Baz Luhrmann Dismisses Australia's Bad Press

20 December 2008

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Baz Luhrmann has hit out at critics who rubbished his epic Australia - insisting his films always attract negative reviews because they don't fit Hollywood's movie mould.

The moviemaker spent four years and $130 million (£87.6 million) on the homage to his homeland - which stars Aussie stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman as lovers during World War II.

But the film was panned by some critics - with several even calling Luhrmann "the black hole of cinema".

It's not OK for people to come eat at the same table of cinema

And the film hasn't fared too well following its U.S. release - taking only $39 million (£26 million) since its Thanksgiving weekend opening on 28 November (08).

But Luhrmann isn't fazed by the bad press, because he has had great feedback from film fans.

He tells the Hollywood Reporter, "A lot of reviewers like Australia. And we're making people cry; I know because they write to us.

"But there are those that don't get it. A lot of the film scientists don't get it. And it's not just that they don't get it, but they hate it and they hate me, and they think I'm the black hole of cinema. They say, 'He shouldn't have made it, and he should die'.

"This is not (simply) a romantic comedy for 40-year-old women or action movies for 17-year-old boys, and that's not OK with some people. It's not OK for people to come eat at the same table of cinema. But you look at movies like Gone With the Wind and Old Hollywood classics, and they don't fit in any box."

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