The Movie: Australia (opening November 26)

The Buzz: Yo, it’s been seven years since Moulin Rouge! Baz Luhrmann, where you at?

The Trailer:

The Review:

I love me some Baz Luhrmann, y’all. Love. Even when his work gets exhaustingly stylized or reduces Shakespeare to frantic jump cuts, I can’t get enough of it. There’s just so much vim! You can feel the energy–the unabashed joy for filmmaking–crackling across the screen.

But I’ve got to say, I’m even more excited to see Australia because it seems Luhrmann has retired the tropes of his “Red Curtain Trilogy” (Strictly Ballroom, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge!) In some DVD extra, he said those movies were designed to remind us we were watching something artificial.That’s why we got fin de siecle characters singing Madonna songs and Romeo rocking Everclear.

This time, though, the trailer sells a straight-ahead epic. That’s a fascinating possibility: If Luhrmann’s energy drives a traditional narrative,  what will it bring to the screen?

Judging by the preview, it will bring gorgeous cinematography, bizarre images of aborigines, Hugh Jackman’s hotness, and a warm performance from Nicole Kidman, complete with Botox-defying facial expressions.

Since it seems he isn’t repeating himself, I’m interested to meet the new Baz Luhrmann.

The Rating: 4 Outback Steakhouse Jokes, Politely Overlooked