The Tribal Mind: The doomsday scenario

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

Entries have now closed in our contest to predict the box office for Australia. You can read about the first winners here.

by David Dale
Australians are so damn cynical, particularly about their own creative endeavours. When this column asked readers two weeks ago to demonstrate their understanding of the national mood by predicting the success of the much publicised movie Australia, we got 105 responses. Most were pessimistic (go here to read them).

Few shared the enthusiasm of America's showbiz bible, Entertainment Weekly, which last week listed Australia among the movies it was most looking forward to over the Christmas holidays. EW wrote:

"Seven years after Baz Luhrmann's frenzied/inspired mash-up of genres (cinematic and musical) in Moulin Rouge, his luscious bohemian take on the Orpheus myth, the Australian auteur hopes to make film history again. A blend of Gone With the Wind, From Here to Eternity, and Lonesome Dove, Luhrmann's new epic Australia, set against the backdrop of World War II, stars his muse Nicole Kidman as an urban sophisticate who journeys to the Outback and falls for rough-hewn cattle herder Hugh Jackman."

But reader Les takes a different view: "I think it will fall well short of expectations simply because we are in a negative social mood. When the mood is negative we go and see dark films like The Dark Knight *. In optimistic times we go and see Crocodile Dundee **. If they wanted Australia to be successful they would have made the character of Hugh Jackman a serial killer with Nicole Kidman fighting for her life."

Ren Hoek agrees: "Seems to me that 'Australia' is a pretentious title, as if the movie wants to somehow sum up the historical and cultural experiences of this entire country. Do filmmakers do that with other countries? It's almost an insult. I predict that the movie will be flat and forgettable and will barely cover its budget worldwide. And nearly three hours? Sounds like Baz forgot to edit this movie. I'm tired of this kind of over-long self indulgence - I'll take a tight ninety minutes any day."

Daniel is even tougher: "Coming from an already overrated director, it has all the cliches of Australian films: overblown soundtrack, exaggerated accents from wooden actors, mystical blackfellas (the deus ex machina of bad Ozzie films), heroes and villains writ loud and large, and lame cinematography replete with slow motion footage of dust storms and horsies jumping logs. This is the type of cinema that Australia revelled in 25 years ago, but today it'll come across as patronising, overwrought slush of the type Australian directors should have left at Snowy River. "

But Claire thinks differently: "Although people may not flock to see it on the first weekend, I think Australia will hold out for a longer time and end up making a fair amount. I'd say A$50 mil here, but perhaps only US$125 mil ... It has the intrigue factor going for it. After all, when times get tough, the tough buy popcorn and try to forget reality."

And Tony Hollingsworth describes himself as "an unashamed Baz Luhrmann fan": "I think it can tick all the boxes, as the cast is top-notch, the trailers show impressive production values, and there's an X-Factor there with that young indigenous Australian. I think the film will respectfully show Australia's indigenous culture combined with our beautiful landscapes, creating a 'must-see-on-the-big screen' buzz".

* The Dark Knight has been the most successful movie so far this year, making $45.5 million here and $US528 million over there. That's the score to beat.
** Crocodile Dundee is the most successful Australian movie in history, making $48m here and $US175m there.

For more box office records, go to The films Australia loved.

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). To discuss Australian attitudes, go to http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

Let us look forward to an Australian film, given we are inundated with so much violence, is it The Tall Poppy at work again before we even see the film? Show a patriotic attitude for a change!

by S. Yttrup on November 03, 2008 at 06:51 AM

Given the poster shown on this page features a man with a gun, another man with a spear and several warplanes bombing the bejeezus out of Darwin, I don't think S. Vttrup's hopes for a violence-free romp in the Top End are going to be met.
Since when does not wanting to fork over $15 to see melodramatic fluff constitute UnAustralianism? Why are (some) Australians so defensive about Australian Movies? If it's a good movie it's a good movie. Maybe the 'let's support Australian crap' brigade will prop up the box office sales.
I've been thinking since this topic came up a few weeks ago about why this movie grates on me and a couple of things (besides it looking like a dog):
(a) The way it's been seized upon by advertisers (Telstra in particular) before it's even finished makes me feel like I'm been sold something on the sly.
(b) The recommendation from Morning Television shows and again, promotions using the film for Travel packages & competitions makes me feel like it's either been made to sell me something on the sly or that it's been co-opted by people with no taste and no interest in movies except to use them to sell stuff because it's so bad it's only going to be useful for selling other things.
(c) The tie-in with Tourism Australia and the ads that Baz made blur the line between Movie & Advertising and make me think the movie will be a thinly disguised infomercial dumbed down and stereotyped for the U.S. market.

by darren on November 03, 2008 at 09:49 AM

It looks like hackneyed romantic drivel to me. Expensive melodrama called 'Australia'? Spare me!
'Moulin Rouge' was hyped as a break through new kind of musical, but it was just a pantomime of stock characters set to somebody else's music. Moustache twirling villain and swooning heroine. Ugh. Not for me.
Baz's 'Romeo and Juliet' worked well, but 'Australia' looks more like 'Moulin Rouge' than 'R+J'. Kidman's limitations won't help either. She does 'cold bitch' very well, but is embarrassing in warm and lovable roles.

