Father Geek here with the latest from the land downunder and AICN's lanky laddy Latauro, the voice of the outback, a true Australian Bushmaster...
They should name a gender after you.
AICN-DOWNUNDER
Such excitement to be writing in a new font! Okay, excitement over.
I write frequently about the horrid state of the Australian film industry.
It's a tough love scenario. I love an industry that can produce JAPANESE
STORY, BAD EGGS, THE CASTLE, THE DISH, BENEATH CLOUDS and the best Aussie
film ever made, THE GODDESS OF 1967. What I hate is that these are rare
gems, and I had to strain to come up with a list that long. We average one
very good film a year, which is shameful.
I must admit to missing Cate Shortland's SOMERSAULT, mostly due to the very
low number of screens it was released onto. Nonetheless, it swept the AFI
awards, winning every major category. It was a hollow victory. It had no
competition whatsoever. When Chloe Maxwell is nominated for her work in the
abmismal UNDER THE RADAR (in Hollywood terms, this would be like one of the
hairy-legged tree-living girls in the Seth Green/Matthew Lillard "comedy"
WITHOUT A PADDLE getting an Oscar nod), you know that any award is purely
coincidental.
The film industry is in a bad shape at the moment, and for all the talk of
reviving it and shaking things up, we've still got the same
it's-who-you-know committee at the Film Finance Commission giving money to
crap that nobody wants to see. It's the truth.
The much-touted saviour was supposed to be EUCALPTUS, directed by Jocelyn
Moorehouse and starring Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman and Geoffrey Rush. A
powerhouse cast, and all Australian. Then Rush dropped out, ol' reliable
Jack Thompson stepped in, and just as everything looked like it was back on
track... it went to shit.
EUCALYPTUS is not happening...
For details (or a significant lack thereof), scroll ever downwards...
NEWS
Okay, what the hell is going on with EUCALYPTUS? The short answer is nobody
really knows. Initially, the producers were blaming the unseasonal weather
for the delay in filming; a not-unbelievable claim given the torrential
downpour this summer has brought us. Then, of course, the weather was fine,
and the camp was forced to explain what was really going on. Only they
didn't explain. If you believe one side, Russell Crowe was being demanding
and wanted unreasonable changes to the script. If you believe the other,
Jocelyn Moorehouse was being a prima donna and was obsessing over minor
changes to a script that just wasn't ready in the first place. It's hard to
know what's really going on. It's clear that there's been a big breakdown,
with the polarising between Crowe and Moorehouse (Moorehouse, it should be
noted, gave Crowe a big break when she cast him alongside Hugo Weaving in
the excellent PROOF). There are unfounded rumours that Crowe wants either
Bruce Beresford or Fred Schepsi to take over directing duties. There are
even more unfounded rumours that Crowe himself will take over. Nobody from
the production is giving quotes, on-record or off-record, other than to say
they've just lost a lot of income and work. One person who is speaking is
Murray Bail, the novel's author. He said what AICN-D said six months ago:
that they wanted someone around the age of 19 for the love interest
character. As we reported, the production had been looking for a number of
unknowns (and were concerned that actresses in their mid-20s were too old
for the part), before deciding to go with star power and cast 37 year old
Nicole Kidman in the part. With Kidman's schedule, it's unlikely she'll be
back in the role unless they start filming yesterday. The most likely
option? A Prague shoot, with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz in the leads.
More on this doomed project in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, SUPERMAN ROCKS is going ahead as planned, with producers
searching for a 15 year old version of Brandon Routh. It seems that while
the production won't be doing another origin story (good call), it will be
gently reminding viewers how Supes got to be who he got to be. The beginning
of the shoot in Tamworth, NSW is where the young Clark will learn to fly.
They're also looking for a five year old Routh, which makes me think
montage. (Hey - the dancing baby from Ally McBeal should be about five by
now, right?) Interesting note: at auditions, some actors have been required
to read off early scripts from the first two Richard Donner films. Not news
in itself, but I thought it was interesting.
48 SHADES OF BROWN, based on the novel by Australian author Nick Earles,
will start lensing this August in Brisbane. Did you know that in the good
ol' days of British rule, when convicts committed a crime while already in
Australia they were sent to Brisbane? True. The film will be directed by its
screenwriter, Daniel Lapaine. 34 year old Lapaine is better known as an
actor, appearing in MURIEL'S WEDDING and BROKEDOWN PALACE, as well as 54 and
DOUBLE JEOPARDY.
The Australian version of Project Greenlight recently closed its doors, and
a reported 1200 screenplays were submitted. If you entered, you'll need to
keep your fingers crossed until June...
AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Australian short GREEN BUSH took out the Panorama Best Short Film award. It
was directed by Warwick Thornton and produced by Kath Shelper.
OZSCAPE
If you're lucky enough to be both a "Farscape" fan *and* a Sydney resident,
then boy are you in luck! The Farscape convention in April is going ahead as
planned! Okay, this is mostly a heads-up to let you know that the previous
contact details we've given you have been struck down with nasty viruses (as
opposed to pleasant ones that make the recipient all giddy inside). You'll
want to check out www.rcevents.com.au for info on the guest-filled
convention.
BOX OFFICE
SKY CAPTAIN is doing fairly horrid business down at ninth spot, whilst most
of the top ten is filled with Oscar contenders. HIDE AND WEEK was a
surprising second to Scorsese's excellent Hughes biopic, both in their first
week of release. Sooo the money grabbers this week are...
- 1. THE AVIATOR
- 2. HIDE AND SEEK
- 3. MILLION DOLLAR BABY
- 4. MEET THE FOCKERS
- 5. CLOSER
RELEASED THIS WEEK
Indians are the new Greeks, the two Zhangs release a feature-length
"Previously on HERO", the French attempt a light-hearted buddy road trip
flick, and James L. Brooks makes sure everybody loves each other. Annnd this weeks new flicks be...
- BRIDE AND PREJUDICE
- HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
- RED LIGHTS
- SPANGLISH
REVIEWS
Last week I put up a backlog of reviews that even Tolstoy couldn't get
through (lazy Russian bastard wanted me to give a rating out of four stars).
Because I haven't actually seen anything in the last week, I'm going to
direct you to last week's reviews. You know, in case you missed them. For my
thoughts on SKY CAPTAIN, CLOSER, RAY, THE AVIATOR, MONSTER'S BALL, MILLION
DOLLAR BABY, THE AVIATOR, HOTEL RWANDA, and possibly one or two others I've
forgotten about, head to:
here
I will warn you though, there appear to be a couple of bugs in the new AICN
page format, so the reviews themselves might read a little strange.
NEXT WEEK
- Jackie Chan to play a pacifist doctor who must defeat a triad for some
reason in FIST DO NO HARM
- David O. Russell moves into TV sitcom spin-off territory when he enlists
Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin to play annoying neighbours in EVERYBODY
HEARTS HUCKABEES
- Ridley Scott to make fantasy war epic LADYHAWKE DOWN
Peace out,
Latauro
AICNDownunder@hotmail.com
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