The Beginner’s Guide: Baz Luhrmann, Director

Baz Luhrmann, born Mark Anthony Luhrmann, grew up in the tiny village of Heron’s Creek in New South Wales, Australia, a township which boasted a population of just 312 in 2011. Since then, he has revolutionised the Australian cinema scene and is best known for The Red Curtain Trilogy, comprising of romantic comedy and underdog tale Strictly Ballroom, a modernisation of Shakespearean classic Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge!, the extravagant and no holds barred musical set in late 19th century Paris.

His latest project, The Get Down, is a Netflix Original series set in the sequin-filled and disco-crazed New York City of the 1970’s. Although he has no films on the immediate horizon, I think it’s safe to say Baz Luhrmann is far from finished.

Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Luhrmann’s debut in film is adapted from the play of the same name, which was set up by Luhrmann in 1984 whilst he was studying at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney. In 1988, after a successful season at the Wharf Theatre in Sydney, music executive Ted Albert, who had recently set up production company M&A Productions, approached Luhrmann with the offer of transforming the play into a film. Luhrmann accepted the offer, on the conditions that he would get to direct the adaptation himself.

Strictly Ballroom follows the story of unorthodox professional dancer Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) as he transforms amateur dancer and pariah Fran (Tara Morice) from a beginner to a professional. It’s a tale of love and competition, which slowly builds up to a crescendo at the end of the film. Moments of drama entice the viewer, yet an overarching sense of hyperbole and the ridiculous create elements of comedy which run throughout the film. It is a beautiful blend of genre and one which started Luhrmann’s career in film with a bang.

The film had a AU$3 million budget and returned AU$80 million at the box office, being highly successful. The film launched Luhrmann’s career, and it marked the first collaboration of  Luhrmann and his close friend, screenwriter Craig Pearce.

Romeo + Juliet (1996)

The second film of the Red Curtain Trilogy featured Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet in a modern spin on Shakespeare’s classic romantic tragedy, Romeo + Juliet. If you’ve been living under a rock for the last five to six hundred years, the tale of Romeo and Juliet follows the story of two teenage lovers who are the children of rival families. The lovers go against the wishes of their parents, and of course, because it’s a Shakespearean tragedy, two-thirds of the cast end up dead.

The thing that sets this apart from many film adaptations of Shakespeare plays is the modern setting and the fact that Luhrmann chose to retain the original dialogue of the source material. The way this is done is seamless and shows a real understanding of and commitment to the original work, yet shows a desire to keep the film creative and innovative. The film not only marked further commercial and directorial success for Luhrmann but also helped further the careers of both Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. DiCaprio requires no introduction today and is a household name, whilst Danes found success recently in the award-winning TV series Homeland.

Romeo + Juliet feels very different to Strictly Ballroom in the manner in which it is directed and edited. Strictly Ballroom felt much more natural, with almost a documentary feel to it, whereas Romeo + Juliet feels a lot less natural and features lots of quick cuts. Both, however, use music prominently to build up atmosphere and this becomes a staple throughout all of Luhrmann’s work.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

The concluding chapter of Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Trilogy is the all-singing, all-dancing musical based on Paris’ famous cabaret. It stars Ewan McGregor as English writer Christian and his blossoming romance with the Cabaret’s star actress: Satine, portrayed by Nicole Kidman. Whereas Romeo + Juliet was, on the whole, rather depressing, Moulin Rouge! is far more energetic and exciting, symbolising the cabaret itself.

This pastiche is intentionally over-exaggerated by Luhrmann and also draws inspiration from Bohemian culture. The film deservedly received a Best Picture nomination at the 74th Academy Awards and became the first musical to do so for ten years.

The film, much like Romeo + Juliet, is a tale of forbidden love and therefore the theme of unexpected romance is prominent throughout all of the Red Curtain Trilogy. What makes Moulin Rouge! so captivating is the use of 20th century music adapted to suit the style of the film. Nirvana’s Smells like Teen Spirit and The Police’s Roxanne are both used to great effect in the film and create the party atmosphere that the Moulin Rouge is so famous for.

Moulin Rouge! was a success at the box office, grossing around $180 million from a budget of $52 million. It was the perfect finish to the Red Curtain Trilogy, which turned Baz Luhrmann from a small, Australian stage director to one of the most successful Australian directors of all time.

Australia (2008)

After the conclusion of the Red Curtain Trilogy, Luhrmann delved into the historical epic genre and created a nearly three-hour-long exploration into his home country during the Second World War. Australia focuses on the adventure of English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) and cattle drover, Drover (Hugh Jackman) as they attempt to drive 2,000 head of cattle across the unforgiving landscape of Australia.

The film was very popular amongst audiences and is the third highest grossing Australian film of all time, below Crocodile Dundee and Mad Max: Fury Road, grossing $211.3 million worldwide. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the casting really stands out in this dramatic epic.

Jackman and Kidman have great romantic chemistry and create a compelling and personal love story in front of a backdrop packed with historical events and moments. Luhrmann broke his typical mold with Australia, to some extent, but retained the motif of an unexpected romance, which can be found in all of his films.

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Finally, Luhrmann’s most recent project in cinema was the $105 million adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel of the same name. The plot is told from the point of view of American bachelor Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) and revolves around Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), an eccentric and charismatic billionaire who aims to reignite a past love with Carraway’s cousin, Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan). Luhrmann perfectly encapsulates the extravagance and atmosphere of the roaring twenties.

The film was widely praised, received two Oscar nominations and Fitzgerald’s granddaughter said that “Scott would be proud” of it. It’s Luhrmann’s highest grossing film and one which reunited DiCaprio with the director who helped further his acting career.

Again, the soundtrack was a standout feature of The Great Gatsby, with plenty of 21st century music used in the style of 20’s jazz. Luhrmann, for the fifth consecutive film also featured a couple with forbidden or unexpected romance and therefore this is definitely the most prominent recurring motif throughout Luhrmann’s films.

The film grossed $351 million at the box office and is therefore Luhrmann’s most profitable film. Three years have passed since The Great Gatsby was released and there is no project planned for the big screen by Luhrmann.

In the Future: The Get Down

Although there are no Luhrmann films in development, he is currently working on TV series The Get Down with writer Shawn Ryan. The Get Down focuses on New York City in the seventies and it’s progression from crime hotspot to the home of disco. Luhrmann can’t wait to reveal this latest project and it will give us, the fans of his work, something to chew on whilst we wait for his next movie. It will drop on Netflix on August 12.

What’s your favourite Baz Luhrmann film and why?