Hugh Jackman

Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Australia’ With Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman Gets Lost in Own Cinematic Outback

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:45:24 -0700

CHICAGO – Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and newcomer Brandon Walters star in Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia”: a sweeping, grand epic in the tradition of “Gone With the Wind” that gets away from its talented director, the writers he worked with and the team he hired to film his passion project.

Luhrmann and co-writers Stuart Beattie, Ronald Harwood and Richard Flanagan take an everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach to adding elements of classic romance, historical epic, cultural statement and war movie into their sprawling vision of some of Australia’s most formative years.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Taken separately, those divergent elements in “Australia” nearly work. When the film is viewed as an entire experience, the final combined product is ultimately unsatisfying and woefully disjointed.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Australia” in our reviews section.

View our 23-image “Australia” slideshow.

The first half of “Australia” details the formation of a rather unusual family made up of The Drover (Hugh Jackman), lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) and a half-white, half-Aborigine child named Nullah (Brandon Walters).

Lady Ashley comes to the land down wnder to check on her husband and their patch of land (Faraway Downs) only to find her significant other executed and their cattle being stolen.

She needs The Drover’s assistance to drive the remnants of her family’s herd to the city of Darwin and sell them right under the nose of King Carney (Bryan Brown). He’s the ruling meat baron of the island nation.

Trying to evade Carney’s nefarious associate, Neil Fletcher (David Wenham), The Drover and Ashley fall for each other. The two naturally become parental figures for the charming young man who helps them across the Australian outback.

“Australia,” which is directed by Baz Luhrmann, stars Nicole Kidman, High Jackman and Brandon Walters. The film opens on Nov. 26, 2008.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Australia” review.

The Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Sarah (Nicole Kidman) are plunged into upheaval and romance in “Australia”.
Photo credit: James Fisher

Sarah (Nicole Kidman) and The Drover (Hugh Jackman) find romance during their fateful journey across Australia.
Photo credit: James Fisher

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Australia” review.

Slideshow: 23-Image Gallery For ‘Australia’ With Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman From Baz Luhrmann

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:39:51 -0700

CHICAGO – This 23-image slideshow contains official press images for “Australia,” which stars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and newcomer Brandon Walters from director Baz Luhrmann. The film opens on Nov. 26, 2008.

“Australia” is an epic and romantic action-adventure film set in that country on the explosive brink of World War II. These production stills were released by 20th Century Fox on Nov. 13, 2008.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. Unless otherwise noted on an individual photo, all photo credits for this slideshow belong to James Fisher.

australia1: Passions ignite in “Australia” between The Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Sarah (Nicole Kidman) during their fateful journey across Australia.
australia2: Hugh Jackman portrays the rough-hewn The Drover.
australia3: The Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Sarah (Nicole Kidman) enjoy a rare moment of tranquility amid their journey across Australia.
australia4: The Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Sarah (Nicole Kidman) are plunged into upheaval, adventure and romance beyond their wildest imaginations.
australia5: The Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Sarah (Nicole Kidman) revel in the excitement and romance of their adventure.
australia6: Hugh Jackman portrays a man known only as The Drover.
australia7: Sarah (Nicole Kidman) is transformed by her epic and often perilous journey across Australia.
australia8: Nicole Kidman portrays Sarah: a woman who undertakes a profound journey of self-discovery across Australia.
australia9: The Drover races to save lives during the bombing of the city of Darwin by the Japanese forces who attacked Pearl Harbor.
australia10: Sarah (Nicole Kidman) and The Drover (Hugh Jackman) find adventure and romance during their fateful journey across Australia.
australia11: During their epic and transforming journey across Australia, The Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Sarah (Nicole Kidman) share a passionate moment.
australia12: Sarah (Nicole Kidman) finds a rare moment of peace during her adventure in the Australian outback.
australia13: Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman star in director Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia,” which is an epic and romantic action-adventure film set in that country on the explosive brink of World War II.
australia14: Sarah (Nicole Kidman) finds herself caring for an enchanting young orphan called Nullah (Brandon Walters): a half-Aboriginal, half-Caucasian boy. Photo credit: Douglas Kirkland
australia15: Newcomer Brandon Walters portrays a half-Aboriginal, half-Caucasian boy adrift in a segregated society that treats him as an outcast.
australia16: Sarah (Nicole Kidman) bonds with an enchanting young orphan named Nullah (Brandon Walters): a half-Aboriginal, half-Caucasian boy.
australia17: Sarah (Nicole Kidman) embarks on a transforming journey across hundreds of miles of Australia’s most beautiful yet unforgiving terrain.
australia18: Hugh Jackman portrays The Drover: a rough-hewn Australian who lives by his own rules.
australia19: The Drover (Hugh Jackman) is transformed by his caring for the orphan Nullah (Brandon Walters).
australia20: The main house at Faraway Downs is an immense property the size of Maryland that’s situated in the unforgiving Austrlian outback. Photo credit: Douglas Kirkland
australia21: Sarah (Nicole Kidman) and The Drover (Hugh Jackman) unexpectedly find love during a transforming journey across the Australian outback. Photo credit: Douglas Kirkland
australia22: Nicole Kidman, director Baz Luhrmann and Hugh Jackman relax on location for “Australia”.
australia23: Director, producer and co-screenwriter Baz Luhrmann works on a scene on the set of “Australia”. Photo credit: Douglas Kirkland

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Tepid Con Job Spoils Sexual Intrigue in ‘Deception’ With Ewan McGregor

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:01:00 -0700

CHICAGO – Despite its timid title, “Deception” has all the right ingredients for a decent tale of mystery: a strong premise, sound acting and the famous femme fatale. It even starts with a promising conviction: How does a background player in life deal with initiation into a secret society?

The real mystery is why this strong beginning led to a such weak and conventional conclusion. Ewan McGregor portrays Jonathan McQuarry: a mousy accountant who specializes in corporate audit assignments. His life is long hours, ever-changing clients and little social reward.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Deception” in our reviews section.

View our full “Deception” image gallery.

The List is a sex club that allows anonymous coupling with no strings attached. It’s used by power brokers who presumably have no time for relationship entanglements.

McQuarry is let in on The List when he accidentally switches phones with Bose and the encounters start ringing him up. One such encounter – the enigmatic “S” (Michelle Williams) – gets coerced into further meetings by McQuarry despite the rules against fraternization between members on The List.

Their bonding leads to a closer relationship that triggers several strange occurrences involving kidnapping, blackmail and McQuarry’s knowledge of corporate accounts.

Michelle Williams (left) and Ewan McGregor in “Deception”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Ewan McGregor (left) and Maggie Q in “Deception”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “Deception” review.