This story claims that Baz Luhrmann was forced to change the ending of Australia to give it a more upbeat ending, this news breaking a few weeks before the film is set to be released. It also says Hugh Jackman steals the show. A teaser clip of a shirtless and sculpted Jackman appeared on Thursday’s Grey’s Anatomy. The story gives a spoiler to the film’s ending so perhaps they are trying to leak the info that it isn’t going to be a downer.
No Response for "Australia Altered"
Fox strikes again! Let’s hope this time it’s for the right reasons.
DAMN! I like downers…
I HATE THE CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD PARADIGM!!!!! Why must the ending be happy, life is rarely happy, so why should our movies say it is? Maybe it is because I love Italian Neo-Realism or that I am still mad that Hitchcock’s “Suspicion” was changed. Well maybe it is the proper ending for the film.
Ah, the endless debate of downer ending vs. happy ending. It’s always hard to tell, because it really all depends on the rest of the story. For instance, the downer ending in “Seven” trumps a happier version that was tossed around (well, happier to an extent). But the happy ending in “True Romance” is better than Tarantino’s downer ending in the original script.
Of course, I’m guessing the downer in this would’ve been the better choice for “Australia”, because Baz Luhrmann does that extremely well in “Romeo and Juliet” and “Moulin Rouge!”.
The original ending that I read about in a test-screening review seemed appalling. It was something like the villain shoots at Kidman or the native kid but Jackman jumps in to save her/him and instead takes the bullet. I cant imagine an epic ending in such cheap melodrama.
I think tragic endings or atleast compromise bitter-sweet endings work better. Wall-E would have been even better with an unhappy ending though admittedly then it would become too depressing. But the current ending is too happy.
And how could Hugh Jackman possibly steal the show from Nicole Kidman!
This movie is a stinker, mark my words.
Yeah, that downer ending in Titanic really kept audiences away, didn’t it?
I think that people are giving that article far more weight than it deserves. Its just a collection of tidbits that we already know about spun in a particular way. The author is selectively quoting from widely read internet test screening reviews posted earlier this year. Baz already indicated recently in EW that he had made changes to the ending to create ambiguity (so whatever decisions were made didn’t happen in a hurry last week – though the author may have read about them last week). Nobody is quoted. And the author just randomly throws in previously published information on the difficulties involved in the shoot. In short, nothing new. Just hysteria in the build up to its release here.
The most interesting part of this news is the buzz about Hugh Jackman.
“Yeah, that downer ending in Titanic really kept audiences away, didn’t it?”
Did you finish the movie? Titanic had no downer ending.
lol at the Jackman stealing the show part.
Does anyone else think that this movie is going to suck…and flop. Knowing Kidman’s track record of flops ( and Hugh’s too) , I don’t think this might be an exception.
why does Nicole’s butt look lopsided in that picture? well, at least she has an ass.
People really want this film to fail. I never understand that.
I don’t understand why either Michael – I LOVE movies and give them all fair go! As some of you know I am Australian and would love to see this film be a great financial and critical success.
Some of the negative comments are just ridiculous the poster has no idea until they see the movie if it is going to be any good or not. There seems to be a thing against Nicole Kidman and I don’t understand why??? She is just such a lovely down to earth woman with a great sense of humour – I love her laugh. And Hugh lives in Australia with his wife and kids and is always so lovely to everyone unlike some America actors that visit our shores.
Let’s give Australia a fair go mate.
I doubt Jackman steals the show from Kidman, since Lurhmann seems more interested in the feminine aspect of this tale. I remember reading the same thing from all the early “test screening reviews” for Margot At The Wedding (”Jennifer Jason Leigh steals the show!”, “Jason Leigh outacts Kidman” ect). When the actual movie came out, while Jason Leigh gave an excellent performance, there was absolutely no doubt that it was Kidman’s film, and the vast majority of actual critics agreed. It taught me not to trust test screening opinions when it comes to Kidman. The critics will make the final judgement.
