Australia
In an interview that aired October 16, 2008, Hugh Jackman told 60 Minutes (1979) that Nicole Kidman agreed to star in the film without reading the script. According to Jackman, she told him at a Super Bowl party that she had to be in the movie. When Jackman told her he didn't even have a script, Kidman told him to forget the script, because Baz Luhrmann was directing.,When discussing Nullah's future, Sarah mentions "a wonderful School of the Air." School of the Air is a correspondence course that uses shortwave radio (and, now, the internet) to teach children in the Outback. The Alice Springs School of the Air covers over a million square kilometers. School of the Air started in 1951.,Drover: Most people like to own things. You know, land, luggage, other people. Makes them feel secure. But all that can be taken away. And in the end, the only thing you really own is your story. Just tryin' to live a good one.,The Bazmark logo features a watermill wheel which the emu knocks to move it around a little, revealing the words "Darlinghurst-Sydney-Australia" on it.,Edited from Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970),By the Boab Tree
Music by Felix Meagher, Baz Luhrmann and Angela Little
Lyrics by Baz Luhrmann, Felix Meagher, Anton Monsted, Angela Little and Schuyler Weiss
Performed by Angela Little
Produced by BLAM (Baz Luhrmann & Anton Monsted), Felix Meagher and Angela Little,Baz Luhrmann has done a great job with 'Australia'. While cliché's and political agenda runs rife, this is set nicely into an historic, epic story in three distinct acts.

Great casting - Hugh Jackman was what the role needed, and he played the role very well. Nicole Kidman, while being rubbished by several critics, appeared somewhat typecast in her role, but that style was exactly what the role needed, and I think she did a great job at pulling it off. However, I think that the standout performances actually came from Brandon Walters (in his first film), Jack Thompson (in a minor role) and David Wenham who brought 'aussie sleaze' to a new level. Unfortunately, I had trouble believing in Ben Mendelsohn's character of Captain Dutton, but seemed to finish on a high, pulling the 'British stiff upper lip' thing fairly well.

Luhrman's epic was long, and had the full gamut of Luhrmanesque style, which we've come to love through his films. Stylised backgrounds, unique, visual approaches, and a sense of humour that is truly Luhrman, flood the film bringing a rich Australian environment.

'Australia' presents to the world, perhaps a very different Australia to what a lot of people think. While the fictional characters and some of the style is very reminiscent of "Gone with the Wind", the historical Darwin during the 'Stolen Generation' era and the impact of World War Two on Australia's doorstep may be a new insite to many.

I enjoyed 'Australia' a lot. While it wasn't the best film I've ever seen, I definitely think it's worth looking at - even if it's just to see what Baz Luhrman has done.,