Baz Luhrmann

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian director Baz Luhrmann's outback epic "Australia" was passed over on Wednesday for the top film awards in his home country, presented by the Australian Film Institute. "Australia," starring Australian actors Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman who have carved out Hollywood careers, failed to make the list of nominees for the AFI best film award despite high hopes for the $130 million 20th Century Fox movie, the most expensive ever made in Australia. Neither Kidman nor Jackman were among the nominations for best lead actor or actress. Instead the nominations for best film included "Balibo," Rachel Ward's directoral debut "Beautiful Kate," ... Read Full Story

AUSTRALIA may have raked in over $37 million at the box office, but its big-ticket stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman have been overlooked for nominations in the 2009 AFI Awards, announced in Sydney this afternoon. The 51st AFI Awards will be held at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on December 12. Baz Luhrmann’s war-time epic Australia is in the running for eight AFI gongs, including Visual Effects, Best Original Music Score, Best Costume Design and Best Supporting Actor for young star Brandon Walters. Pictures: The year's pic of Aussie movies - 2009 AFI nominees But while the film is among the favourites in the AFI ... Read Full Story

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman at the Rome premiere of "Australia", Rome, Italy. (Photo Agency) more pics » Baz Luhrmann , the director behind Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge , has officially acquired the rights to the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic The Great Gatsby , according to The Hollywood Reporter. Luhrman had previously noted his desire to bring The Great Gatsby to the screen for a third time, saying: If you wanted to show a mirror to people that says, 'You've been drunk on money,' they're not going to want to see it. But if you reflected that mirror on another time they'd be ... Read Full Story

Posted by Fiona 20 November, 2008 Some early reviews have criticised the length of the “ Australia. ” At the media conference, Baz Luhrmann said he didn’t expect everyone to like it but was hoping it would become a classic. “It is between the film and the audience,” he said of the reviews at the press conference, describing the film as an epic in the style of ‘Out of Africa’ or ‘Gone with the Wind.’ I wanted to make a film that everyone could go and see.” Nicole Kidman said the film’s release should be reason for the whole country to celebrate: “This is ... Read Full Story

A Ferdy on Films Pan Australia (2008) Director : Baz Luhrmann By Roderick Heath Having been left bankrupt by the good graces of government bureaucrats, and the last few cents in my pocket, I braved the mountain storms to go see Australia . A fine state to watch such a film in! Baz Luhrmann’s film career has supposedly been an advertisement for manic energy and a pure passion for film that transcends the manginess of his concepts. The best sequence in his career was a single-shot study of Paul Mercurio dancing in Luhrmann’s first film, Strictly Ballroom (1992). It was a moment that rejoiced ... Read Full Story