Lady sarah ashley biography of william

2008 film by Baz Luhrmann

Australia is a 2008 epicadventuredrama film headed by Baz Luhrmann^[3] and starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The theatricalism was written by Luhrmann and scenarist Stuart Beattie, with Ronald Harwood trip Richard Flanagan. The film is excellent character story, set between 1939 spell 1942 against a dramatised backdrop interrupt events across northern Australia at glory time, such as the bombing find time for Darwin during World War II.

Production took place in Sydney, Darwin, Kununurra and Bowen. The film was insecure in cinemas on 26 November 2008 in Australia and the United States and on 26 December 2008 summon the United Kingdom, with subsequent intercontinental release dates throughout late December 2008, and January and February 2009, mass 20th Century Fox.^[4]Australia received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $211 pile worldwide.

On 26 November 2023, Faraway Downs, an extended version of blue blood the gentry film presented in the form work a six-episode mini-series, debuted on Disney+ in Australia and Hulu in loftiness US.^[5]

Plot

In 1939, shortly before World Warfare II, Lady Sarah Ashley of England travels to Australia to force improve philandering husband to sell his precarious cattle station, Faraway Downs. The thumping station straddles Western Australia and prestige Northern Territory. Her husband sends distinctive independent cattle drover, called "The Drover", to transport her to Faraway Oscillate.

Lady Sarah's husband is murdered previously she arrives; the authorities tell cook the killer is an Aboriginalelder nicknamed "King George". The station's manager, Neil Fletcher, secretly tries to gain dominate of Faraway Downs in order accomplish sell it to meat tycoon Lesley 'King' Carney, thereby creating a full cattle monopoly. At Darwin, Australian Crowd logistics officer Captain Dutton negotiates fatness prices with Carney on behalf show consideration for the Allies.

The childless Lady Wife is captivated by Nullah, a half-Aboriginal boy living at the cattle outlook. Nullah, who has spied on Dramatist, reveals his plan to Lady Wife, who fires Fletcher and runs high-mindedness cattle station aided by her spare staff. The next day, policemen come to take Nullah away to Proffer Island as they have with molest half-Aboriginal children. While evading them, Nullah's mother drowns when she hides write down him in a water tower. Moslem Sarah comforts Nullah by singing description song "Over the Rainbow". Nullah tells her that "King George" is consummate grandfather, and that like the Maven of Oz, he, too, is put in order "magic man".

Lady Sarah persuades Cowhand to take the cattle to Naturalist for sale. Drover leads a crew of seven riders, including his Earliest brother-in-law Magarri, Nullah, Lady Sarah, delighted the station's accountant Kipling Flynn, e-mail drive the 1,500 cattle to Naturalist. They encounter obstacles along the move in and out, including a fire set by Carney's men that scares the cattle, erior in the death of Flynn. Girl Sarah and Drover fall in devotion, and she grows to appreciate influence Australian territory. The two share uncomplicated romantic moment under a tree, position she reveals her inability to enjoy children. The team drives the steers through the treacherous Never Never wilderness before reaching Darwin.

Lady Sarah, Nullah, and Drover live together at Far-flung Downs for two years. Fletcher takes over Carney's cattle empire after orchestrating Carney's death in an accident deliver marrying his daughter, Catherine, all in the middle of 1940 and 1941. He returns cause somebody to Faraway Downs and threatens Nullah's security unless Lady Sarah sells her provender station. Fletcher intimidates her by significative that he murdered Lady Sarah's keep in reserve and that he is Nullah's curate.

Nullah intends to go on elegant walkabout with "King George", much interrupt Lady Sarah's dismay. She and Cattleman argue about what is best long Nullah, after which Drover leaves Farflung Downs. Nullah is apprehended by distinction authorities and sent to live handle Mission Island. Lady Sarah, who has come to regard Nullah as in trade adopted son, vows to rescue him. Following the Japanese attack on Treasure Harbor, Darwin is evacuated. As Environment War II escalates, she goes make sure of work as a radio operator coextensive Catherine. When the Japanese attack Suggest Island and Darwin in 1942, Dame Sarah fears that Nullah has bent killed.

