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AICN Downunder: Latauro Vs. Baz Luhrmann's AUSTRALIA!

don't sugar coat it, latauro by welbrick	Nov 21st, 2008 12:05:28 AM
what'd you really think?
Shocking!!!! by Lashlarue	Nov 21st, 2008 12:05:46 AM
And Baz is such a great talent. Romeo and Juliet. Moulin Rouge. He's like Hitchcock or Lean minus the intelligence and ability.
didnt want to see it anyway by Westonian	Nov 21st, 2008 12:08:17 AM
asdf
I'm still watching it..... by TheWaqman	Nov 21st, 2008 12:12:32 AM
the cinematography looks great. But I'm guessing I'll find the movie merely decent. Lawrence of Arabia come out on BluRay already!!!
whogivvashit? by Speed Fricassee	Nov 21st, 2008 12:22:48 AM
Fuck Baz. Baz b overrated an' all dat. I'd rather see his budget go to charity.
Doesn't suprise me. by Spacker Dave	Nov 21st, 2008 12:27:41 AM
I thought this might suck. I just can't stand to see anymore Australian films that perpetuate the stereotype that we all live in the outback. Most of our cities are coastal.
How epic is that? by Shan	Nov 21st, 2008 12:36:23 AM
Well, Fight Club's lead character didn't have a name and that was a fairly epic (and cheaper) film. OK, you could argue the Narrator's real name was Tyler Durden but then, was Tyler Durden's real name Tyler Durden anyway? OK then, how about Blindness and Versus then? No-one in those films even had names at all! Or if they did, they weren't sharing ..
Uhhhhhh by red_weed	Nov 21st, 2008 12:37:35 AM
... just.... uhhhhhh.
CRIKEY!!! Fair dinkum..no good stuff? by deanbarry	Nov 21st, 2008 12:44:12 AM
Stone the crows, I know Baz can get a bit "in your bloody face" with his sterotypical representation of us Aussies, but heck...no good in this being piece of cinema? At all? But...it has WOLVERINE! The sexiest man alive (people magazine said so). Awww, i know i will prob see it, just to be patriotic. BY CRIKEY!
Didn't Nicole Kidman retire? by Ribbons	Nov 21st, 2008 12:46:41 AM
Or did I just dream that up?
Spacker Dave by deanbarry	Nov 21st, 2008 12:46:59 AM
I live in Cronulla man. Wonder when a flick on those damned riots will be made? I hope it's like The Warriors. :)
Luhrman is Michael Bay with better tasdte inmaterial. by MaxTheSilent	Nov 21st, 2008 12:57:40 AM
Everything he has ever made is as empty,over-directed and useless and anything Bay has ever directed. I don't care how much Oprah floods her control-tops over it.
standing ovation for Latauro by X.Cel	Nov 21st, 2008 01:23:20 AM
Well done you fucking muppet, lets just bag the shit out of something before it's even released. You know this review is filled with so much resent and unlike for Baz Lurhmann that surprise surprise you hated it. I often wonder when a review comes out, who is this guy to be qualified to write something like this? What have you achieved that makes you such an authority on films? and considering that you have been taking months on one review of Frost/Nixon i think your credentials speak for themselves. So here it is AICN downunder's correspondant who hates the one man who did the impossible and made a Hollywood film in Australia, and before we even have a chance to make our own opinion about it, you tell us what a steaming pile of shit it is, you know if this film loses one ticket sale because of you, then well done. I mean yeah "Fuck Baz Luhrmann!" how dare he make an epic film in Australia? You know what? we should stick to "b" grade movies about drug dealers and crime bosses. and the epic Aussie struggle because that's what people wanna see. In closing you know I havent seen this film yet but even if it is shit, i as a Wannabe film maker and an australian, am very proud of what Baz has tried to achieve for the Aussie Film industry, whether he has or not.
methinks by macheesmo3	Nov 21st, 2008 01:42:25 AM
Aussie jus mad , cause movie makes him feel bad about being white!
