- So far, Australia has not struck box office gold
- We ask Aussie reviewers why, and will it hurt the local industry?

We caught movie scholar and noted reviewer Andrew Urban as he got off a plane form London. Andrew writes for his own film site, www.urbancinefile.com.au, yet despite his jet-lag, he has enough of his faculties to lay out what is wrong with the film Australia.

Andrew says he thinks the main reason Australia has not done blockbuster business at the box office - here or in the US - is that "it appeals to an older demographic than most blockbusters".

He points out that older cinema patrons don't rush to the movies on the first weekend.  That‘s what excited teens in groups do. Older patrons, he says also like to get a few opinions from their own circle.

"We can see this reflected in the fact that the US opening take was US$20 million for the first 5 days, and takings gradually increased each day."

For the record, on urbancinefile Andrew was a fan of Baz Luhrmann's dramatic epic.

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Is it a deliberate cliché? Is it an ad for Australia using a host of cinematic and cultural stereotypes not meant to be taken seriously?

Australia may yet rise from the ashes to post a respectable box office figure. For now though, it has dropped out of the top 10 films in the US having been beaten by two holiday films including the feel-good Reece Witherspoon comedy, "Four Christmases."

Length not a winner
Andrew also believes the length of the film may be a turn off.

"Because a), it makes it a bit harder for older audiences to 'program' into their lives, and b), it makes it harder for cinemas to run as many sessions as they could with a two-hour film.

Some of Australia's most respected reviewers, David and Margaret from "At The Movies" didn't hold back in their concerns about the film. And not just its marketability.

Both said the stars, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, were ‘genuine romantic leads' but the film lacked depth and a seriousness.

"Approach to the stolen generation is superficial," said David. Margaret agreed, adding, "The characters lack substance ... and it's full of clichés."

"Not the masterpiece we have been waiting for."

When local independent film makers are forever struggling for funding, won't a multi-million-dollar loss taint our local industry for years to come?

Andrew says that's not the case.

As the film's first week takings in this country was an acceptable A$7.6 million, Fox may be disappointed but Andrew says the age of the Aussie epic is far from over.

"Irrespective of the film's total takings, it has sufficient creative standing to benefit everyone who worked on it and to prove to the film world's decision makers that big budget epics can be successfully produced in Australia."

 

More info

www.australiamovie.com/

www.urbancinefile.com.au

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