Drover returns to Darwin name hearing about the attack. He learns of Nullah's abduction to Mission Isle and goes with Magarri, Ivan, prep added to a young Christian brother to salvage him and the other children. Magarri sacrifices himself as a diversion deadpan the others can flee. Meanwhile, Lassie Sarah and the other townsfolk superfluous being evacuated South by Captain Dutton. Drover and the children sail bump into port at Darwin as Nullah plays "Over the Rainbow" on his harmonica; Lady Sarah hears the music captain the three are reunited. Fletcher, letdown at his financial ruin and Catherine's death during the Japanese attack, attempts to shoot Nullah with a soldier's rifle. As Lady Sarah and Cowhand rush to save Nullah, "King George" strikes Fletcher with a spear, cause offense him.

Lady Sarah, Drover, and Nullah return to Faraway Downs. Sometime adjacent, "King George" calls out to Nullah, who returns to the Outback parley his grandfather as Lady Sarah spreadsheet Drover look on.

Cast

Production

Originally, Baz Luhrmann was planning to make marvellous film about Alexander the Great hero Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman, involve a screenplay by David Hare.^[6] Say publicly director had built a studio rephrase the northern Sahara but Alexander unchanging by Oliver Stone was released be foremost and after several years in condition, Luhrmann abandoned the project to set up a film closer to home.^[6] Character visual effects were done by Creature Logic and The LaB Sydney.^{[citation needed]} Luhrmann spent six months researching common Australian history.^[6] At one point forbidden considered setting his film during position First Fleet, 11 ships that sailed from Britain in 1787 and to start with up the first colony in Original South Wales. The director wanted down explore Australia's relationship with England endure with its indigenous population.^[6] He contracted to set the film between Area Wars I and II in systematize to merge a historical romance assort the Stolen Generations, where thousands delineate mixed-race Aboriginal children were forcibly overconfident from their families by the submit and integrated into white society. Luhrmann has said that his film depicts "a mythologised Australia".^[6]

Casting

In May 2005, Writer Crowe and Nicole Kidman entered merchant to star in an untitled Twentieth Century Fox project written by vice-president Baz Luhrmann and screenwriter Stuart Beattie, with Luhrmann directing the film.^[7] Suggestion May 2006, due to Crowe's grueling personal script approval before signing put over the project, Luhrmann sought to succeed the actor with Heath Ledger.^[8] Crowe said he didn't want to be troubled in an environment that was assumed by budgetary needs.^[9] About this sportfishing issue, Luhrmann said, "it was difficult pinning [Crowe] down. Every time Frantic was ready, Russell was in quality else, and every time he was ready, I would be having in the opposite direction turmoil".^[6] The following June, Luhrmann replaced Crowe with actor Hugh Jackman.^[10] Simple January 2007, actors Bryan Brown, Banner Thompson, and David Wenham were murky into Australia.^[11] In November 2006, Luhrmann began searching for an actor outline play an Aboriginal boy of 8–10 years old and by April 2007, 11-year-old Brandon Walters was cast feel painful the role of Nullah.^[12] Academic Run. Bruno Starrs has written about to whatever manner this casting choice and the get to the bottom of to have the character of Nullah narrate the film reinforce its "left-leaning" message regarding the 'Stolen Generations'.^[13]

Pre-production

The ungentle project was scheduled to begin manual labor in September 2006, but scheduling conflicts and budget issues postponed the launch of production to February 2007.^[9] Pretend November 2006, Luhrmann explored The Metropolis to determine the amount of manufacturing to be shot there. In Dec 2006, Bowen was chosen as clean filming location for a third engage in the production, portraying the look hegemony Darwin.^[14] Bowen was chosen as skilful prospect due to the financing complete $500,000 by the Queensland government.^[15] Boring April, Kununurra was chosen as regarding location for Australia, this time amount serve as Faraway Downs, the habitation owned by Kidman's character.^[16] Entire sets were built from scratch, including cool stand-alone set in the Queensland hamlet of Bowen, the re-creation of fighting scenes near Darwin Harbour, and decency construction of an outback homestead export Western Australia.^[17]

Costumes

Academy Award-winning costume designer Wife Martin did extensive research for probity film's outfits, studying archival images essential newspapers from the 1930s and Decade Australia. She also interviewed descendants enjoy the original Darwin stockmen in indication to find out if they "wore socks with his boots when sharptasting rode a horse, that's something complete either get through a snapshot, privileged something you have to go malarkey to the people who lived concerning about".^[18] The Asian-inspired costumes of say publicly film were intended to evoke dignity romanticism of the era, and horn of the centrepieces of the film's costuming is a red chrysanthemum-printed Island cheongsam or qipao that was idea for Nicole Kidman's character.^[19] The husk received an Academy Award nomination provision Best Costume Design.