Hugh Jackman's Australian accent is SO phony! by thebearovingian	Nov 21st, 2008 02:00:38 AM
You've seen the trailer, right? "I learned a long time ago not to fight other people's wwwaaars." Wow, that's bad. Seriously, guys. Seriously.
X.Cel by BadMrWonka	Nov 21st, 2008 02:00:42 AM
"lets just bag the shit out of something before it's even released" hold up...are you upset because Latauro, who is a movie reviewer, reviewed a movie before it was released? because that's, you know, what movie reviewers do. they REVIEW MOVIES. and they often catch flack from people that tell them they're giving too much love for a movie. but when they hate a movie and say so, there's always at least one misguided simpleton who is somehow upset about that. would you prefer he lied and pretended he liked it? or would you prefer he doesn't do his job, and doesn't review it at all? Latauro didn't like it at all, he explained why, and thats his job. so unless you get paid to be a whiny bitch, perhaps you ought to go do YOUR job and calm the hell down. honestly, why can't people ever stop for 2 seconds to actually think before writing misguided idiotic rants in the talkbacks?
oh, and this line: by BadMrWonka	Nov 21st, 2008 02:03:23 AM
"i as a Wannabe film maker and an australian, am very proud of what Baz has tried to achieve for the Aussie Film industry, whether he has or not." that is just so stupid I wish I could send you a slap via e-mail. so a filmmaker doesn't have to achieve anything to get a good review? just for TRYING and FAILING they should get universally great reviews? jesus that's idiotic. I know I shouldn't get worked up about talkback trolls, but man. that's pure, unadulterated idiocy.
Sounds like a Mexican being mad about TacoBell by George Newman	Nov 21st, 2008 02:34:58 AM
hehehe, tasteless. . . But seriously, this sounds unfortunate. The previews suggest a huge stylistic change for Lurhmann but if what Lat says about the film is true, then this could be very epically uneven. I love Moulin Rouge and like Romeo and Juliet but AUSTRALIA better not have any fast-forward zaniness or display any hyper-activity
BadMrWonka... as an aussie, thanks for that. by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYanks	Nov 21st, 2008 03:01:48 AM
You summed up my exact thoughts on that prick X.Cel.
Damn You Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI	Nov 21st, 2008 03:06:53 AM
Damn You Michael Bay
I too was keen to see this, yet I feared this would happen by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYanks	Nov 21st, 2008 03:08:34 AM
I have enjoyed his others films and felt patriotic pride in his obvious talent, however this time I felt he may have bitten off more than he could chew.
Just to chime in on X.Cel by raw_bean	Nov 21st, 2008 03:38:00 AM
BadMrWonka already said ti so well regarding most of his post, but as for the aspersionsabout Lat's ability as a reviewer and what he's achieved: Latauro has reviewed here for years, endlessly championing Aussie film-making - of quality, not just arbitrarily supporting everything an Australian does whether it's good and good for the industry or not - and giving cogent, helpful and usually spot-on reviews of all the major Hollywood films as well. Personally I'd say he's second only to Moriarty on this site for review and writing quality, and second only to Vern for humour. And as for what he's achieved, though I'm ashamed to say I've never watched it he and some friends have a film news and reviews television show they make called the Bazura Project. So he's more than just a 'wanna-be' in film criticism. What have YOU achieved that we should all listen to YOUR opinion on a film you haven't seen yet?
Damn typos. by raw_bean	Nov 21st, 2008 03:40:59 AM
I blame my cold hands.
thebearovingian by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looki ng_for	Nov 21st, 2008 03:47:46 AM
In case you don't realise it, Hugh Jackman is actually Australian. I've seen the trailers, and while its admittedly a shock to hear him without his Hollywood "international" accent, that's how we Australians in general (especially country aussies) speak. I will see this bloated epic, because it would be un-australian not to!
