Australia (2008)

Aussie director Baz Luhrmann departs from the pop-artie form of his ‘Red Curtain Trilogy’, with this sprawling and evocative epic of the rough life in Northern Australia at the beginning of World War II. Conceived as an homage to the sprawling historical epics of David Lean and others ,this films works not only as tribute (laced with motifs and references to movies, stars and directors to numerous to mention), but AS such a film. With the exception of the well played critique of Aussie racial polices of the time (personified in the amazing of performance of first time aboriginal actor Brandon Walters as a ‘half cast’ boy), this film could have been made as is in 1943, 1963 or even 1983. It’s pure classic entertainment in story and form executed to near perfection. This film is as much about the ‘old time movie going experience’ as it is about anything, and I found mine completely satisfying. 4 ½ out of 5.