It’s possible Jackman will be the Ewan Mcgregor in this instance. Mcgregor gave a wonderful performance in Moulin Rouge, but Lurhmann invested more energy in making Kidman’s character (by extension her performan
ce) more “iconic”. I think Kidman will get nominated for an Academy Award, but Jackman (like Mcgregor)
edit: double post
”How can Jackman possibly steal the show from Kidman!” That is the surest thing to happen in this movie. Of course Jackman steals the show in Australia, that’s the belief of everyone who saw the movie and that’s why everyone was annoyed by his character’s death in the picture, something that forced Luhrmann to change the ending. It is obvious that today, when it comes to these Aussie stars, the one who is more favorable to most of the audiences and has a career rising more and more everyday is Jackman. Jackman seems to be such an original, down to earth, good and uplifting person rather than Kidman who seems to be fake and cold. Plus, the majority of people who post comments in a variety of movie sites and blogs about Australia, say that they are in for the film just because of Jackman’s presence, and that says a lot…
I agree with axel. Jackman is by far a better actor, giving passionate performances in films like The Fountain and The Prestige, being sooo cool and everyones favorite in films like the X-Men series and proving what a talented and gifted artist he is in extravagant musicals like The Boy from Oz. He was also in the 2008 list of Forbes magazine about the most profitable stars in Hollywood with earnings that are about 9.8 dollars for every dollar he is paid for each of his movies rather than Kidman, who topped the 2008 Forbes list of the most overpaid actors in the world cause she brings back to studios only 1 dollar for every dollar she’s paid!!! Definetely Jackman will steal the show in Australia with his cool, manly, non-chalant presence and yeah, I’m in too for Australia just for that!
I’m not rooting against “Australia.” Love Baz…but I’m leery. Fox is now at 22 consecutive movies released (non-animated) below 50% on rotten tomatoes, a streak dating back to June, 2007. You have to be trying to be that bad.
I agree too with Tom & Axel!! GO HUGH!!! I’m so happy reading that the perforances in Australia are terrific but is Jackman the one who steals the show! Great actor, great performance, propably an Oscar nomination at last…
Oh, and everyone watch Oprah tomorrow! Hugh will be there talking about his fantastic new movie! Can’t wait for Australia and I’m glad that Jackman’s character won’t die in the end! PERFECT
Kidman has a cold, full of botox face. How can she possibly be a good acterss when she can’t even express any feelings with it? On the other hand, JACKMAN is there, with all his wrinkles, expressive face and imposing figure. He always steals the show in all his movies (man, what a perfornance the fucking bastard gave in The Fountain!!!!) so I don’t think it’ll be hard for him to do it once again, specially when he has to deal with Nicol-queen-of-botox-Kidman. I’m in for Australia too, but of course on Jackman’s side.
@ tom
Hugh is a better actor than Kidman? he gave passionate performances in movies like The prestige? the prestige? you must be talking about some different hugh and nicole
@ dereck
so you think Nicole is a bad actress because of botox? there are just some statements that have no foundation, built on hate with iota of truth in them. Have you watched the hours? maybe you were just being sarcastic. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
TEAM NICOLE
Hugh is a one note actor!
IMHO Rotten tomatoes is full of shit – I used to take notice of their ratings but I never agree with them anymore. It’s a site that loves to pull movies apart instead of giving credit where it is due.
I will make up my own mind!
I agree. But look a look at Fox’s (non animated) films released in this span doesn’t reveal ANYTHING good IMO. Plus there have been complaints of studio tampering on a lot of movies:
“Death Sentence,” “The Seeker:The Dark is Rising,” “The Comebacks,” “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” “Hitman,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” “Alien Vs. Predator 2,” “27 Dresses,” “Meet the Spartans,” “Jumper,” “Shutter,” “Nim’s Island,” “Deception,” “What Happens in Vegas,” “The Happening,” “Meet Dave,” “The X-Files 2,” “Mirrors,” “The Rocker,” “Babylon AD,” “City of Ember,” “Max Payne.”
I know it’s not fair to trash an entire studio (especially one that invites critique like Fox), but with a year and a half run of ineptitude like the one above, I’m wary of anything they turn out.
I think this movie will earn favorable if not stellar reviews. Yes, there will be a few bad reviews, but this film is anything but camp. I don’t know why everyone is so anti Nicole. It really is ridiculous.
Hugh Jackman is a born scene-stealer and this is that kind of role (judging from the trailer). Nothing wrong with that. I just hope the movie is good. I like both actors a lot. Used to hate Kidman’s work, but she has been steadily growing on me since To Die For and any lingering reservations were gone by The Others. That said, the Queen of Forehead title that she shares with Marcia Cross is off-putting. I’m not a hater, but it’s true.
