thought it was "gayer than an Ungaro spring frock"?
Posted by: True_Blue at September 30, 2008 6:00 PM
I don't care how bad this may be. HUGH on horseback is enough for me. Nude Hugh just might do me in....
Cattle Bombs....Coco Bravo, you rock!
Posted by: Lori at September 30, 2008 6:02 PM
The music in the trailer confused me. It did really segue from Explosions in the Sky to some generic choral montage crap, right? Also, Kidman's face no longer looks like anything found in nature, and it's too damn bad. She used to be so hot.
Fetchez la vache!
Posted by: Girlnone at September 30, 2008 7:01 PM
they may have rounded up every Australian involved in film that Americans have actually heard of, but they got seem to have stolen the soundtrack from Friday Night Lights (a good thing, I love Explosions in the Sky. Maybe they should change their name to Explosions in the Cow?)
Yeah, I haven't watched the trailer yet, and on a distanced, intellectual level, I *get* that females in Hollywood have huge pressures regarding their physical appearances. But, why does everyone have to iron, bleach, stretch and poison away anything unique about themselves? Would she honestly look worse without the Javexed crispy-fried lock and the mummified death mask? I don't think she would.
And what is that waxy, puffy look that women who've had too much Botox get? Does anyone else see this? It's this shiny, Botox-bloat thing.
Posted by: Jo 'Mama' Besser at September 30, 2008 9:28 PM
My only wish is for Nicole Kidmans face to move again.
I of course will still watch this because Hugh Jackman is a FINE ASS piece of man meat. Although the though of Nicole getting it on with anyone let alone Hugh makes me nauseous. I just don't think she has the passionate thing going on and she'd be the kind of woman that just lays there. I could be reading into it and just assume because her faces doesn't move neither does she.
FYI: I USED to enjoy her in film before the 500th injection of botox made her face look more like a creepy Halloween mask.
Posted by: Virenda at September 30, 2008 10:29 PM
I'm going watch the fuck out of this movie, and I am going to love the fuck out of this movie.
It's about time we Aussies had a jingoistic, overblown piece of schmaltz to glorify our past. This flick looks every bit as bad a Pearl Harbour, to be honest... but it's my patriotic duty to eat a meat pie, drink some XXXX (it's beer, bitches) and a lamington whilst wearing thongs (flip flops) and yell things like 'flamin' hell!' and 'strewth' at the screen. Plus, I love reading comments about our accents. Oh, yeah baby. It's the dodgiest accent on the plant.
Fuck yeah. I think I know what national pride feels like right now.
Nope... it was just indigestion. As you were.
Posted by: Gabster at September 30, 2008 10:33 PM
Great "Grail" ref, Mike R.
Posted by: bucdaddy at September 30, 2008 11:41 PM
Maybe this is just a cliched dynamic by now, but did anyone else notice the similarities to The African Queen? The tent scene is almost exactly the boat scene towards the beginning..
I don't know how to feel about this one, but I'll probably see it regardless.
Posted by: Nat at October 1, 2008 1:13 AM
Gabster, mate, you forgot about using bloody and bugger in every sentence, calling the Prime Minister an arse-licker, (side note: you know how people have J.Lo'ed Kevin Rudd into K. Rudd, why havent they smushed it together and made the awesome name of "KRUDD"?) Bundy Rum and the holy sports trinity that are AFL, Cricket and Rugby, that might give you more national ride or heartburn
Posted by: caity at October 1, 2008 1:25 AM
I grew up in Darwin. So I am therefore obligated to see this movie. PLUS it's hugh and baz, which means I would have totally been there anyway. Exploding cows or no exploding cows.
Gabster - XXXX? No fucking way. Ew. Just ew.
Posted by: rach at October 1, 2008 6:00 AM
Top movie of all time in Australia? There are a few Australians who would say it's The Castle, or something along those lines.
The PM isn't that much of an arse licker. Sure, I bet he tosses salads daily, and he feasts on ear wax, but above all, he is a smug twat.
You guys are forgetting that you have to be draped in the Australian flag, or at least be dressed in green and gold, and be very, very drunk. Think of all the dickheads on Australia Day, and say to yourself, "Yes, I can achieve that, and I will!"
Posted by: bakers_dozen at October 1, 2008 8:23 AM
Posted by: bakers_dozen at October 1, 2008 8:25 AM
Re Nicole Kidman: her forehead is so very, very shiny and smooth. Like a botoxed, sandpapered, micro-dermabraded baby's bottom. It's distracting. I think she can be good (eg The Hours) and she can be absolutely, nauseatingly cringeworthy (eg Bewitched, Stepford Wives).
Re Australian pride: do other countries think that our "oy oy oy" thing is weird? I think it's weird.
Re awesome Australian movies: I am seconding whoever said The Castle, and adding Muriel's Wedding and Malcolm. It kind of annoys me that this movie is actually called "Australia" - like it's trying to shoot a little too hard for icon status. And seeing as hardly anyone outside of the magical land of Oz has ever seen the aforementioned films, it is likely that they will think that this is what Australia/ans are/were like. As in, Baz's view of Australia is likely to become the world's view merely through a lack of other portrayals. Which could be fine... or could spawn this generations next "put-another-shrimp-on-the-barbie-mate".
Posted by: JJ McClay at October 1, 2008 10:22 AM
Don't worry, JJ McClay, Baz will do for Australia what Michener did to POLAND and HAWAII.
Posted by: Stella at October 1, 2008 1:37 PM
These looks like one extremely embarassing movie!! I mean why make such a load of claptrap bollox in the first place. This is most certainly NOT the real Australia. It looks like old Baz's ego has got the better of him. What's HJ doing in this SHITE, thats what I cant get. You expect it from AOS wanna be Princess ( secretly I've shagged every male co-star in Hollywood) Kidman. Complete with her false nose & multi million dollar plastic surgery. Time to vomit Australia. This movie is going to be very embarassing, full stop.
Posted by: Gary D at November 7, 2008 6:32 AM
These looks like one extremely embarassing movie!! I mean why make such a load of claptrap bollox in the first place. This is most certainly NOT the real Australia. It looks like old Baz's ego has got the better of him. What's HJ doing in this SHITE, thats what I cant get. You expect it from AOS wanna be Princess ( secretly I've shagged every male co-star in Hollywood) Kidman. Complete with her false nose & multi million dollar plastic surgery. Time to vomit Australia. This movie is going to be very embarassing, full stop.
Posted by: Gary D at November 7, 2008 6:34 AM
This looks like one extremely embarassing movie!! I mean why make such a load of claptrap bollox in the first place. This is most certainly NOT the real Australia. It looks like old Baz's ego has got the better of him. What's HJ doing in this SHITE, thats what I cant get. You expect it from AOS wanna be Princess ( secretly I've shagged every male co-star in Hollywood) Kidman. Complete with her false nose & multi million dollar plastic surgery. Time to vomit Australia. This movie is going to be very embarassing, full stop.
Japanese soldier: [trying to squeeze a large radio into the sub] "We've got to figure out how to make these things smaller!"