Australia

It is curious to note just how little Australia impacts the cinematic world. While I'm aware that Australia has a burgeoning film industry and has produced many good films, these probably will not be widely advertised, and almost certainly won't be competing with the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Most famous Australian actors and actresses - Guy Pearce, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and the late Heath Ledger, to name a few - will not be using their real accents in their most famous films, except, perhaps, on the commentary. And at the moment, I can only think of one film which is set in Australia.

So, with that kind of history, this film seems to be an Australian light in an all too American world. Australia, directed by Baz Luhrman (New South Wales), starring Hugh Jackman (also New South Wales) and Nicole Kidman (born in Honolulu, but raised in Sydney), and filmed in Queensland, may be Australia's big break into the commercial film market.

I do, however, find it rather amusing that Nicole Kidman is playing an English woman.

I also suspect that, epic as the film is, it may be slightly too heavy in tone for most audiences.