Director Baz Luhrmann makes big movies, grand and epic size movies. This giant scale film chronically the very birth of Australia itself has a lot going on. You may remember Luhrmann from Moulin Rouge! – which is how he ended up with Nicole Kidman in this movie. When you sit down to let the swell of the music grab you for the cinematic spectacle he calls Australia hold on and make sure your drink is filled. You’re about to encounter every type of movie magic that Luhrmann can muster.

Like his previous work this film feels gaudy and self aggrandizing but in the most sincerest way. There is no doubt that you’re being beaten over the head with style and the most artsy way to tell a story. The screen is filled with looks of longing and heart felt passion of either person, thing or place. While watching you will also feel as though you have seen every movie cliché possible. Is that wrong? The melodrama is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Most of the great movie epics have this dated sort of feeling about them. An almost, “did they really feel that way back then” kind of feeling. Luhrmann certainly accomplishes adding feeling to Australia.

There is a lot of weight in the film with some pretty heavy situations that exist and while the film is not in any way a downer, it is campy. The World War II elements of tearing apart the country to the romance between our main characters is wholly campy. Every scene seems to be filtered through a magic romantic lens that see things with a fond remembrance. When Lady Sarah (Nicole Kidman) arrives in Australia she transforms into a ranch hand. Then as music booms on the screen she joins forces with Drover (Hugh Jackman) when raiders try to take her land and then she herds some 2000 cattle across hundreds of miles. An epic journey for such an epic looking film.

There are some moments of the film in which I wish the excessive drama could have found its way to the cutting room floor. As for the images on the screen, it is a wonderful execution from cinematographer Mandy Walker. Australia is monumental and after two hours and 45 minutes you will have had a full meal of film theater experience melodrama with no excuses. Eat up! 8/10*

* The posters for the movie look like what they should – a romance novel. I do like the way the Australian version has both Kidman and Jackman’s names at the top and shows an Aborigine in the middle.

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Mmmmm. Smell that? That bitter sweet smell is Oscar. He cannot be stopped, he’s on the way. The film-like air that surrounds us once again is certainly that of our dear friend and enemy to some, Oscar. This year, for all movies released in the year 2008, might prove be a little smellier than in the last few years. I’m not sure whether Oscar will be as dark and brooding as last year’s 80th award winners. Winners such as There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men. The one thing I know that seems darker this year is the host, Hugh Jackman. Jackman has never had a gig like this and I can’t see it being good for his career.

Now just about anyone can tell you who the winners have been. Isn’t that what the internet is for? Today is January 19th. On January 22 the Motion Picture Academy will announce the list of nominations. This is my prediction for the list of Best Picture nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Slumdog Millionaire
• Milk
• Frost/Nixon
• The Dark Knight

Here’s some research information below. Even though the information can be found online, it is difficult to find a list of the Best Picture winners from 1927-2007.

81st Academy Awards Show:

February 22, 2009 @ 8:00pm Sunday

The following is a list of Best Picture winners: