Australia (2008)

One can't write about this without using the word "sweeping." The cinematography (air, land, and water) is gorgeous, with an emphasis on "magic hour," that time before sunset when everything looks orange/pink. It's a romantic epic, a cowboy picture, a fairy tale, a World War II movie, a story about living with racial prejudice. It has a witch doctor who stands on one foot, boys singing, dusty campsites, elaborate costumes, and Nicole Kidman strutting with her shoulders pumping to and fro. Although at times the score was heavy handed (ominous or joyful, just in case we missed it from the plot), we weren't bothered, but amused. Perhaps it was a bit corny, but the magical boy Nullah was a great relief to me the day after seeing The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Don't drink anything before or during this movie--it's 2 hours and 45 minutes long. Director/co-writer/producer Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge (2001) had much the same look (and only 6 special effects companies instead of Australia's 11).