Fall Movies
By BROOKS BARNES for the New York Times

Hugh Jackman is a big, macho movie star. Got it?

In talking up Mr. Jackman in advance of “Australia,” his coming romantic epic, three executives at 20th Century Fox all described the actor as a “rough-hewn” throwback to Hollywood’s classic leading-man types, a “young Clint Eastwood.”

Baz Luhrmann, the director of “Australia,” which co-stars Nicole Kidman as an aristocratic cattle owner, also talked up Mr. Jackman’s manliness. “There are not many actors who have an ability to pick up a Nicole Kidman, throw her on the bed and ravish her with believability,” Mr. Luhrmann said.

Perhaps feeling that description was not vivid enough, Mr. Luhrmann added, “He is also excellent with a cattle whip.”

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Category Tags: Hugh Jackman Press

This past weekend saw the opening of the Archibald Prize exhibition at the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG).

What’s the Archibald Prize? In accordance with the bequest of Jules F. Archibald the Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales are to award an annual prize for the best portrait of a man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics.

In 2008, ‘Heath’, a portrait of the late actor Heath Ledger, not only stole the show but also achieved the People’s Choice Award. Vincent Fantauzzo is the artist responsible for this attention drawing piece, and of interest to Australia fans, whilst in Bathurst over the weekend he drew and donated a portrait of Brandon Walters (as seen right, click for larger) to the Bathurst Gallery.

With thanks to Fantauzzo & BRAG, australiamovie.net has obtained an image of the portrait currently on display. We’re also pleased to learn that three more paintings are in the works, and we hope to share them with you upon completion.

In the meantime if you’re looking to see more of Vincent Fantauzzo’s striking works you can visit his website or check out the real deal at the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery.

The exhibition runs from August 29 to October 12. Entry is free. Gallery opening hours are Tuesday to Fridays from 10am to 5pm, Saturdays 10am to 5pm and Sundays 11am to 2pm.

Category Tags: Cast Miscellaneous

Hugh Jackman has just given those at the Australian International Movie Convention on the Gold Coast a sneak preview of Australia. Following the previously unseen footage he then delivered a passionate speech about the film, calling the film “the role of a lifetime” and saying that pulling off such an epic would be “the holy grail, the Mount Everest, of filmmaking”.

The head of 20th Century Fox in Australia, Marcos Oliveira, revealed that Australia will have its world premiere in Sydney in “mid-November” before opening on November 26. “We expect to be the biggest [film] of all time,” he said. The distributor has marketing deals with the likes of Qantas, the Nine and Ten networks, R.M. Williams, News Corporation newspapers and Australian winemakers, raising the stakes for a film which already has huge expectations to fulfil.

Additionally, the first film festival to be announced for Australia is Sweden’s Stockholm Film Festival. The festival runs from November 20-30 and Australia is said to be the festival’s closer. The full program will be announced Oct 22.

sources: stockholm film festival, sydney morning herald

Category Tags: Hugh Jackman

A two page spread on Hugh Jackman in the September 8th edition of Australian OK magazine asks the actor some questions, including one about that steamy love scene.

“The shooting [for Australia] has been the best and most intensive time in my life up ’til now. We’ve been shooting now for almost a year. …Australia is a fantastic, breathhtaking, visually stunning, romantic epic… In short, a film made the way you would normaly never find it today.”

When questioned on the difficulty of an intimate scene filmed between two longstanding, and married, friends, a question we’re certain the actors have not heard the last of, Hugh revealed; “Admittedly, it’s weird. [Laughs] Not that we attempt to get down to business in front of the camera, but you do kiss each other, look deep into one another’s eyes, touch one another… To avoid any emotional miscommunication, Nic and I took a long walk before the shooting began and talked openly and honestly about it…”

Category Tags: Hugh Jackman Media

Nicole Kidman’s in London and Hugh Jackman is walking around Sydney clean shaven. Yes folks, the filming of pick-up shots has concluded! However, dont start counting your sleeps until the premiere of Australia just yet, because there’s been a slight change in plans.

The departure of the highly anticipated fifth Harry Potter installment has created quite a shuffling frenzy in the scheduling department of many major film companies. With the wizard vacating the November 21st position, and being held over for release until next year, many major films have quickly jockeyed into prime marketing position to round out the season.

Not surprisingly, one of the first to stealthily move in for the kill was the well known Bond enterprise, further creating a ripple effect. Executives have been left to question which is the right release date for their films. Originally being slated for a November 13/14 release, Australia has skipped in to the (pre-thanksgiving) position left vacant by Potter, November 26th. Variety reports that this date will be used for the American and Australian release.

Other movies set for release on November 26th include, Transporter 3 and Bolt. Obviously utilising this date without the immediate presence of a pre-existing brand debuting simultaneously is an effort to see the Bazmark film maximise its box office presence.

source: Variety

Category Tags: Baz Luhrmann Press Site News

Category Tags: Media

The August 22nd issue of Entertainment Weekly is a special 2008 Fall Preview edition. As one of the major films being released this year, Australia is of course featured as one of the major releases.

The four page spread includes a two page article with behind the scenes info from Luhrmann, Kidman and Jackman (pictured right).

Jackman discusses his national pride and enthusiasm to become a part of this film, regardless of the controversial departure of Russell Crowe who was previously attached as the lead. “I don’t mind if I’m off-the-bench second, third, reserve-doesn’t matter,” said Jackman. “I just didn’t want to miss out on being part of the film.”

“Baz makes very few films, but when he does, he puts his heart and soul into it,” says Kidman, who earned her first Oscar nomination for Moulin Rouge! “He’s not churning anything out. It’s vert much coming from within his blood.”

You can read Baz and the rest of his devoted cast talk about their unique movie making experience in our transcript archive. Additionally, the article, along with new images, has been scanned and uploaded to our gallery.

Category Tags: Baz Luhrmann Hugh Jackman Media Nicole Kidman Press