Australia

Set just before the start of World War II, Australia tells the story of a rich English lady, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), who goes halfway around the world to meet with her husband on their Outback cattle ranch. Problem is, when she gets there, he’s dead, killed by a spear that implicates he was murdered by a local Aboriginal shaman. Lady Ashley soon finds herself embroiled in a range war with cattle baron King Carney (Bryan Brown). Thank goodness her husband left behind a two-fisted stud (Hugh Jackman) to fight by her side. Part of the pleasure of watching Australia is the panoramic views of the Outback that fill the screen, even though there are times in the movie when it looks like some of the scenes were recreated on a studio back lot. If the characters were as large as the sets, Australia would have been a lot more compelling. But they are not. While it may qualify as an epic Australia just doesn’t have enough energy to make the long haul interesting from start to finish.