The other site that I look at Everything Oscar has been trashing Australia ever since it was announced – unfortunately. I don’t know what the problem is with all this hate – where does it come from?
I must say that Everything Oscar has gone from great to not being updated much at all. So I come on here more often now. I love it here.
Do you think that Nicole realises that her forehead and lips don’t look very good? Surely she can stop and go back to being the natural beauty she once was.
Yes Fox stuffs a lot of potentially good movies up – I was enjoying Jumper so much and then ??? Same with X-Files I was so excited I still enjoyed it but it wasn’t at all what I expected.
Maybe I’m going too far, but all this negative buzz before the movie opens reminds me a little of the negative words Titanic received before hitting the theaters. All you could hear around was. “this is the most expensive movie ever made, it’s going to flop inevitably, there’s no way this movie can live up to its expectations…” And then, it opened.
Not that this is the same case (and I’m no Titanic fan), but as with any other yet unseen movie, I have read no objective reason why this one should flop. And I wonder if early negative buzz, ironically, gets people going to theaters just out of curiosity to check it out by themselves.
As for Nicole Kidman’s botox, I think a good performance might make you forget that problem after the first five minutes. And above all it is unfair, actresses are constantly considered too old for the parts, and not only by executives, but also by anonymous commenters on the internet (just like me). And when a great part of your job depends on your looks… At least, though botox might be off putting, it’s temporary, and still better that when some screen actors get that surgical procedure (I don’t know the name) that makes them lose their eye expresiveness.
@ iggy
while I agree with 99 percent of what you said, comparing Australia to Titanic might be a stretch. But then again, some of the most successful movies always tend to be the ones that were expected to flop or perform moderately. However, I still think comparing Australia to Titanic is a stretch.
Regarding this whole Botox fiasco, people just need to shut up, seriously. I’ve watched most of Nicole’s movies and you can hardly ever tell she uses Botox. Her expressions are fine, her range is intact and her overall acting delivery is spectacular. She might look frozen on the red carpets events but she doesn’t carry that look onscreen. Seriously, the anti-Kidman movement needs to find new material because all this Botox talk is baseless.
backto1960 ”Hugh Jackman is a one note actor’ ?!! Come on man! What’s wrong with Jackman in The Prestige, can you explain me? As I know he earned rave reviews for that one. And he is able to star in movies of different genres, from comedy to action, to drama, to musical, to science fiction! And his film career doesn’t even reach in years that of Kidman’s. People say he steals the show in Australia and I believe them, though I’ll go to check out myself when it opens in theaters. No problem with Nicole, but I think you do are a Kidman fanatic because of your empathy towards Jackman.
As for Australia, I agree with iggy and believe it’s gonna be an amazing flick!
Agree with John. Unfortunately Hugh Jackman is underestimated by many, though I think he’ll prove his quality and power of acting in Australia. Kidman seems to be good in that one too. Can’t wait!
Jackman is a great actor!!!! The ones who dislike him just can’t deal with his killing combination of dashing good looks and powerfull ability in acting!
JACKMAN IS A WONDERFULL, CROWD-PLEASING ACTOR. Everyone, just wait to see the box-office records he’ll break with his new Wolverine movie!! I’ll go to see Australia for Jackman. Kidman’s career seems to be more or less over. I wonder how she might feel reading the screen-tests results which make it clear that Jackman steals the show from her! That’s why everyone was pissed of with Jackman-character’s death so much that the ending of the film eventually changed…
backto1960 you seem to be someting like Gollum and Smeagol of the LOTR trilogy. On your very first comment you are obviously against Kidman, even being sarcastic about her ass and you claim that Australia sucks. Then you go ”team nicole” and that Australia might finally have the fate of these great movies that at first were underestimated by people.
Anyway, Hugh Jackman is an enormously gifted actor. He’ll show that in Australia, which looks like a really great movie, and even more in Stephen Soderbergh’s new musical film called ‘Cleo’. All the sceptics about this wonderfull but, I agree with leona, underestimated actor just wait and see…
@ patrick
Nicole has a well-deserved academy award and a number of nominations under her belt
Talk to me when Hugh gets nominated or better still, when he ever wins. Hopefully, we’ll be still alive when that happens
Hugh, according to many, has Oscar-potential for his performance in Australia. Can’t understand why some people have problem with the guy. He is a very talented actor and looks like such a kind and cool person! TEAM HUGH! JACKMAN ROCKS!
