At the Movies with Fatwayne

We have to figure that we were off to a good start when we have Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman as headliners in this epic romantic adventure filmed in a country as intriguing and beautiful as Australia. The setting is just after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and were advancing toward the Aussies in the early 1940s.

Kidman (Lady Sarah Ashley) portrays a English noblewoman who ventures to Australia in search of her husband. Through a series of circumstances she finds herself a widow with a huge ranch to manage on her own. Lucky for her, she meets a rogue by the name of Rover (Hugh Jackman) who befriends her and agrees to help in her endeavors to save the ranch. All of this is happening on the verge of the Japanese invasion combined with attempts by an unscrupulous competitor to force her to sell her land.

Adding to the intrigue of the film is the wonderful sub story of a captivating young boy, Nulla (Brandon Walters), who has a beautiful voice and who “sings” to “influence” his surroundings. All of this is under the tutelage of his Aborigine grandfather, King George (David Gulpilil). Between the two, they add a very interesting and mystical aspect to the movie.

I was entertained the entire 2 hours and 35 minutes of the movie. I couldn’t guess where the plot was going and at times I thought the film was at an end only to discover that there was a lot more to come.

I happen to enjoy these big budget sagas of bygone days. This one does not disappoint. All aspects of the plot come together and lend themselves to a totally satisfying adventure of the “wild west” of Australia. Good acting, good looking actors and splendid scenery all combine to make this one heck of an adventure.

I feel good in recommending this movie to you. You will love the story and become enthralled with the characters. To use a phrase from the 60s, “I kid you not.”

Rated – PG 13 -

Fatwayne’s rating: