Father Geek here with the latest from the land downunder and AICN's lanky laddy Latauro, the voice of the outback, a true Australian Bushmaster...
They should name a gender after you.
AICN-DOWNUNDER
Such excitement to be writing in a new font! Okay, excitement over.
I write frequently about the horrid state of the Australian film industry. It's a tough love scenario. I love an industry that can produce JAPANESE STORY, BAD EGGS, THE CASTLE, THE DISH, BENEATH CLOUDS and the best Aussie film ever made, THE GODDESS OF 1967. What I hate is that these are rare gems, and I had to strain to come up with a list that long. We average one very good film a year, which is shameful.
I must admit to missing Cate Shortland's SOMERSAULT, mostly due to the very low number of screens it was released onto. Nonetheless, it swept the AFI awards, winning every major category. It was a hollow victory. It had no competition whatsoever. When Chloe Maxwell is nominated for her work in the abmismal UNDER THE RADAR (in Hollywood terms, this would be like one of the hairy-legged tree-living girls in the Seth Green/Matthew Lillard "comedy" WITHOUT A PADDLE getting an Oscar nod), you know that any award is purely coincidental.
The film industry is in a bad shape at the moment, and for all the talk of reviving it and shaking things up, we've still got the same it's-who-you-know committee at the Film Finance Commission giving money to crap that nobody wants to see. It's the truth.
The much-touted saviour was supposed to be EUCALPTUS, directed by Jocelyn Moorehouse and starring Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman and Geoffrey Rush. A powerhouse cast, and all Australian. Then Rush dropped out, ol' reliable Jack Thompson stepped in, and just as everything looked like it was back on track... it went to shit.
EUCALYPTUS is not happening... For details (or a significant lack thereof), scroll ever downwards...
NEWS
Okay, what the hell is going on with EUCALYPTUS? The short answer is nobody really knows. Initially, the producers were blaming the unseasonal weather for the delay in filming; a not-unbelievable claim given the torrential downpour this summer has brought us. Then, of course, the weather was fine, and the camp was forced to explain what was really going on. Only they didn't explain. If you believe one side, Russell Crowe was being demanding and wanted unreasonable changes to the script. If you believe the other, Jocelyn Moorehouse was being a prima donna and was obsessing over minor changes to a script that just wasn't ready in the first place. It's hard to know what's really going on. It's clear that there's been a big breakdown, with the polarising between Crowe and Moorehouse (Moorehouse, it should be noted, gave Crowe a big break when she cast him alongside Hugo Weaving in the excellent PROOF). There are unfounded rumours that Crowe wants either Bruce Beresford or Fred Schepsi to take over directing duties. There are even more unfounded rumours that Crowe himself will take over. Nobody from the production is giving quotes, on-record or off-record, other than to say they've just lost a lot of income and work. One person who is speaking is Murray Bail, the novel's author. He said what AICN-D said six months ago: that they wanted someone around the age of 19 for the love interest character. As we reported, the production had been looking for a number of unknowns (and were concerned that actresses in their mid-20s were too old for the part), before deciding to go with star power and cast 37 year old Nicole Kidman in the part. With Kidman's schedule, it's unlikely she'll be back in the role unless they start filming yesterday. The most likely option? A Prague shoot, with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz in the leads. More on this doomed project in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, SUPERMAN ROCKS is going ahead as planned, with producers searching for a 15 year old version of Brandon Routh. It seems that while the production won't be doing another origin story (good call), it will be gently reminding viewers how Supes got to be who he got to be. The beginning of the shoot in Tamworth, NSW is where the young Clark will learn to fly. They're also looking for a five year old Routh, which makes me think montage. (Hey - the dancing baby from Ally McBeal should be about five by now, right?) Interesting note: at auditions, some actors have been required to read off early scripts from the first two Richard Donner films. Not news in itself, but I thought it was interesting.
48 SHADES OF BROWN, based on the novel by Australian author Nick Earles, will start lensing this August in Brisbane. Did you know that in the good ol' days of British rule, when convicts committed a crime while already in Australia they were sent to Brisbane? True. The film will be directed by its screenwriter, Daniel Lapaine. 34 year old Lapaine is better known as an actor, appearing in MURIEL'S WEDDING and BROKEDOWN PALACE, as well as 54 and DOUBLE JEOPARDY.
The Australian version of Project Greenlight recently closed its doors, and a reported 1200 screenplays were submitted. If you entered, you'll need to keep your fingers crossed until June...
AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Australian short GREEN BUSH took out the Panorama Best Short Film award. It was directed by Warwick Thornton and produced by Kath Shelper.
OZSCAPE
If you're lucky enough to be both a "Farscape" fan *and* a Sydney resident, then boy are you in luck! The Farscape convention in April is going ahead as planned! Okay, this is mostly a heads-up to let you know that the previous contact details we've given you have been struck down with nasty viruses (as opposed to pleasant ones that make the recipient all giddy inside). You'll want to check out www.rcevents.com.au for info on the guest-filled convention.
BOX OFFICE
SKY CAPTAIN is doing fairly horrid business down at ninth spot, whilst most of the top ten is filled with Oscar contenders. HIDE AND WEEK was a surprising second to Scorsese's excellent Hughes biopic, both in their first week of release.
Sooo the money grabbers this week are...
- 1. THE AVIATOR
- 2. HIDE AND SEEK
- 3. MILLION DOLLAR BABY
- 4. MEET THE FOCKERS
- 5. CLOSER
RELEASED THIS WEEK
Indians are the new Greeks, the two Zhangs release a feature-length "Previously on HERO", the French attempt a light-hearted buddy road trip flick, and James L. Brooks makes sure everybody loves each other.
Annnd this weeks new flicks be...
- BRIDE AND PREJUDICE
- HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
- RED LIGHTS
- SPANGLISH
REVIEWS
Last week I put up a backlog of reviews that even Tolstoy couldn't get through (lazy Russian bastard wanted me to give a rating out of four stars). Because I haven't actually seen anything in the last week, I'm going to direct you to last week's reviews. You know, in case you missed them. For my thoughts on SKY CAPTAIN, CLOSER, RAY, THE AVIATOR, MONSTER'S BALL, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, THE AVIATOR, HOTEL RWANDA, and possibly one or two others I've forgotten about, head to: here
I will warn you though, there appear to be a couple of bugs in the new AICN page format, so the reviews themselves might read a little strange.
NEXT WEEK
- Jackie Chan to play a pacifist doctor who must defeat a triad for some reason in FIST DO NO HARM
- David O. Russell moves into TV sitcom spin-off territory when he enlists Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin to play annoying neighbours in EVERYBODY HEARTS HUCKABEES
- Ridley Scott to make fantasy war epic LADYHAWKE DOWN