@ Mr. Potter
I was being sarcastic about the ass comments of course and you guessed it, I’m not a big Nicole Kidman fan. However, I am not a hater. Even though I’m not a Kidman fan, I acknowledge that she is a good actress. When she’s onscreen, she has a commanding presence and she usually does a good job. To use botox as a basis to call her a bad actress is foolish, ignorant, immature and just plain stupid. I did say the movie seems like it will flop but I also said that you never know; movies that always end being successful movies are movies many people expected to flop. So what is wrong with the aforementioned statements? where is the contradiction? or do you want me to speak with a hundred percent certainty that I know the movie will flop? I am god you see. I think you might have exaggerated my capabilities. But thanks for the compliments anyway.
Now, who’s the Gollum? LMAO
Agree with joey. I come across to Jackman’s name many times when it comes to this year’s possible contenders for the Best leading actor Academy Award.
backto1960 you have such an empathy about Hugh! Hugh won the Tony Award and earned enormous praise for the Boy from Oz while Kidman was booed when she made her debout in Broadway. He made box-office record in Broadway, plus, he holds an Emmy award and an Emmy nomination for his impressive ability as a performer. I saw him myself on Broadway and he was shockingly amazing, simply breathtaking, gave me one of the best experiences in my hole life!!! And every single person in the audience went mad that night and couldn’t stop screaming during the ovation!!! Check better next time you’ll talk about this fabulous actor.
@ black pitt
The fact that you want to do Hugh Jackman doesn’t mean everybody wants to do him too. Personally, I don’t think he’s a bad actor. However, I don’t think he’s as good as you guys are making him to be. His acting style is very static. I see it in movie after movie after movie. Just like George Clooney, I always see Hugh Jackman playing a character, I don’t see a character played by Hugh Jackman.
You want to tell the difference? watch three different movies by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
@ lovefilms
…then maybe broadway is his true calling. I’m sure his fans will love seeing him in all those tight pants, jelled-hair, shape-hugging shirts and singing at the top of his voice.
Judging from the comments here (and not only here, that’s for sure), Hugh seems to have more fans than Nicole and these fans include me!!! Back off Jackman haters!!! Hugh is a phenomenon!! A scene stealer, there’s no question about it! Can’t wait to see him in Australia…
backto1960 do you mean that Clooney is not a good actor as well? Then why Clooney and Jackman are always on the top of directors an producers lists? And your obviously sarcastic comment on Hugh for playing a flamboyant, gay performer is silly, childish and immature. The fact that Jackman dared to portray a gay person in front of the thousands that paid a ticket to see him shows his great amount of courage in times that people like you enjoy to get a laugh out of gay people. So passe…
This site is packed with people just sucking up to Hugh Jackman. Why should he get a nomination for this role? for running around in the rain and sweeping Nicole off her feet? to be fair, Nicole is a tiny lady so carrying her around isn’t that much of a stretch.
The Hugh Jackman fans are out to draw blood. They are so vicious that they have made Australia’s greatest problem to be a battle between costars…not critics, or ending or script or directing or media.
I would personally see the movie because it looks great and I think both of the actors are good. However, I think Nicole is a better actor and more dynamic, with or without botox. My initial response to this argument was simply due to the fact that all those Hugh fans are bashing Nicole and saying she’s a bad actress with a frozen face and botox this and botox that. LUNATICS!!
I like Nicole Kidman (”The Others” won me over) and love Hugh Jackman. I don’t think that Jackman will be scene stealing from Kidman though, because that’s not the type of actor he is. He works WITH other actors and when he’s part of a romantic pair you see how wonderful the woman is because you’re seeing her through his eyes (Now THAT’S romantic). When you looked at Jean Grey and Wolverine, you didn’t think, oh he/she is the better actor – you thought c’mon Jean, can’t you see Wolverine is the one?
I’m looking forward to “Australia” – a lush historical romance in the Outback with stunning visuals and appealing actors? Bring it on.