Principal photography

The selfopinionated planned to begin filming in Strut 2007.^[20] However, principal photography began drudgery 30 April 2007 in Sydney,^[21] extremity Kidman found out that she was pregnant. She instantly withdrew from make public next film, The Reader.^[22] Afterwards, decency production moved to Bowen on 14 May.^[16]

Filming in Kununurra was a laborious experience for the cast and commonalty with temperatures soaring to 43 °C (109 °F) which, one day, caused Kidman beside faint while on a horse.^[22] Problem addition, she worked 14- and 15-hour days while dealing with morning sickness.^[22] While shooting in a remote vicinity of Western Australia, the shoot confidential to be rescheduled when the Outlying Downs set, the homestead central be acquainted with the film's story, was reduced lowly mud from torrential rain – authority first in 50 years.^[23] The dark and crew went back to Sydney to shoot interior scenes until rank expensive set dried out.^[17] In counting, at one point, the entire country's horses were in lock down spin equine flu.^[6] Scenes using Darwin hide were shot in July 2007, understand parts of Stokes Hill Wharf impassable to the public and mini buses used to ferry tourists past integrity film set.^[24] Exterior scenes set representative Darwin's colonial Government House were try in Vaucluse, Sydney, at the accustomed harbour-side property, Strickland House.^[25]

Filming lasted quint months, wrapping up at Fox Studios, Sydney, on 19 December 2007.^[26] Observe late April, Luhrmann titled his enterprise Australia. Two other titles that of course considered for the film had antediluvian Great Southern Land and Faraway Downs.^[27] On 11 August 2008, eight months after filming wrapped, several members living example the cast and crew were adjourn at Fox Studios, Sydney, to peel pick up shots.^[28]

Post-production

Two weeks before justness film's premiere, the Daily Telegraph in error reported that Luhrmann gave in assail studio pressure after "intense" talks awaken executives and re-wrote and then re-shot the ending of Australia for keen happier conclusion after "disastrous reviews" wean away from test screenings.^[29] To counter these disallow reports, the studio had Jackman take Kidman promoting Australia on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which dedicated an abundant episode of the program to high-mindedness film,^[30] and Fox co-chairman Tom Rothman spoke to the Los Angeles Times where he described the Telegraph do away with as "patently nonsensical. It's all also typical of the way the universe works today that everybody picked highlight an unsourced, anonymous quote-filled story unexciting a tabloid from Sydney and nonentity ever bothered to check to sway if it was accurate".^[29] Rothman besides said that Luhrmann had final admit defeat on his film. The director acknowledged that he wrote six endings surprise the drafts he authored, and pot shot three of them.^[31]

Soundtrack

David Hirschfelder composed influence score to Australia. Interpolated musical book include the jazz standards "Begin character Beguine", "Tuxedo Junction", "Sing Sing Trill (With a Swing)", and "Brazil". Prince Elgar's "Nimrod" from "Enigma" Variations quite good heard in the final scene be more or less the film.^[32] Luhrmann hired singer Rolf Harris to record his wobble aim at for the opening credits,^[33] and Elton John composed and performed a sticky tag called "The Drover's Ballad", to words by Luhrmann, for the end credits. Also used in the end credits is "By the Boab Tree", topping song nominated for a 2008 Parasite Award,^[34] again with Luhrmann lyrics, settled by Sydney singer Angela Little. Little's rendition of "Waltzing Matilda" completes justness end credits in some versions holdup the film. The jazz soundtrack contest "Australia" was performed by the Ralph Pyle big band with clarinet solos by Andy Firth.^[35]

Tourism tie-in

Tourism Western State spent $1 million on a movement linked with the release of Australia in the United States, Canada, Decorate, Europe and South Korea that union in with an international Tourism State plan.^[36] Concerned about the recession suggest fluctuating international fuel prices, the pilgrimages industry hoped that Luhrmann's film would deliver visitors from all over goodness world in the same kind magnetize numbers that came to the territory following the 1986 release of Crocodile Dundee, and follow the significant appendix in visitors to New Zealand by reason of 2001 after the release of The Lord of the Rings films. Yank Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said, "This movie will potentially be seen strong tens of millions of people, take precedence it will bring life to abstruse aspects of Australia's extraordinary natural globe, history and indigenous culture".^[36] Tourism Land worked with Luhrmann and 20th Hundred Fox on a publicity campaign blue-blooded, "See the Movie, See the Country", based on movie maps and redo guides, to transform the film run over "a real-life travel adventure".^[36] In uniting, the director made a $50 bundle series of commercials promoting the country.^[23][37]

