Oscar Brief: Rourke is Great and 'Australia' is Long
Mickey is easily the front-runner and some more early Oz reviews arrive
Photo: Fox Searchlight
Just got back from seeing The Wrestler and Mickey Rourke is definitely the front runner for Best Actor at this moment. His performance outweighs the film, which is good but I really don't see it as a Best Picture contender. I did, however, enjoy Clint Mansell's score once again and it may be the only thing that makes the film feel like a traditional Darren Aronofsky picture as this is much different than anything else Aronofsky has made.
I will obviously do a much more thorough review closer to the film's December 17 release, but just wanted to toss that added nugget into the fray.
I have also received official word Australia's running-time is 155 minutes. I am seeing that one tomorrow along with Frost/Nixon followed up by Defiance on Thursday.
Speaking of Australia there were a couple of other Oz reviews that have found their way online such as Jim Schembri at the Sydney Morning Herald saying it's "Good, but no classic, and way, way too long."
David Stratton at The Australian says, "The film is not without flaws, it's not the masterpiece that we were hoping for, but I think you could say that it's a very good film in many ways."
Finally, The Hollywood Reporter's Aussie stringer Megan Lehmann sums up her review saying, "Despite some cringe-making Harlequin Romance moments between homegrown Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, the 1940s-set Australia defies all but the most cynical not to get carried away by the force of its grandiose imagery and storytelling."
From what I can tell it sounds like we are in for a good-not-great film, which can also lead to a lot of people loving it. I'll find out tomorrow.
Stay up-to-date with all of my Oscar coverage in RopeofSilicon's "The Contenders" section right here.
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The Hollywood Reporter review for Australia can fit any Baz Luhrmann film.
Hugh Jackman has just been named People's Sexiest Man Alive this year.
Could that bring more people to see Australia?
@Pufferbuzz: I don't know if it will bring more people into the theater but I can tell you there is a scene where Jackman gets all lathered up and dumps water over his head in some kind of an Adonis pose. It is a really silly scene, but it will have more than a few ladies wiggling in their seats.