Posts filed under 'Press'
The homestead called home by Nicole Kidman’s character, Lady Sarah Ashley, has been dismantled.
Gus Tampalini, the general manager of an indigenous organisation in WA’s Kimberley, on whose land Faraway Downs stood, said it had deteriorated over time, after being exposed to the elements.
“We told Tourism WA we didn’t want it and they said they didn’t want it,” Mr Tampalini said.
“We told them that it was on our site and they had to get rid of it. They asked us to do it, so we did, between three and six months ago.
“When it was dismantled, nothing was tagged – it was a shemozzle.”
Tourism WA decided more than a year ago not to pursue a plan to retain Faraway Downs as a tourist attraction, despite a report which predicted it could attract as many as 90,000 visitors annually if restored with an Australia movie theme.
SOURCE: Adelaide, Sunday Mail
January 31st, 2011
Pre-empting the free to air screening of Australia on local television, bazmark.com have published these words direct from Baz Luhrmann about the historical inspiration for the film.
“The plot of ‘Australia’ is a work of fiction…a romantic epic. While not a documentary, the historical canvas on which we paint the love story is drawn from fact. In constructing the story, we had a set of rules which were strictly adhered to: as long as it does not fundamentally change the truth, if it’s better storytelling achieved through a conjunction of time or a changed circumstance, then we would do this this if it was better storytelling and clearer to the audience. We were aware at all times that the audience is there to have an emotional experience. Although the events in the story are imagined, each one of them has a factual reference that we unearthed during an extensive two year period of research.”
- Baz Luhrmann, January 23, 2011
In addition they’ve added a very extensive section on their website detailing how factual events in history have influenced certain parts of their movie magic.
January 25th, 2011
The official site for Australia the movie is no more, so that leaves australiamovie.net as the primary source. However Bazmark.com has had a revamp and you will occasionally find news about old projects there as well as Luhrmann’s forthcoming film, The Great Gatsby.
A recent message on the Bazmark site is regarding the horrible flooding that has taken place in Queensland, Australia. It is a sentiment/request we would like to share and pass on:
“We live in an amazing country,
but it’s one that has recently been wrought by devastation.
Please help those in need by donating
to the Premier’s Flood Appeal”
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
January 24th, 2011
Australia is out now on DVD and Blu Ray in America.
American citizens also have access to a Walmart “Exclusive” edition of the DVD, seen left, which features special packaging to encompass the glossy Australia picture book inside. Unfortunately this is not available to those outside of the USA.
Additional release dates have now been listed in the sidebar to the right of the site. For more information about the Australia DVD and Blu Ray release, read our DVD press release update.
March 5th, 2009
Baz Luhrmann’s epic romance Australia has become the second-highest grossing Australian film of all time.
Now in its 14th week of release, the film has grossed $A36.78 million at the Australian box office. On Thursday Australia overtook the 1995 hit Babe’s long-standing box office figure of $A36.77 million, and is surpassed only by Crocodile Dundee’s record $A44.7 million.
The film, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, is also set to pass $US200 million ($A307.93 million) at the global box office this weekend, with the film still to open in Japan.
“The ongoing box office success of Australia has been outstanding and a unique testament to the way the film has been embraced by this country,” Twentieth Century Fox Australia managing director Marc Wooldridge said.
Top 10 highest grossing Australian films at the local box office:
Crocodile Dundee – $44.7m
Australia – $36.78m
Babe – $36.77m
Happy Feet – $31.8m
Moulin Rouge! – $27.7m
Crocodile Dundee 2 – $24.9m
Strictly Ballroom – $21.8m
The Dish – $18m
The Man From Snowy River – $17.2m
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert – $16.5m
source: ninemsn news
February 25th, 2009
Time for a revisiting, all the way back to November 2008. Seems so long ago now, which is why it is particularly strange to have an interview released then, but all of a sudden make headlines now. In November, Australia was being premiered and the stars were out doing their usual media interviews.
Nicole Kidman took part in an interview with Australian radio hosts Kyle Sanderlands & Jackie O. Those who have listened to their show in our media section or from the 2dayFM website know that it carries a candid, friendly and jovial atmosphere. Amongst other things she discussed how she is self conscious watching her own performances in all her films, a known trait of this shy but accomplished actress.
It’s interesting to see the amount of times this very site has had to point out the lack of research conducted by the present day media. With all the eyes of the world on this film, Australia still stands tall despite taking many hits to the chest throughout its run, most of them undeserved, particularly the latest in regards to Kidman. The internet is a very powerful tool for spreading information, unfortunately there’s no one to separate fact from fiction. All it took was one small foreign site to mis-translate and state Nicole’s words grossly out of context and before you know it reputable news outlets were actually carrying fanciful stories about Kidman not being proud of her work in Australia, or unable to look at it.
“It is quite ridiculous for anyone to believe the reports if they listened to the actual interview,” a spokeswoman for Kidman said. “It’s hard to believe some of the world’s media have fallen for it.”
But eagerness to tear down a Hollywood star has yet again prevailed over the ability of many to convey a simple act of journalism. Fact checking. For this reason we encourage everyone to listen to the interview in question. Fan of Kidman or not, you’ll quickly see how misrepresented and out of context her alleged statements are. It also serves as a reminder to the consuming public, don’t believe everything you read.
We also recommend this insightful NY Times blog, stemming from the debacle about “The Perils of Candor” and how stars are just going to become more closed up when giving interviews in the future. After the hand that Kidman has been recently dealt with blown out issues from her TV and Radio appearances, one couldn’t blame her from shunning them altogether. Thankfully she’s a professional and continues to allow us insights into her career.
January 13th, 2009
Keen to find out what makes director Baz Luhrmann tick? Click on to your iTunes online store and you’ll be able to download a very special – and FREE – Q&A with the man himself.
Direct from New York City, Apple presents “Meet The Filmmaker” a 56 minute special in which Luhrmann goes in depth to discuss the making of his latest epic, Australia.
Also in a follow up to our article last week, ‘Australia Adds Up‘, detailing the success of Australia at the box office we’d like to draw your attention to this latest press release which includes some very exciting information, including the fact that at home Australia has now outgrossed Luhrmann’s last film Moulin Rouge! and other blockbusters such as Sex In The City, Mamma Mia, Indiana Jones and Qantum of Solice. By the end of it’s run in Oz Australia is set to be one of the highest grossing films in the last 12 months, second only to The Dark Knight.
January 7th, 2009
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