Australia (#21)

Baz Lurhman was able to reign in his excess after the first half hour, and save his movie.  The movie opens at a frenetic pace, and felt like Moulin Rogue without the music. I was confused. But after the first half hour of confusing set up, the movie really settles in and finds its groove as an epic tale that’s a throwback to the Gone with the Wind style of filmmaking. The movie works on a couple of levels. It’s a bit of history lesson on Australia, which I am admittedly ignorant of. Its also a satisfyingly well acted romance between the two lead. Kidman and Jackman have a great chemistry. The third lead, in his first role, plays an mixed race aboriginal boy whose coming of age story really ties the whole movie, thematically and plot wise together nicely.