Latest Updates

Public Enemies premiered last week in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Los Angeles, attended by Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Michael Mann.  General release is Wednesday.  Rex Reed liked it.

An interesting glimpse into Guardians of Ga'Hoole is revealed in this short interview with Zack Snyder at SciFiWire.  We don't know yet which character David is voicing, but we have an inkling of which ones he isn't. Ryan Kwanten revealed in a recent interview that he's voicing Kludd, and Jay Laga'aia's official CV at Mark Morrissey Associates lists him as Twilight.  (We can also assume David's not voicing Gylfie, the young female owl.  Barring large quantities of helium, that is.)

Speaking of Zack Snyder projects, rumors continue apace regarding the 300 sequel.  Zack Snyder and Frank Miller are starting to get serious about it.

Some of you may be new fans, visiting this page for the first time (welcome!).  One of the most frequently asked questions about David is "How tall is he, exactly?"  Below is a handy comparison chart that you can use as a guide.

B is for

Breakfast at the Roma Bar

Birthdays (DC turned 5 yesterday)

Blogs which spot David in the park rehearsing lines for Jerry Springer

Btranslations of the German dialog from the "Pope Joan" trailer...

Gerold/Wenham: This is Rome Johanna. Here, they get rid of people they don't like.
Voice: You're playing with fire Johanna.
Gerold: Every evening I will wait for you, right here. I don't want you as my lover. I want you as my wife.
Johanna: A life by your side would've pleased and fulfilled me. But this is my destiny.

Benefit gigs (from March's Sound Relief fundraiser in Sydney and Melbourne - thanks Miwa)

Blue-Eyed Boy (photo from the same session as the 2005 Sydney Morning Herald interview, by Lucas Allen - thanks again, Miwa)

Bated Breath, as we wait for Public Enemies (Spelling pet peeve: that's bated breath, not baited breath.  Baited breath means you've recently eaten worms):

(from the July issue of Empire magazine...scans of the whole article are available here.  Thanks Gonerill!)

Bestow: what tender, sentimental gift did David give the Jerry Springer chorus members?

Bygone days: remember this CFM news write-up of David's Q&A session at ORC 2007?  I sure don't, but it's nice to (re) read. (thanks Nenya!)

 Hark The Gerold Angels Sing

There's a new trailer for "Die Papstin" at bild.de.  Behind every great female Pope stands a hunky Frankish knight.  A hunky Frankish knight in a lake.

News of a possible upcoming project for David...  Icon Entertainment  has obtained worldwide sales rights  to Oranges and Sunshine, a drama starring Emily Watson, Hugo Weaving, and David Wenham.  They've been marketing the film at Cannes this past week.  Directed by Jim Loach, it tells the story of a courageous social worker who uncovered the forced migration of thousands of children from the United Kingdom to Australia.  Shooting is scheduled to begin in the fall.

The Merrick and Rosso website has been updated with two clips from David's appearance on the show....

Clip the First  David's explosively mullety directorial debut, "Wenham".  Followed closely by David's "damage control guy" debut.

Clip the Second  Joel McHale plays "Category 6", with appreciative laughter from David.

Here's an unusual image from patih, via Daisy Daily, originally from davidmathesonphotography.com.  It's an ad for a restaurant called Icebergs at Bondi Beach.  Sweet gorilla of Manila, those are some honkin' huge meatballs. 

Our next guest is a man who occasionally likes to put on a wig, dress up as a talk-show host, and entertain hundreds of theater-goers....

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

(You may recognize Ursula Yovich (at left) from Australia...she played Daisy, Nullah's mother)

After-party photos

Many more photos at Fotoglif and Zimbio, and you can watch a video clip from the performance at livenews.com.au.

Public Enemies will debut at the Los Angeles Film Festival, June 18 - 28.

Oh yes...We're out of complimentary breadsticks, but please enjoy this nice long Triple J interview.

Jerry Springer: The Photo

Jerry Springer: The Sound Bite

Jerry Springer The Opera Is A Landmark Work, Says David Wenham

Jerry Springer: The Reviews

Jerry Springer Opera Opens In Sydney

Cast In Controversy, Curtain Rises On Operatic Jerry Springer

Jerry Springer: The Opera Confined To Sydney

A Jerry Springer Songwriter Helps The Bawds Light Up

Jerry Springer: The Opera

Jerry Springer: The Oprah

Jerry Springer: The Osprey

As part of the Federal Stimulus bailout package, we've been promised some extra David goodies this week.  It's because I loaned out The Bank to some very poor credit risks.