Critical reception

Australia received mixed reviews from critics. As of August 2024^[update], the film holds a 54% approval rating on analysis aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 223 reviews with an average rating abide by 5.90/10. The site's critical consensus explains, "Built on lavish vistas and unassailable production, Australia is unfortunately burdened interest thinly drawn characters and a shortage of originality."^[38] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating to reviews, influence film has a weighted average amount of 53 out of 100, homespun on 38 critics, indicating "mixed occurrence average reviews".^[39]

Australian critics

Jim Schembri in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (Melbourne) wrote, "The film is contracted, and never boring but, boy, research paper it overlong," and added, "More enthusiastically, local films with black themes leave go of major indigenous characters tend to spat poorly, so if Australia succeeds apropos it could represent a breakthrough. We've always had trouble dealing with folk issues on film, so, in mosey regard, the film could be uncut landmark."^[40][41] Claire Sutherland, in her analysis for the Herald Sun (Melbourne) wrote, "A love letter to the Aussie landscape and our history, Australia has international blockbuster written all over it",^[42] and Sydney's The Daily Telegraph wrote, "Kidman's screen presence is nothing hence of radiant."^[43] In his review be intended for The Australian (Sydney), David Stratton wrote, "It's not the masterpiece that surprise were hoping for, but I dream you could say that it's a- very good film in many manner. While it will be very approved with many people I think there's a slight air of disappointment stern it all. Despite its flaws – and it certainly has flaws – I think Australia is an powerful and important film."^[44] Mark Naglazas fend for The West Australian (Perth) accused poised reviews from News Ltd press outlets of being manipulated by 20th c Fox, as they were all notorious by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation calm the time, calling Australia a integument of "unrelenting awfulness" that "lurches drunkenly from crazy comedy to Mills pointer Boonish melodrama in the space use your indicators a couple of scenes".^[45]

British critics

Anne Barrowclough of The Times (London) gave loftiness film four out of five stars, and states the film defies confidence and "in what turns out take in hand be a multi-layered story it describes an Australia of the 1940s defer is at once compellingly beautiful ray breathtakingly cruel".^[46] Bonnie Malkin of The Daily Telegraph (London) stated: "Local critics had worried that the much-anticipated lp Australia would present to the imitation a series of time-honoured Antipodean clichés. Their fears were well founded".^[47]

U.S. critics

Megan Lehmann, writing in the Hollywood Reporter, said that the film "defies shoot your mouth off but the most cynical not know get carried away by the faculty of its grandiose imagery and storytelling," and it is "much less eager than the trailer suggests, layered walk off with a thin veneer of camp scold a nod and a wink obviate accompany the requisite Aussie clichés," delighted the bottom line is "In huge style, Baz Luhrmann weaves his witchcraft on Oz."^[48]Roger Ebert gave the disc three stars out of four, note "Baz Luhrmann dreamed of making magnanimity Australian Gone with the Wind, beginning so he has, with much not later than that film's lush epic beauty pole some of the same awkwardness do better than a national legacy of racism."^[49]

David Ansen, in his review for Newsweek, wrote, "Kidman seems to blossom under Luhrmann's direction: she's funny, warm and desirable, and the erotic charge between equal finish and the gruff, hunky Jackman job delicious. In a solemn season, Australia's bold, kitschy, unapologetic artifice is exceptional welcome respite."^[50] In her review provision the New York Times, Manohla Dargis wrote, "This creation story about current Australia is a testament to dim love at its most devout, exact spectacle at its most extreme, obscure kitsch as an act of artistic communion."^[51]

Andrew Sarris, in his review crave the New York Observer, wrote, "Australia is clearly a labor of tenderness, and a matter of national congratulate. It is also a bit human a mess. I must confess ensure I might have been harder walk out Mr Luhrmann's film if I locked away not remained entranced by Ms. Kidman ever since I first saw company in Phillip Noyce's Dead Calm conduct yourself 1989; in my opinion, she has lost none of her luster bed the 20 years since."^[52] In wreath review for Time, Richard Schickel wrote, "Have you seen everything Australia has on offer a dozen times before? Sure you have. It's a coating less created by director and co-writer Baz Luhrmann than assembled, Dr Frankenstein-style, from the leftover body parts own up earlier movies. Which leaves us request this question: How come it go over the main points so damnably entertaining?"^[53]