I had my suspicions all along by The Mothman	Nov 21st, 2008 03:54:14 AM
Perhaps the only salvagable thing from X-Cel's rant is this - Luhrmann has indeed tried to reinvigorate the Aussie industry. But he's done it the wrong way. Instead of showing that a large budget movie made in Australia can be just as interesting as a large budget movie made, well, anywhere, he's written a movie called 'Australia'. He claims that he hasn't tried to make the film as something definitive, but come on...you put Jackman and Kidman in the cast, you set it in the outback and you call it Australia...seems like it's aiming pretty close to definitive. The first Mission Impossible is set in Prague isn't it? And yet, the movie isn't intended as a travelogue. It's an action movie set that just happens to be set in Prague. Why can't a decent action movie, or drama, or friggin' ANYTHING, be set here without having the spotlight directly on the accents, or the environment. Those are things that surround a plot; they shouldn't be the plot. As a side note...Nicole Kidman seems like an incredibly nice lady, but has she ever been in anything worth seeing twice except Dead Calm? I guess Batman Forever wasn't so bad.
as for "Our Nic" by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looki ng_for	Nov 21st, 2008 03:55:01 AM
I can't stand her. If ever a film should have had Cate Blanchett in it, it is this one.
Further confirmation that Luhrman is pure shit by zapano	Nov 21st, 2008 03:55:53 AM
None of his films portay any semblance of genuine emotion. All his films are awfully paced and contrived and conceited. The editing is dreadful and scenes are far too loud. It's like the guy didn't receive enough love or attention from his parents and doesn't have the confidence to play a film, or even a scene straight, for fear that he will lose the audience's attention, so he has to resort to all these bells and whistles. And the plot, white couple saving aboriginal kid? Treating aboriginal people as the "other". Grow up and wake up Luhrman, we're in the 21st century. Actually Luhrman is worse than Bay cause at least Bay has no pretentions to being an artist, and even if he did, he's still superior than "Baz" on that level. Tosser
The Mothman by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYanks	Nov 21st, 2008 04:08:07 AM
Yeah Dead Calm is about it. Bangkok Hilton kicks ass as well. Though I do remember enjoying To Die For, but it's been a while.
zapano by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looki ng_for	Nov 21st, 2008 04:21:13 AM
that's why the films set in the WWII and not the 21st century. The government actually did remove aboriginal children from their families, "in their best interests". Aborigines were (and still are in some respects) seen as second class citizens. I have no issue with you're opinion of Baz's films. But he has used factual events as the basis for a plot line. Did this exact story actually happen? No. But neither did 2 guys dogfighting and shooting down the japanese over Pearl Harbour. The main problem is that Australians are way to cynical for this type of dramatization of our history. It's supposed to be a "romantic epic" not historical fact. Put a fork in me. I'm done.
Mothman & weareYanks by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looki ng_for	Nov 21st, 2008 04:26:28 AM
Don't forget a little ditty called.. DAYS OF THUNDER! You know, the one where she realistically plays a 23 year old brain surgeon? "Control is an illusion, you infantile egomaniac. Nobody knows what's gonna happen next: not on a freeway, not in an airplane, not inside our own bodies and certainly not on a racetrack with 40 other infantile egomaniacs."
Ah, come on! Why is no one tearing thebearovingian... by irishraidersfan	Nov 21st, 2008 04:35:33 AM
... a new arse hole?? "Hugh Jackman's Australian accent is SO phony!" HE ACTUALLY IS FUCKING AUSTRALIAN, YOU UTTER, UTTER MORON!!! HE LIVED THERE FOR THIRTY YEARS!!!!