For chronic Faramir/Eowyn Romanceus Interruptus sufferers, there's a new Pope Joan/Die Papstin photo gallery with therapeutic imagery.  It may help.  Ask your doctor if Gerold is right for you.

Here's some reading material you may enjoy: David Wenham on Jerry Springer, Jerry Springer: The Opera and Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!

And some watching material:  At the Sydney Opera House website, a behind the scenes look at rehearsals (click the video button), and another sneak preview from news.com.au

Zack Snyder Reveals 300 Sequel Details  Now, I kind of doubt David is eager to repeat the intensive physical training he underwent in 300, so who knows if he'd agree to do a sequel, even if Dilios were involved.  But who's to say Dilios didn't let himself go a little bit after Thermopylae?  War is hell on abs. 

A second Public Enemies trailer is out.

Next Week: Dessicated Coconut fits 30,000 swear words into a single update.

Quote of the Week

"Confessional television is such a bizarre phenomenon. It's like eating lollies; it tastes good but it's doing something slightly harmful to you."

-- David Wenham

Seven minute David interview on ROVE (with Rove McManus) at YouTube, broadcast date 3/29/09.

Field reporter meaningofhaste sent us this dispatch:  According to the March 30 Sunday Mail article "Hot Seat Q&A with Tim Ross of Merrick and Rosso", David is scheduled to be a guest on the next series of the "Merrick and Rosso" comedy show...

Q: You had some impressive guests in the first season.  Who are you lining up for the new series?

Tim: Myf Warhurst, Tom Williams, David Wenham and Ed Phillips are doing the show and we have them doing some very cool things for us which may surprise people.

The article goes on to discuss some of their new segments, such as drive-by prank calls and "cat spew twister".  (Now when I was growing up, we called it "hairball hopscotch").  No word on when David's episode will air, but we'll keep an eye out for it.

Nice and Sleazy  The Sydney Morning Herald assesses Jerry Springer: The Opera and reveals that to prepare for the role, David marinated himself in Springer episodes for three straight weeks.  (Yikes.  Isn't that what they did to Alex in A Clockwork Orange?)

On March 14, David was a presenter at Sound Relief, a concert to raise money for victims of the recent brushfires in southeast Australia.  The lineup included Coldplay, Kings of Leon, and Midnight Oil.  Reports the Australian, "...Actors David Wenham and Jack Thompson, representing the Australian film industry, said it was great to see everyone united."

Radio interview with John Stanley, in which is discussed Jerry Springer: The Opera, fatherhood, the Newtown Jets, and Mardi Gras.

Here's a couple of new pics from Public Enemies (thanks Minkey & Miwa!)  The first is by Michelle Martin.  Note the creatively slanty Batman-villain-lair camera angle:

The second, by a MySpace user named Glenn, shows David at right, among a pretty rough-looking gang of prisoners.  My friend's six-year-old daughter, who happened to pass through the room while I was posting this, studied this picture for a moment, then asked the following question:

"What happens if you're in jail, and you need to throw up?  Do they give you a bucket?"

I didn't have the heart to tell her that they probably didn't let John Dillinger's gang bring their special fuzzy blankies and Nuffle Bunnys to jail either.

"Eternity is two people and a ham." -- Dorothy Parker

Or to rephrase this in more kosher terms: Eternity is waiting for Public Enemies and Pope Joan to come out.

While we wait, have a gander at the Public Enemies trailer....

....and these pics of David with Barry Otto and John Polson (respectively) from In-I (thanks Nenya):

King of the High Sleaze  Were you wondering about the cuss-word count of Jerry Springer: The Opera?  This article explains much.

From the AAAK!  BLEH! PTOO! news bureau: If you live in Georgia, you might want to bite a little more carefully into your M&Ms for awhile.  Personally, I'm staunchly in the filet camp when it comes to chocolate, but I understand there may be merits to the bone-in option.  Owl pellets are mentioned as a possible cause, but it's not fully explained what owls would be doing inside a candy factory.

