The In-Joke Podcast #31 - Australia!
Peter, Gavin and special guest star Elizabeth (Peter’s sister) dedicate a whole podcast to talking about the new Baz Luhrmann film Australia! The first half is completely spoiler-free, for people who haven’t yet seen the film, and the second half has spoilers aplenty!
- There are minor spoilers for Australia!, but only in the second half - the first half is completely spoiler-free.
- Elizabeth has a never-updated blog at All Girls Are Obese.
- Baz Luhrmann started as in theatre - his first film Strictly Ballroom was originally a play.
- “Come What May” is indeed the only original song in Moulin Rouge!. This is an interesting interview with the musical director of the film.
- The Baz Luhrmann-directed Chanel No. 5 commercial went for 180 seconds (3 minutes) and cost upwards of $50 million.
- Nicole Kidman was given $12 million for her role, and Baz Luhrmann is rumoured to have been paid more than $20 million for directing.
- In 1940 less than 7000 people lived in the Northern Territory. Anywhere between 2000 and 5000 of those people lived in Darwin.
- Alledgedly in an earlier draft of the script, the Drover’s name was a major plot-point.
- The little boy - Nullah - was played by Brandon Walters. It was his first time acting - in fact, when he was chosen, he hadn’t heard of Nicole Kidman or Hugh Jackman, or seen many movies, or ever been to a city.
- If you’ve seen Australia!, please weigh in - did you feel that actual magic was shown in the film, or just superstition? Do you agree that there were plotholes at the beginning of the film, or do you think it all came together smoothly? Did you think that Ivan’s character suffered a huge character jump? Email podcast@thechainsawblokes.com with your thoughts!
Edited by Peter.