"Australia" Another Nicole Kidman Letdown

Twentieth Century Fox appears to have given up on director Baz Luhrmann's latest period epic in North America, and is hoping that foreign sales will rescue the costly picture.

The movie has sold just $44.3 million worth of tickets at the U.S. and Canadian box office after five weekends, and is shaping up to be the latest in a line of disappointments for its star, Nicole Kidman.

The News Corp-owned studio says it hopes "Australia" will reach $50 million domestically. The project cost $130 million and movie theaters generally keep about half of the gross.

KEEP READING REUTERS

Plus:
A history of Kidman's box office

See photos of Nicole and husband Keith Urban at mass in Tennessee over the holiday.

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR AUSTRALIA: (did you see it? add what you thought in the comment section)

Comments

[lmvd3]

Surprise!

[secondsight]

I saw the preview of "Australia" and was totally underwhelmed. One can tell a lot from a preview. For instance, I watched the preview of "Grand Torino," and am very eager to see it because just watching the preview was exciting and I could feel the tremendous tension. It was a gut feeling, partly from Clint Eastwood's character as an tough old man filled with anger and prejudice, as well as the whole tone of the movie--its pace, its dialogue, its editing, and finally its incredible energy. Cut to "Australia," and you find yourself faced with the usual footage for a big film, scenes of large scope and action that seem to blur into each other, cross-cut with the usual love themes of strong woman meets strong man...and who will bend to the other's will. I think Lehrman should have stayed with small films, like his exquisite "Strictly Ballroom." From the very first moment of that film, I said to myself, "I'm going to love this movie," and I did. But "Moulin Rouge"? I could never understand what it was supposed to be about and turned it off soon after it began. I thought "Australia" might be an exciting and rivetting adventure, but ithe preview does not engage. It only hypes.

[ScapeGoat]

Does anyone know if they are going to make the sequel to golden compass? The Subtile Knife.

[BannedFromCommenting]

She was good in The Hours, The Others, To Die For she got great reviews. Moulin Rouge was very successful and she was way better in Far and Away than Cruise. But she has had more misses than hits. So, her street cred should drop. But as long as Cruise gets news, she will too. Same as Pitt's info gets attentions for Aniston.. its always the media going back to the ex to see the reaction. Even the Bewitched movie I thought she did fine in, but her whispy voice was very annoying. She wasnt like that in The Others at all.

And she needs to lose the dark eyebrows and washed out blonde hair and go back to red that fits her skin tone. Her weight? Well always skinny so her body has that memory... at least she didnt implant her way to boobs etc....

[SteveDenver]

Sorry, I think this bomb is courtesy Baz Luhrman. I haven't liked any of his films since STRICTLY BALLROOM. His films are expensive dazzlers with very little substance, sacrificing story for style. He should never have attempted a film where the story needed to be the strongest suit. As for Kidman, I agree that her early work was her best, too bad she's only available for big ticket clunkers. Actors like Kate Winslet make much better career choices overall.

[Mysticalsister]

What happened to Nicole Kidman? I saw her on Letterman when she was still a young redhead with curly hair, a normal body, and human sounding voice. She was sweet and unaffected and talked about hiking and mountain climbing. She was "Nick" -- charming, but not a beauty, and certainly not a star -- just Tom Cruises' actress wife. Then the media made her into a "star-by-association," which I guess translates into a commodity, but I've yet to see her in anything that I didn't think someone else could have done better.

Today she has ZERO personality, a creepy Marilyn Monroe voice, the tortured body of an emaciated alien, and hair that is so over processed that it hangs off her head like it's trying to escape. Clearly she believes all the hype, as do some in Hollywood, but I can't stand to watch her on a talk show much less in a movie, and clearly I am NOT alone.

Recently I saw Kidman on Letterman, again. She was so impossible to communicate with it was painful to watch. And it's a wonder why Dave didn't have her forcibly removed from the set. She was contentious, defensive and rude. It's a shame really. I kind of liked the old Nicole. At least she was nice to Dave.
.

[harriettubman]

So what? She's a white, Australian actress who can make any amount of b*omb movies she wants and still remain in the highest paid top 5 in Hollywood. I've seen this go on for way too many years.

[Wiserone]

Ok, her movie tanked and now she has just come out, alluding to, that she is going to quick making movies. I swear, spin is all around us. I guess she is hoping that her fans will come out in full force and justify her marketability and blog that she will continue acting. Not! No loss. She's like Madonna in the respect if you've heard/seen one of their songs/movies you've seen them all.

[morganhill]

Highly overrated as an actress. Never have understood why so much has been made over this mediocre talent.

[Cloball]

The visual shots of Australia were beautiful, but the story was silly, the acting was bad, and the dialogue.......not very interesting most of the time.

Nicole says "lets go home" and Hugh says "there's no place like it."

WOW!! That's the best the writers could come up with?

[jOke]

LMAO! really? thats ridiculous.. thanks much.

[miltchocklit]

she.......is........so..........sexy. that two seconds she takes a leak and wipes herself in the horrible "eyes wide shut". she glides into the room in those beautiful dresses in the highly forgettable "the golden compass". i just hit slo-mo on the dvr. of course, i wouldn't pay to see any of those movies either.

[Ozohead]

Not even a shirtless Hugh Jackman could save this movie...

[lmvd3]

He didn't break out in song and dance, did he?

[aquaman2008]

Nicole Kidman, just like Samuel L. Jackson - is an overrated star. Most of her movies flop, actually all of her movies flop, just like Sam Jackson. BUT she keeps getting offers for some weird reasons. Sam Jackson has a movie out each month.

The last time her movie grossed 100 million was years ago. She needs to move back to Australia and live in the house bought and paid for by Tom Cruise.....

[harriettubman]

I believe Sam makes movies just to make them. I read where he's made the most films out of everybody in Hollywood, some good, some bad, some in between. He really should be careful which scripts he chooses.

Same thing with Eddie Murphy. His choice of movies has been terrible lately.

[Indie2008]

Don't you get it? It doesn't matter how good a performance she turns in, or the quality of the movie_ as long as she stays at the top of the entertainment news, they will pay her the millions.

[in-di-a]

nicole kidman elicit a lot of response in regards to her talents or lack of.
there is 'something' about her that is disconnected - probably does a lot of homework. but she is not in the same league as a Cate Blanchett. I remember seeing the preview for Elizabeth and Cate said " I AM my father's daughter" in a few lines she conveyed an encyclopedia of information on a intuitive level and goose pimples shot up my spine - HAD to see the movie. no idea who (Cate) was.
great talent resonates within all of us on an emotional level. You have to be connected to your guts as an artist to send the emotions to the audience. Nicole does not do that.

yes. she does have a place but not as a master actress. No amount of spinning will sell us that myth. she was good in The Birthday (she plays a russian girl) To Die For is a juicy story. she worked hard on the character but you cab see the work. she's probably a good example of someone who got damaged by the business. she could have connected on a wider level if she hadn't disconnected.

she's got a small part in Flirting (another great 'little' movie, Thandie Newton is the star). Dead Calm is good. Again a Great story. Her face was more expressive then. No one is disputing that plastic surgery is here to stay but she went overboard and comes across kind of

[lmvd3]

Cate Blanchette is a phenomenal actress. She has played THE most diverse roles of any actress, and she plays them so well, I've often not even realized it was her playing the role. Her repertoire of accents is amazing. Kidman is leagues behind Blanchette-no comparison whatsoever.