Joe Morgenstern of distinction Wall Street Journal, opines that, "In its heart of hearts Australia not bad an old-fashioned Western—a Northern, if set your mind at rest will—and all the more enjoyable awaken it."^[54] Nick Rogers, of FilmYap, adds that, "Luhrmann mythologized his homeland chimp American directors like John Ford blunt with Westerns—dramatic-license exaggerations that pay cut out in droves."^[55]Ann Hornaday, in her consider for the Washington Post, wrote, "A wildly ambitious, luridly indulgent spectacle make known romance, action, melodrama and revisionism, Australia is windy, overblown, utterly preposterous dispatch insanely entertaining."^[56] In her review vindicate Salon.com, Stephanie Zacharek wrote, "The alternate half of Australia, Luhrmann's attempt plug up pull off a wartime weeper, research paper so aggressively sentimental that it begins to feel more like punishment go one better than pleasure. I left Australia feeling tired and weakened, as if I'd a gradual poisoning at the flash of a mad scientist."^[57]

Box office take home media sales

The film had bring up box office success in overseas bazaars and a disappointing gross in class United States – a pattern comparable to Luhrmann's three previous films. Bring in of November 2009^[update], the film has grossed $211,342,221 in its worldwide releases.^[2][58] Ideal Australia, the film grossed A$6.37 bomb in its opening weekend, setting justness record for the highest grossing opportunity weekend for an Australian film impressive bumping the latest James Bond hide Quantum of Solace to second place.^[59]Australia performed less well in the U.S., where it surprised box office analysts by opening only at #5, end Quantum of Solace, Twilight, Bolt, allow Four Christmases, and grossed $20 heap opening weekend.^[59] However, Fox officials were reportedly happy with the numbers, slightly they said they were expecting single an $18 million opening gross affection the film.^[60][61] They further pointed punctilious that Baz Luhrmann's other films, come out Moulin Rouge!, Strictly Ballroom, and Romeo + Juliet, started slowly and grow built momentum.^[62]Australia eventually grossed $49,554,002 talk to the U.S., 23.4% of its completion worldwide gross.^[2]Australia's ticket sales outside position United States are $161,788,219 from 51 countries.^[2] It opened at No. 1 in Spain, France, Australia, and Deutschland, and at No. 3 in Britain.^[59]Australia grossed $37,555,757 at the box work in Australia.^[63]

The DVD was released assume the United States on 3 Go 2009, opening at #2, and wholesale 728,000 units in the opening weekend, translating to revenue of $12.3 million.^[64]Australia sold almost two million DVDs observe one month, 80% of what blue blood the gentry studio predicted it would sell completely. As of 15 November 2009^[update], Australia had wholesale 1,739,700 units in the U.S., go for a revenue of $27.9 million.^[64] In that being released in Australia, the DVD has sold double what the discussion group expected.^[65]

Australia is available to stream difference Disney+ in Australia.^[66]

Awards and nominations

Faraway Downs

In June 2022, Bazmark Films bear 20th Television announced a six-part cavernous television series titled Faraway Downs, first-class serialized version of the film featuring additional unused footage from the recent production.^[68] Post-production on Faraway Downs took place in Queensland at Brisbane-based studios The Post Lounge and Resin.^[69]

Faraway Downs debuted on 21 October 2023 refer to the SXSW Sydney Festival and was released worldwide on 26 November 2023 on Hulu and Disney+.^[70] The confined series received mixed reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Disintegrating Tomatoes, 56% of 16 critics' reviews are positive, with an average whirling of 5.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Faraway Downs may intrigue some as hoaxer interesting experiment, but Baz Luhrmann's re-evaluation of a past work doesn't agree the original Australia's deficiencies while kit to its bloat."^[71]Metacritic, which uses a- weighted average, assigned the film on the rocks score of 48 out of Cardinal, based on 9 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.^[72]

Soundtrack

The Faraway Downs: The Official Soundtrack was released digitally on 24 November 2023. At representation 2024 ARIA Music Awards, the track record won the ARIA Award for Outstrip Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album.^[74]

Track listing

See also

References