australian film Tagged Articles at Cinematical

The upcoming release of Australia -- directed by Australian Baz Luhrmann, shot in Australia and starring Australian-born actor Hugh Jackman, and Australian-raised Nicole Kidman -- inspired me to take a look at the Australian film industry, thinking I could easily pick out seven highlights. Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for everyone else, Australian films are a much richer and more daunting prospect. I decided to stick to films shot in Australia by directors born there, thus eliminating things like Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout (1971). I also eliminated New Zealanders like Jane Campion and Peter Jackson, who deserve their own list. At the 11th hour, I had to eliminate such an obviously great film as Babe (1995); though it qualifies under my rule, the Hoggett's farm could actually be just about anywhere (it's more of a fairy tale world, and Australia is never mentioned). And no, Crocodile Dundee (1986) didn't make the cutoff, but here's what did:

The Road Warrior (1981, George Miller)
This movie represents everything that's badass about Australia. It opened there in 1981 as Mad Max 2, mainly because everyone had seen Mad Max (1979). Here, it opened a year later, in the summer of 1982, with the changed title, hoping that Americans could be tricked into thinking it wasn't a sequel. It didn't matter; this film is far starker, funnier and all-around better than the original. Rarely have the roar of engines mixed so well with the wide, empty, sun-baked dust of the outback. Miller was -- and still is -- one of the most interesting Down Under directors, but he works slowly and sporadically and stays out of the limelight. (In the thirty years since Mad Max, he has directed only seven feature films.) And Mel Gibson may have gone a little nuts lately, but we'll always love him for this.

Poor Justice League. They just can't catch a break.

The Syndey Herald reports that the city is in danger of losing the Justice League movie. The mega movie has received another setback, this time due to the Australian government. The Federal Government has refused to give the movie the new 40% tax rebate, which is essential for this $200 million dollar production.

The problem seems to be that it is an American film, with American accents, and it will not do the Australian film industry any favors. But native director George Miller points out that the country needs movie franchises, even if they aren't "recognizably" Australian, to boost production and bring in jobs. I can't really say which side is right -- it seems Australia is a bit miffed Warner Bros shut down production in January over uncertainty about the incentive, and they punished them for their doubts. (I'm really curious if X-Men Origins: Wolverine is getting that tax break. Everyone knows Hugh Jackman is Australian, but come on, that's not going to be seen as a Down Under movie either.)

But the biggest revelation in this story? The movie seems have a title, which I am fairly sure hasn't been officially announced yet: Justice League Mortal. Hmm. That hardly rolls off the tongue. Did they take out the "America" in hopes of gaining that tax incentive?

So it has a title (maybe), but will the flick ever see the light of day? There are rumors that Miller was brought on just because of that Australian rebate -- and if it is gone, and production is moved elsewhere, Warner Bros. may be shopping for a new director. We'll see. I know many comic book fans that just want this production to die -- and there's definitely a sense that they are forcing a movie that simply does not want to be.

[via Action-Figure.com]

You may not have heard of young Australian actress Abbie Cornish, but chances are you're going to know exactly who she is pretty soon. Cornish won Best Actress at the AFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards in 2004 for her role as Heidi, the runaway teen in Somersault, and she's followed up that role with a slew of roles in upcoming films, including Candy with Heath Ledger, Ridley Scott's A Good Year with Russell Crowe, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, with Cate Blanchett. At least part of the reason you'll be seeing more of Cornish in the near future is her performance in Somersault.

Cornish plays Heidi, a 16-year-old who runs away after being caught by her mother making an awkward sexual advance on mom's boyfriend. Over the next two or so hours, we follow Heidi's progress (or lack thereof) in learning to navigate relationships with the opposite sex. That's pretty much all there is to the movie, and yet it's one of the most memorable films I've seen in a long while, thanks in large part to Cornish's remarkable performance capturing the essence of this lost, lonely woman-child struggling to make her way.