Australia

This is a “Big Screen” movie. You really only get the full effects and beauty of the Australian landscape when seen in the theater. From that regard, it reminded me of the movie “Out of Africa (1985). Nicole Kidman did a fabulous job. This was the first time I realized she is one of the great actresses of our time. I believe when we look back on this period we will think of Nicole Kidman as we think of Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, and Bette Davis from years ago. I also liked many of the other supporting actors in the movie. Nichole’s aborigine “son”( Brandon Walters) was played by a 8 year boy who also narrated the movie. He was very believable and true to his local native character. Another very likeable character is the alcoholic accountant. He is played by Jack Thompson, a popular Australian actor. Max’s character starts the movie as a fall down drunk but ends as one of the heroes in the movie. I also like movies where, in addition to being entertained, I learn something new. I was not aware of how badly the Aborigines were treated in the early 1940s by the “white” Australians. It reminded me of how Native Americans were treated in the United States. I also learned that Australia was directly in the path of the bombing Japanese war planes that had just came from Pearl Harbor. This movie is appropriate for all ages (although there is one love scene you might want to not share with your young kids). However, with all of the special effects movies out today, your teen age kids may get a little bored. So my advice would be to leave the kids at home and make it a “date movie”.