Mixed reviews by u.k. star	Nov 21st, 2008 04:39:04 AM
I've read a few mixed reviews for this, but this is the 1st out and out dislike review. It also happens to be the 1st one by an Austrailian (which I assume this reviewer is). It may be that you'll like it more if you're not an Aussie, but it's a shame that this movie isn't looking as good as it should have been. I'm a big fan of Baz's style though, and my wife is too, so the odds are I'll be seeing this regardless. Here's hoping it's not as painfull as this review says. Especially the the condescending stuff. Not enough is said about the way Austrailia treated or rather mistreated the aboriginal people, but making up for it i the way described here seems like a poor way to get the message out..
by The Mothman	Nov 21st, 2008 05:11:35 AM
Days of Thunder? cough In all honesty I haven't seen it, I don't find race driving the moxt exciting thing to watch, especially not when filtered through Tony 'we need this to look grainier' Scott's lens. Nomoredirtyjokes' mention of To Die For, (which I haven't seen, but it looked OK), got me thinking about Joaquin Phoenix and Gregor Jordan (Buffalo Soldiers). At least Aussie directors are on the up, what with that Hillcoat guy getting The Road gig. In fact, in any area of the industry, Australians have done extremely well. The problem is, if you have a story set in Australia that needs money to make it, you're not going to get it...unless it's something as easily marketable as Luhrmann's movie is. The only two types of film that get made here are overseas monsters that save some money by shooting here, and locals shot on a shoestring and seen by no-one. That's why it would be nice to have more of a local industry, you'd see more adventurous stories with reasonable financial backing. It may never happen. Oh well. At least our TV shows are getting better.
Jackman's accent by u.k. star	Nov 21st, 2008 05:27:17 AM
it's strong for sure, but he is Austrailian you know?
irishraidersfan by Monkey Butler	Nov 21st, 2008 05:32:25 AM
Yes, the movie's full of Australians, but the reviews from the premier have all noted how Americanised the accents are. Australians really don't drawl as much as Americans think, and it sounds like Baz, in an attempt to make the new Titanic, has changed our accent to be more palatable to foreign markets.
BIG FUCKING SURPRISE...and Moulin Rouge? by quantize	Nov 21st, 2008 05:43:28 AM
Oh for fucks sake! Who outside of planet Oprah would give a rats arse about this patronising moronic drivel..But dude you BLOW IT (in every sense) when you say you 'liked' Moulin Rouge..that is singularly to most offensive dickheaded piece of tinsel to every shit on celluloid..and anyone who says they're cool with it is on a seriously worrying scale that makes liking that pretentious shit Dogville (yes i know thats Von Trier) seem almost rational. Australians are not like these two plastic walking cliches Kidman and Jackman, are capable of much more interesting and richer films that the shit that Murdoch propped up twat Baz pumps out. Fuck tall poppy's shit is shit and let's hope we live in a time when people can call it out, wherever it comes from and whatever countries name has to bare it.
And another thing...AS AN AUSSIE by quantize	Nov 21st, 2008 05:48:58 AM
please may lightning strike down the next fucking aussie twat who whines like a bitch about 'knocking' aussie movies and the great Baz like its some fucking patriotic obligation to swallow dumb shit. fuck you... and yeh we can fucking HATE our Taco bell equivalent if we want to
that mean you X.Cell by quantize	Nov 21st, 2008 05:51:15 AM
dickwad
droid, i'm not really interested in whether it happened or not by zapano	Nov 21st, 2008 06:21:19 AM
What laturo suggests is that aboriginal people are being portayed as "the other", mysterious, magical thereby rendering them less human. Thus compounding the centuries old tradition of western culture of only superficially engaging with different cultures rather than exploring cultures in a profound way. Laturo also suggests that the kid is portrayed as passive and that they are at the hands of white australians for his survival - thus in many ways suggesting that western culture knows best (a concept that has caused a lot of suffering and deaths in the real world). These are all traditions in western culture of creating distances with different cultures. Acknowledging differences is good, but lazy stereotyping is not really my cup of tea. Apologies for not maybe not conveying this in the clearest possible way but i think it's important to draw attention to this
zapano by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looki ng_for	Nov 21st, 2008 06:26:02 AM
Fair call. Well played, sir.