@ Katie
I wasn’t making fun of Hugh Jackman playing a gay character, I was just being sarcastic about broadway in general. It was suppose to be humorous ok and how dare you judge me about making fun of gay people? do you know my life? calm the f***k down. The Hugh Jackman fans on this site are crazy. Holy cow,
fine hugh is great
hugh is king
hugh is the best
hugh deserves all the awards in the world
hugh can do no wrong
hugh is almighty
hugh stole very scene from Australia ( even though you guys haven’t watched it yet)
and screw OBAMA, hugh should be president and god
Good grief, I am done with this conversation
TEAM NICOLE, ACADEMY-AWARD WINNING ACTRESS NICOLE KIDMAN
I absolutely agree wth Kate. I so much see your point. I have many gay friends and know first-hand how people treat them sometimes for being different from what is so-called ”normal”. Hugh Jackman always proves with his choises that he is a daredevil. That’s why he’s been so succesfull in both film and stage industry these last 10(!) years.
backto1960 – Man, though I am a Hugh Jackman fan, you really made me laugh with all these ”Hugh is great… king…etc”, specially when you said ‘’screw Obama, jackman should be the president” !! It was really funny! Anyway, it’s indeed stupid to compare Jackman and Kidman cause they play in the same movie, right? How some people insist that the film will be great when they believe that the one or the other of its leading stars sucks? It takes the two of them to make Australia a good movie and personaly I think that both of them have a respectfull career and are good actors. Sure, the fact that Kidman holds an Oscar doesn’t make her a better actress, Marisa Tomei also has one… But Kidman has definetely prove her quality during all these years that we know her. Oh, and as for Jackman, my friend just wait and see the movie as I’ll do. Maybe he does more things in Australia than running around in the rain. Everyone, including me, should wait and see first Australia and then make their judgements. Besides, there is always the possibility of being surprised…
God, you guys are really insane. Nicole and Hugh are both great actor and they are good friend.
Agree with Chris. Personally, I like Jackman more, he is very ‘original’ and must be a good guy, plus very good and capable actor. But Nicole is not bad either. Many say that she is ‘frozen’ and ‘cold’, though in her interviews she really seems to be a modest and in times shy person. And her performances in the ‘Hours’ and ‘Moulin Rouge’ were awesome. Both of them are two of the greatest film stars Australia ever gave. I guess, when you are on the top, as Kidman and Jackman are, there are many that love you of course, but also many that dislike you, just because you are #1.
As for Australia, seems to be a fantastic movie, judging from the trailers and the set to screen podcasts (all available on youtube). Possibly could turn out a masterpiece, despite the fact that they changed the ending. I would really love the tragic one…
I loved too the tragic ending with Jackman’s character dying. I can’t understand why people disliked it that much that the original cut changed to a more uplifting end. I strongly believe now that screen tests for movies suck! Let the director bring his initial vision on the big screen and allow the audience to make their judgements! I don’t see why a hole film should get through such dramatic changings, based on the opinion of just 30 or 50 people? What about the rest thousands or even millions of us that want to go and see this movie? Would Australia be bad if The Drover dies?! What about the previous three hours of the movie? What is sooo bad with tragedy in films? I wonder, the classic greek theater -ALWAYS TRAGIC- masterpieces now suck?! And what about all these opera masterpieces like Tosca, La Traviata or La Boheme? PLEASE, can somebody explain that to me??!!!
Anyway, of course I’ll go to see Australia for the triple force of Jackman-Kidman-Luhrmann. I think it will be a trully powerfull and breathtaking cinematic experience. Hopefully it will…
MRTHX you are right. As for Jackman, I’m not a fan but come on guys! He is a great actor and has proved that with only 10 movies that he’s stared in! And Kidman wouldn’t be the #1 female actress in Hollywood if she was that bad. I’m not a fan of Nicole either, but ok, let’s so some respect… Now, Australia really seems to be great but I try to keep my enthusiasm about it low cause I don’t want to be dissapointed (something I’m afraid of when reading things like this post here and there) when I’ll visit my local cinema on 26 November…
Can’t wait for Australia! I don’t care about the ending and think noone should cause you have to watch the hole movie, which includes all the events and adventures that will lead to that point to make any judgement on whether you like it or not. You can’t know how you’ll feel about the characters and story in the end unless you watch the three hours that proceed it. Jackman and Kidman are great actors and they seem to have a really palpable chemistry as a couple. I smell Oscars…
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