A long film, did I say ‘long?’ about an Aristocratic Brit, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) headed to Australia for reasons one can’t quite be sure – something to do with her husband’s business and his infidelity. Immediately the plot feels like a riddle wrapped in a Broadway musical of cartoon characters – Kidman’s could easily be mistaken for Olive Oil. Did I mention the movie feels long? Part Epic, part Western and old Hollywood with a pinch of “African Queen” and “Out of Africa” and a good cup of “Gone With the Wind” you may as well be watching all of these at once because it seems all way over the top, and well, did I say long? And there’s Drover (Hugh Jackman) who thank god, was just voted “Sexiest Man Alive” so it keeps the curiosity going between the jibber jabber that we can’t seem to take seriously. The plot and the delivery are utter lunacy and at times feeling like a Coen Brothers film except the Coen brothers are literate. This isn’t. Director Baz Luhrmann reteams with Kidman for the first time since “Moulin Rouge” but while the movie feels the same A.D.D. “Moulin Rouge” delivered something magical, mesmerizing, passionate and desperate – something that this one can’t seem to pull off. If you think this review is confusing, you should see the movie. And did I mention it’s long? Two tiaras and that’s just for the scenery and hopping Kangaroos.