quantize by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looki ng_for	Nov 21st, 2008 06:30:56 AM
One quick question. Have you seen the film? Because if you haven't it sounds like you're upset because Baz didn't call you after you let him fuck you in the ass.
braindead droid by quantize	Nov 21st, 2008 06:36:43 AM
yes i have ..if you stop fingering yourself long enough you might dream of a world where other people are not so fucking pig ignorant as you
eloquent quantize by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looki ng_for	Nov 21st, 2008 06:45:29 AM
Ok, I've stopped fingering myself and I'm ready to listen. Tell me, in a constructive manor, why the film was so awful. So far you've stated it's "patronising moronic drivel". Interestingly enough, that phrase also states your posts thus far. But I am interested in the opinion of someone who's seen it, so if you can construct a complete sentence that doesn't involve shit fuck and shit in the space of 6 words, I'd like to hear it.
A Constructive Manner by quantize	Nov 21st, 2008 07:11:37 AM
I've seen the film in various states..it's bloated, long, silly and the performances are wooden at best. I do concur with pretty much everything Laturo says short of liking Moulin Rouge..I believe my short review of that absolutely required the use of shit and fuck. Mostly however my loathing of this latest work as the rest of this mans 'films' is that silly cabaret style phoniness he seems to turn everything in to. Pantomime as Laturo calls it,and yes its incredible that even in the most arid and spectacular settings he is able to engender this kind of dimwitted melodrama. Fucking shitty fucking dogshitty moronic melodrama. That bit is just for you.
quantize by I_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looki ng_for	Nov 21st, 2008 07:28:19 AM
Fair enough. It was always going to be dubious if Luhrmann could make this film or not. If he could get away from the 'panto' style of previous films. What I've read has echoed your sentiments in that its long and bloated, so I'll go in expecting it. But i go into every flick these days expecting long and bloated. Look at the Pirates films as one example. But Moulin Rouge and Strictly Ballroom are panto. They're meant to be panto. I'm not sure how you could've expected anything different.
Moulin Rouge by Stormshadow4life	Nov 21st, 2008 08:08:47 AM
is one of my favorite movies ever...I'll see this movie just for the reteaming of nicole and baz
Yes Moulin Rouge is panto...BAD panto by quantize	Nov 21st, 2008 08:22:49 AM
driven by muddled cocaine fuelled insanity..but instead of that leading to genius its a completely incoherent (not to be mistaken with poetic or any other excuse) babbling, dithering mess of spectacularly ditzy 'should never be done' song pairings matched with psychotic editing. We're outside the fun, left to marvel at the set dressing. Anyhow, look if you like shit like that, then lap it up..anyone who says that's one of their favourite movies ever in my view is intellectually crippled in a way I'm not interested in challenging. You like your Gritty Kitty and who am I to argue with you while you swallow it with such a stupid look on your face?!
Wow. Well. by quentintarantado	Nov 21st, 2008 09:02:21 AM
So this is the Australian Heaven's Gate? Waterworld Down Under? Speed Racer with aborigines? Could it be so bad it's actually good? Poor Baz. I wonder if his Alexander would have been great.
It'll be interesting reading Harry & Moriarty's analysis of this by BDuncan	Nov 21st, 2008 10:29:34 AM
It'll be fairly interesting reading Harry and Moriarty's separate analysis of this film, although I suspect Harry will overrate it.
