Liftingfaces

Why Don’t I Love This?

Written by

Ryan Dunn

in

(BAZ LUHRMANN’S EPIC “AUSTRALIA”)

Baz Luhrmann wrote and directed this upcoming film; Nicole Kidman (usually a solid actress) stars alongside Hugh Jackman; the story feels in parts whimsical, and in others epic. So why am I not thrilled for Australia to come out? Let’s start at the top.

(1) I just had vision of Jackman coming out of a saloon full of banditos and carving a giant ‘C’ on another bandito’s blouse with his retractable metal claws, then proclaiming he is Zorro’s second cousin Carcayú (Wolverine en español).

(2) Man, I hope Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsdale don’t have a kissing scene in this movie. It was hard enough watching it happen the first time in Pearl Harbor.

(3) Marcus Aurelius would be proud. So would Ridley Scott. And the dozen or so multi-vitamin commercials that have also used this masterful cinematic hand-grazing-wheat moment.

(4) “There’s a whole ocean of oil under our feet, and no-one can get at it but me!” Oh wait, that was a different movie, with a better actor. Whoops.

Comments

2 responses to “Why Don’t I Love This?”

  1. Anna Avatar
    Anna

    So let me get this straight. You’re not looking forward to this movie because
    1. you’re not able to rid yourself of pre-conceived notions of actors in other roles
    2. every movie with WWII air attacks as part of the plot must be bad
    3. a moment which might or might not be in the final cut seems trite
    4. It’s not another movie with a different good actor

    Oh. Well, I think I’ll wait to actually see the movie before I decide if it’s good or not. This propensity to pontificate about movies that haven’t even been released is annoying.

  2. invertebrae Avatar
    invertebrae

    anna,

    your assessment of my assessment is basically correct. what it all adds up to, is that for one of the most visually original directors of our time (luhrmann), it’s underwhelming to see several highly derivative shots in the trailer. and what it adds up to is a movie that i wish i wanted to see based on the trailer.

    and yes, i should be able to preemptively judge a movie by its trailer, since the trailer is the primary sales tool for any marketed film.

    …ryan

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More posts