Sooo, I suppose it would be tacky to suggest a product tie-in for Guardians of Ga'Hoole.  Or to share my recipe for Owl Pellet Cookies.  (Hint: Rice Krispies are involved.)

Attention pillowcase-wearing horse-marrying midget transvestites!  Your prayers have been answered!

Because - yes! - David will be playing Jerry Springer in the Sydney Opera House production of Jerry Springer: The Opera from April 21 - 25:

Oh, come now, don't act so shocked.  It's not like David's previous characters haven't already dabbled in Satan worship, cross-dressing, white supremacy, and leather nappies.  This time, the tables are turned.  Not only turned, but picked up and thrown at a pair of conjoined midgets brawling with a meth-addicted hermaphrodite.

But let's curtail the chit-chat, and get to the goodies:

Sydney Opera House site, official description, and video (video also available on YouTube)

Springer opera: you have been warned  David shares a few thoughts about the opera

Coming up: David Wenham to play Jerry Springer April 21 at the blog The Fool and The Opera, with an excellent analysis

Photocall with castmates Kate Miller-Heidke and Ursula Yovich:

More from the AAP site

From Tito Media:

My God...it's full of stars!

(well, someone had to say it)

Seriously...that is one gnarly watermark pattern.  Every single electron has been tagged.  I think it may be one of those Magic Eye things.  Put your face up close to the screen.  Can you see a locomotive?  Or a tulip?

What's that? You see a glorious golden burst of sunlight?  And lotus-eyed seraphim?  And Abyssinian maids playing dulcimers and singing of Mount Abora?

Actually, that's just David. 

Pattern...permanently....burned....on optic nerve.....

Ability....to use...pronouns.......Gone.....

You'll have to click here  for the rest, because the web page, she canna take nae more.  She will explode.

From the Daily Telegraph, Feb. 25:

Songs of the talk-show devil
By Stephen Downie

musical
Jerry Springer: The Opera
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House;
April21-26, $89-$129, 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com

YOU might call it sympathy for the devil, but actor David Wenham thinks talk show phenomenon Jerry Springer is misunderstood.

Springer is host of the very trashy and much-reviled but well-known The Jerry Springer Show.

"He's a conundrum," Wenham says of Springer. "He admits his show is one of the worst things to have been put on air and that he does have some horrendous things on it but I think underneath he's an amazing person."

Wenham is set to play the title character in the over-the-top stage musical, Jerry Springer: The Opera. It's the only non-singing role in the production. It's an interesting choice for an actor best known for his movie roles, such as the evil station manager in Australia, a Spartan warrior in 300, as Faramir in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and for his time as Diver Dan in the TV series SeaChange.

"I'm attracted to characters that are really far removed from myself and Jerry is," he says.

While it might be hard to imagine Wenham looking much like Springer, with a pair of glasses, a windswept hairstyle and a nice suit, there is a certain resemblance.

At any rate, the Marrickville-born actor says he'll be "channelling" the talk show host.

Also playing parts in the musical are singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke, who is Baby Jane, an adult who enjoys wearing nappies.

"I enjoy s....ing my pants and getting my arse spanked and so does my lover," Miller-Heidke says. It's an outrageous role, to be sure, but one that sits well with Miller-Heidke, who gave up a career in opera to pursue a life in pop music.

"I could never envision myself doing a traditional opera at this point in my life," she says. "But this one has [swearing] in it and that pretty much sealed the deal for me."

Ursula Yovich plays Andrea, the lover of a character named Montel. London-based Australian Alison Jiear plays Shawntel, who dreams of being an exotic dancer.

Reprising his role as the Warm Up Man who eventually turns into the Prince Of Darkness will be West End star David Bedalla.

The musical, written by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee, was first staged in 2003 at the UK's National Theatre.

While many have played the title character, the man best known for starring as Springer is former Starsky & Hutch star David Soul.

The Australian production will be directed by Gale Edwards, who also directed the latest Australian revival of the Rocky Horror Show.

Destined to outrage conservative types, the show is packed with swearing (174 expletives in all, according to Lee) and also features tap-dancing Ku Klux Klansmen and a Jesus character who admits he is "just a little gay".