by hanna on November 03, 2008 at 01:09 PM

It may be a bit like Pearl Harbour for me. A couple of lovely scenes, but ultimately a bit of fluff and bubble. A pity if it is, because I do think Baz has a great eye for movies.
But on the topic of Oz films, they are depressing both figurative and realistically. The fact that Black Ballon got nominated for AFI best film is enough said about the state of Australian films at present. It will probably scope the pool.
What I really starting to detest is the talking up of Oz films just because they are Australian (Margret and David I am looking at you). A dog is a dog and the more we praise mediocrity the more they keep dishing it up.

by Neil on November 03, 2008 at 03:53 PM

Appears like another display of Australia's insecurity making a film about Australia, including images of Australia, called Australia, also tied in with promoting (Tourism) Australia..... Conversely, as an example, even the Koran, does not need to include references to middle eastern wildlife, e.g. camels, for the Koran to be recognised as Arabic (origin).
Further, as Paul Hogan reported, it is about promoting character not things and places, and this is where e.g. "The Castle" and other similar films (continue to) sell Australia well internationally (and as an Australian without cringeing or being emabarrassed).
Personally think film, tie in with Tourism Australia and pre publicity seems to owe more to Australia's (insecure) Ozzie jingoism and closer relationship with the America.

by Andrew J Smith on November 03, 2008 at 08:55 PM

Shame! Shame! Shame! To all those Aussie Aucker negative people. How can you comment on something you haven't even seen? I'm so sick of the negativity! It's about time to praise the artists of this beautiful country.
Australian drama and film is truly entertaining and exceptional. Just because it doesn't continually have all the shoot 'em up of the American hype how about trying to use a little grey matter and appreciating what the talent of the people of this country has to offer. The beauty is you have a choice. Just don't go and see it and stay home in your own mediocrity and drown in your reality TV.

by Donia Melnyk on November 04, 2008 at 03:27 PM

I hate the way we are trying to be manipulated into feeling bad about ourselves if we don't like this movie. If Paris Hilton decided to make a movie called 'America' would your average American rush off to support it? The answer is No!
I think the whole idea of making this movie in the first place goes to show how insecure about their identity Australians really are. There's more to Australia than the bunch of cliched images that Baz has put together... and who's great idea was it to cast an actress that hasn't had a box office hit in over 5 years?

by Dennis on November 05, 2008 at 06:32 AM

I don't care where the film was made, who wrote it, who directed it, who is starring in it etc, what I care about is the story and a Mills and Boon style romantic saga just doesn't interest me. I could be proved wrong - there may be more to the story than boy meets girl, mutually attracted but fighting it, finally give in and kiss, fall out due to misunderstanding, romantic resolution in front of sunset etc.
I will probably be dragged on kicking and screaming by friend who just loves these type of movies - hopefully the scenery will be good.

by Shoopie on November 05, 2008 at 12:13 PM

To Dennis you are just trying to be provocative, I'm sure. How can you compare Paris Hilton to Nicole Kidman? I don't think anybody rushes out to see any of her movies and if memory serves me right I don't think she was (or ever in danger of being) nominated or won any Oscars. I think Baz Lurhman had the idea for this movie way before he came up with the title 'Australia'.
I don't think Americans are shy about putting 'America' in the title of their movies either. There have been at least 22 movies or tv series called 'America' and 9 called 'Amerika'. Not to mention all these popular movies that have used 'American' in the title: 'American Beauty', 'American Graffiti', 'American Gigolo', 'American Psycho', 'American Pie', 'American wedding', 'American Gangster', 'American History', 'American Spledor', 'The American President', 'The Quiet American', 'An American in Paris', 'Team America', 'Coming to America',

by Bloke from the Sticks on November 06, 2008 at 03:06 PM

I think it's really sad that we are prejudging this movie. I'm hoping it will be incredibly successful and achieve exactly what Baz had in mind.
As for the marketing push, it was obviously a studio decision. I don't mind if a film can bring in the tourists and help the economy.
It's unfortunate that many Aussies feel compelled to be nasty and negative about the whole concept of this film - if romantic epics aren't your cup of tea, just don't see it! And if your not interested, just shut your mouth!
Why is that people frown on the idea of a love story when the world is a bloody miserable and depressing place at the moment? Why not lose ourselves in a historical drama where, apparently, the characters find love against the odds.
I can't wait to see it. I hope it makes the nay sayers eat their words.

Tribal Mind asks: Yes, that's all very well, but how much do you think it will make in Australia and in America? Go to The future of Ozbefore midnight Friday to register your predictions and be in the running for a fabulous prize.

by Nikki on November 13, 2008 at 11:42 AM

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The Tribal Mind: The doomsday scenario

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