Australian movies are everywhere. It’s just that many of us don’t realize it! There are some Australian movies I will never stop loving, like Muriel’s Wedding. Others I assumed were American or British, when in fact they were just set in those places! The Australian movie scene is buzzing, and some of the world’s most talented directors come from there. In fact, one emerges to take award ceremonies by storm every few years with his wife!
Snapshot Survey
Snapshot Survey
1. Muriel’s Wedding
I couldn’t not include Muriel’s Wedding, as it is certainly my favorite out of all the Australian movies out there. Poor old Muriel, played by Tony Collette, is a bit overweight, a little frumpy, and very obsessed with Abba. On a whim, she takes her mother’s blank check, goes to a tropical island, makes a wild friend, and returns home with her to Sydney. Muriel gets a bit obsessed with weddings, only to eventually realise she’s better off with her mates anyway.
2. Two Hands
Two Hands is the movie that gave us Heath Ledger, so we have a lot to thank it for! Heath plays Jimmy, a man who is in debt to a local gangster. His debt arises after he loses a cool $10,000 belonging to said gangster. Oh, and a woman the gangster is after. It’s a bit tense and Heath is super-baby-faced, but worth a watch.
3. Moulin Rouge
Now THIS is the director I am talking about - Baz Luhrman. Has anybody seen how many awards his wife is winning at the movie award ceremonies of 2014? Moulin Rouge is very much an Australian production, set in Paris, using actors from around the world. As we all know, it follows the fateful story of Satine the courtesan and the writer Christian she falls in love with. It has to be one of my favorite musicals, second only to Annie.
4. Happy Feet
Sometimes musicals are just as beautiful in their animated format. I will never not love Happy Feet, and being a parent gives me so many opportunities to watch it. It features the late and great Brittany Murphy, as well as big names like Robin Williams and Hugh Jackman. In Happy Feet, adorable little Mumble can’t sing a mating song, but he can tap dance like no other penguin in the Arctic Circle can. The second movie wasn’t as good, but the first is a hit.
5. Australia
Featuring two of Australia’s best imports, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, Australia is a dramatic movie following events taking place in Northern Australia during WWII. It focuses on the story of Lady Sarah, who travels to the country to confront her husband over his philandering behavior. He dies before she gets there, but she does have the chance to fall in love with his cattle driver, who is played by Hugh Jackman. It is incredibly romantic, and often tense.
6. The Lego Movie
This is probably one of the more recent movies to come out of Australia. It focuses on the story of a seemingly normal piece of lego, who is recruited to fight crime. Why does this happen? A case of mistaken identity, of course! I am yet to see this, but I can’t wait to do so!
7. Babe
I ALWAYS thought Babe was British, until today. It reminds me of my childhood, as it was one of the first films I saw in the cinema. Babe is a pig who can talk, and he wants to be a sheepdog. A second movie was made based on Babe in The City, but I can’t remember it being as good.
This list really is the tip of the iceberg as far as Australian movies go. There are so many great ones out there, it was hard choosing my favorite seven. In addition, there are plenty I am yet to see! If there is an Australian movie you love, do share it here!
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