OUCH!!!!!!!! by X.Cel	Nov 21st, 2008 11:18:18 AM
Ouch i got smashed and i'm not saying i didnt deserve it, but Jesus! You know if i'm being honest the truth is I wanted "Australia" to be amazing, and by the sounds of things it just isn't, so shit!!! still think latauro was a bit bias in his hatred towards Baz from the beginning but other than that i'm willing to back down and admit I was wrong. Peace out ppls sorry i was a wank.
ouch! bet it's still pretty to look at, Lautaro by pipergates	Nov 21st, 2008 12:31:47 PM
should be worth seeing even if only for the scenery and shooting, i believe lautaro went overkill this time
The Trailor sez it all: Its a Crapfest. by uberman	Nov 21st, 2008 12:48:32 PM
Nothing in that trailor remotely could entice me to see this. Ugh.
How Africa can a Song By Toto be? by hallmitchell	Nov 21st, 2008 01:34:16 PM
Great line.
Aussie Accents? by p0llk4t	Nov 21st, 2008 02:20:18 PM
Australia has been saturated with US music, movies, and television. I would expect todays Aussie accent to be watered down a bit. Am I wrong? Was the accent much more pronounced in the bush 60 years ago? Inquiring minds want to know!
I have to agree with Latauro by Lang The Cat	Nov 21st, 2008 02:23:56 PM
First, I am not an Aussie. Never been there even. I saw the film, and totally agree even down to the young man playing the half-caste lad. I would have enjoyed the film more if this had followed the boy's story and dealt with Jackman and Kidman in the background. Instead the story wanders and bores. I remember a film with Julie Andrews and Max Von Sydow called Hawaii. Boring as hell and just as patronising as Australia!
Lookin for a thumbs up or thumbs down here! by ebolamonkey	Nov 21st, 2008 03:35:27 PM
Which is it? Be honest.
seriously, like the guy said, WHO GIVES A SHIT?? by Maniaq	Nov 21st, 2008 10:03:52 PM
A film by the director that brought us Moulin Rouge sucked? Gee, what a frickin SURPRISE? And he even displayed sufficiently pure unadulterated PRETENTIOUSNESS to go and call it "Australia" (btw is it just "Australia" or "Australia: the musical" ?) - whodathunkit? Nicole Kidman sucked? REALLY?? Does she break out into song at any point, for no apparent reason? Is there ANYTHING that could POSSIBLY come as even MILDLY surprising about this trainwreck? Maybe all it needed was a little more cowbell...
No one is teasing me b/c they realise I wasn't serious. by thebearovingian	Nov 22nd, 2008 01:55:13 PM
Well, there were, however, THREE vibrant Aussie TBers who cannot read/detect sarcasm. You were saying? I'm a frequent poster in AICN Downunder talkbacks. Latauro knows as much. I just KNEW somebody was going to post and label me a "moron" in the spirit of the holidays. That's why I love AICN and that's why I left off the original last sentence for my post: "I can do better and I'm not even Australian." Don't be pissed at me b/c the movie sucks.
CORRECTION: ONE AUSSIE, ONE IRISH and ONE BRITISH TBer by thebearovingian	Nov 22nd, 2008 02:01:39 PM
That's not an intro to a joke, either. All remain "vibrant".
"The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith" is... by workshed	Nov 22nd, 2008 03:55:05 PM
the only Australian film i've seen that tackles the issue brilliantly. Great book for it's source material though. Why the hell isn't it available on DVD except for shitty VHS transfers on eb*y..? It's a stone-cold classic.
And all the profits should go to all those Aborigines... by workshed	Nov 22nd, 2008 03:58:28 PM
who had their kids force ably taken away from them. A real black mark on the history of White Australia.
I want this to be good by Happyfat73	Nov 25th, 2008 05:02:22 PM
... I really do. Despite the dubiosity (?) of this film's Australian pedigree, the Australian Industry could really use a big hit. We're not just in the doldrums - we're at the bottom of the fucking ocean, encrusted with barnacles. So... I really want this to be good. I'll reserve my own judgment until I see it, but it's not looking promising. What Lat mentioned about this being some kind of alleviation of white guilt kind of confirms my worst fears.

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AICN Downunder: Latauro Vs. Baz Luhrmann's AUSTRALIA!

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