Brandon Walters a Star in Movie Australia
Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman Transform Outback into Romance Epic
Jan 22, 2009
Australia is a breakthrough for director Baz Luhrmann. His previous films such as Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet were really MTV-styled mutations of the real thing, always galloping at a frenetic pace to the finale. Australia allows - perhaps pushes – Luhrmann into directing at a more relaxed pace. This famous Australian director’s love for grandiosity comes through more naturally in Australia’s breathtaking vistas, rather than staged. And Luhrmann’s cast truly complete his vision.
Brandon Walters as Nullah – a Star is Born
The hidden surprise in the film Australia is the boy Nullah. Nullah embodies the story of the film Australia, portraying more fact than fiction: how mixed race children were kidnapped in Australia and have come to be known as the ‘stolen generations’. Brandon Walters, of Aboriginal descent, is cast as Nullah, and does a devastatingly inspired job at being cheeky one moment, resilient the next. When Nullah (Walters) croons his magic Aboriginal song, it enraptures Kidman as well as the audience. Luhrmann’s dreamy visuals of Nullah singing is reminiscent of the magical Wizard of Oz.
A superb scene takes place when villain Neil Fletcher (played by David Wenham) lures the cattle into a stampede heading towards Nullah. Bringing back King George's shaman tune, Nullah hums while standing in stillness, drawing his arms in a shaman stance. No less than magic here.
Australia and her Landscapes
Audiences are reminded of Luhrmann’s frenzied direction when Lady Ashley (Kidman) arrives in Australia: quick edits of unfamiliar faces talking, explode onscreen. Luckily this happens only once. As Ashley (Kidman) and Drover’s (Hugh Jackman) romance develops, Luhrmann takes a seat back and lets Australia the country tell the story. Suddenly Australia is a mesmerising story of lush waterfalls, verdant greenery and miles of barrenness.
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman
Nicole Kidman plays Lady Ashley, who visits Australia to find her husband murdered, and decides to make a go of the cattle ranch business. Kidman seems to reprise her role in Far and Away except this time Kidman is an English lady in the outback (rather than Irish in America). Against all pressure to look like an It Girl, Kidman gets to work, donning dowdy driving glasses whilst discoursing in a flawless English accent. Her storytelling scene with Nullah comes across so unforced it looks like improvisation. Well done Nicole, on such a natural job!
Surprisingly, Hugh Jackman was not first considered for Drover, though he is such a natural in it. His Wolverine persona turns earthy: as Drover, he is chivalrous not just with women but also Aboriginals. Drover’s instincts to flee marriage for travelling across the outback is nicely brought through. And when Ashley and Drover fall in love, their rain scenes are just as seductive (and sedative) as 1940s romances.
Villains Neil Fletcher & King Carney
Credit must also be given to David Wenham and Bryan Brown, who play villains Neil Fletcher and King Carney. Bryan Brown’s scenes are short but he is charismatic, and David Wenham’s Fletcher is cringingly realistic. His coined aphorism “Pride isn’t power” hints at the tension between inherited wealth (Lady Ashley from England) and middle-class gains (Australian cattle owner).
The film Australia is long, as Luhrmann takes time bringing out her ‘lost in time, lost in place’ quality. As Lady Ashley waits for Drover to come home every six months, the audience experiences the same heartache and longing, lost in an overwhelming landscape.
- Australia
- Starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Brandon Walters, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, David Gulpilil
- Written by Stuart Beattie, Baz Luhrmann, Ronald Harwood & Richard Flanagan
- Directed by Baz Luhrmann
- Running time: 165 minutes
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