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

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

So you can't please everyone . Nothing new there. Another raved about it. I loved Hugh Jackman's parts of the Academy Award show. So refreshing, fun and entertaining to see someone simply adoring being on stage and being "our show". That is the key, really. A Big Talent that made me fall in love with him. It "translated" to me. It's an award show and unless you take the award part out of it - it isn't going to be other than an award show. Maybe, the LA Times is expecting too much out of a self-congratulating awards show to be something other than ... Read Full Story