Epic film 'Australia' premieres in Sydney

Updated November 19, 2008 10:17:58

At the cost of $A130 million and after an extraordinary amount of publicity, the film "Australia" is now waiting for the public's verdict. Sydney last night played host to the world premiere, where the cast and crew, including the stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, finally got to see the finished work for the first time. Critics and film industry veterans who attended last night's screening are adamant the film will be a big success, but whether or not it's the beginning of an Australian film-making renaissance is still being debated.

Presenter: Karen Barlow
Australian movie-stars Bryan Brown, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, John Jarrett; film director Baz Lurhmann;
film critics Margaret Pomeranz, Jim Schembri

BARLOW: The epic film with the record breaking Australian budget got a big red carpet send off last night. Sydney CBD streets were blocked as thousands of guests and fans came to see what all the fuss is about. Many of the screams were for star Hugh Jackman who confessed to a slight case of nerves.

JACKMAN: I am pumped. I am so excited about it it has been two years in the making and it is so funny, this is the very cinema I used to come to as a kid to play space invaders just around here. Everything is coming full circle here tonight.

BARLOW: There was relief from director and writer Baz Lurhmann who was still finishing Australia a few days ago.

LURHMANN: I'm just so happy we're here. People gave so much, they gave relentlessly, and now it is done.

BARLOW: The filmmaker insists the $130 million film did not go over budget and - despite rumours - he gave the film the ending he wanted. But he and the crew and cast - like Nicole Kidman - say it was tough to finish.

KIDMAN: The stamina it takes, it took almost nine months to shoot this film and the travelling and the heat... I have really fair skin!

BARLOW: Australia is a World War II romance with spectacular landscapes and social commentary. It highlights poor black and white relations and the stolen generations. Actor John Jarrett is expecting great success for the film.

JARRETT: It is the biggest thing since Clark Gable died. It is going to be immense, it is going to be huge.

BARLOW: And critics such as Margaret Pomaratz from the ABC's At The Movies say there is a lot riding on the film, especially with $a40 million worth of taxpayers' money being used with a tourism advertising tie-in.

POMERANZ: This is a tremendously important film for Australia not every man woman and child has an investment in this film, and you know it is years of work for the filmmakers so it is important that it works on a number of levels and I am sure that it going to work here Australia. they have embraced it with all the publicity and the association with Tourism Australia, I think it has been taken on willingly, we all want it to work."

BARLOW: The reviews start coming out from today. Jim Schembri from The Age has some reservations.

SCHEMBRI: I felt the film was good but not great. The problem with the film is that it is too damn long and so the prospects of saving a stumbling film industry? I don't think any single film can do that. All this stuff about this film sort of being heralding a new age for Australian cinema, we need four or five good years of good films, not just one film around Christmas time."

BARLOW: Veteran actor Bryan Brown who plays cattle baron King Carney in Australia agrees.

BROWN: It won't do anthing for the industry in Australia beyond get people to see this movie I mean the movies been here before it there will be movies here after it. The movie will have its place but they have spent a lot of money. I hope they get it back.