In the UK, thousands of Christians were outraged after the show was televised.

A non-outraged Christian

More Tropfest (thanks Gonerill!)

The Wentworth Courier has a wee diminutive picture of David and Kate at the Australian Premiere of In-i.

You know, something about this Jerry gig rings a bell.  I couldn't put my finger on it.  For a long time, I racked my brains.  Then I suddenly remembered an ancient TORC sigpic I made back in 2004:

Ah yes.....remember the ferocious debate between the Movie!Faramir and Book!Faramir factions?  I wonder if we'll see a similar debate between Opera!Jerry versus TalkShow!Jerry, only this time it will be over which version of Jerry isn't trashy enough?

Through VIP Looking Glass

Quirky Comedy Tops The Tropfest

At yesterday's Tropfest film festival, David served as head of the judging panel and presented an award to winner Genevieve Clay, for her short film Being My Brother.  Red-carpet photos (via WireImage/wenhamswans):

Rosie found a blog of test screening reviews for Michael Mann's Public Enemies.  It's interesting to David fans in a purely academic sense: no mention of Harry Pierpont, but it gives you the general flavor* of the film.

*Mmm...butterscotch.

The Vatican has set an official date for Father Damien's canonization: Oct. 11.  Pope Benedict XVI will preside over the ceremony, which will also induct four others into sainthood.  Full story here  (thank you, athelas63, for the link)

David has signed on with the voice cast of Zack Snyder's new animated project, Guardians of Ga'Hoole:

David Wenham is one of Zack Snyder's Guardians

Casting for Watchmen Director's Cartoon

He'll be playing, presumably, an owl.  But an evil, beak-twirling Snidely Whiplash owl, or a noble, knightly owl with one eye, massively pumped up median wing coverts, and long russet feathers?  Only time will tell.

Forgot to post this photo last week:

And finally, in today's Grove, my belated review of Children of Huang Shi.  The usual spoiler warnings apply, so don't click that button unless you .... NOO!  Oh dear God! The humanity!!

From yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald:

Lease of life
by Michael Idato

EVEN OFFICES COMMAND RED-CARPET OPENINGS THESE DAYS, COMPLETE WITH AFTER-PARTY. MICHAEL IDATO ATTENDS.

IT IS safe to say that after almost two decades of walking up and down red carpets for a living - a mathematical impossibility in itself given VIP is a mere slip of a thing and has just turned 34* - it should come as no surprise that we've been to the opening of everything. Opening of a window? We caught the breeze, baby. Opening of a wound? We were there, with sponge and forceps on standby. Opening of an office? Well, it's funny you should ask.

The ticket in question was the opening of the new Sydney office for BlackBerry corporate titan RIM, a somewhat disturbing acronym that actually stands for Research In Motion. ("What a relief," Plus One said through her Turkish interpreter when she called from the wilds of Offthebeatentrakistan. "I thought Mardi Gras had started early.")

As tickets go it was an easy lure for Sydney's red-carpet elite, partly because they'd go to the opening of a door if they thought there was a complimentary canape to be snaffled but largely because you only need to whisper the word BlackBerry and even the most humble will put his (or her) hand out.

David Wenham played master of ceremonies, fresh from the set of The Lord Of My Ringtone and a veritable symphony of Titian and Tommy Hilfiger. He seemed a curious choice, partly because he was so distractingly dashing it was difficult to keep focus on the shiny new BlackBerry office but largely because we didn't think mobile phone coverage in Middle Earth was actually very good.

The remainder of the guest list was somewhat more eclectic - Dr Cindy Pan, undoubtedly there to dispense occupational health tips for BlackBerry use; model-turned-modelling mavenista Charlotte Dawson, tutoring people on BlackBerry deportment; and Siobhan Fahey from Bananarama, which my close friend Lady Duckworth assures me is not an ice-cream flavour but a terribly well-known girl band from the British Isles.

While VIP talked music trends with Bananarama and Lady Duckworth, Best Friend seemed preoccupied with Dr Suave deSuave, a dashing Double Bay plastic surgeon who was only slightly more diverting than Mr Wenham himself. (Curiously, by the time we were at a post-function dinner, Best Friend was looking decidedly tauter. Good light? Maybe. But a little backstairs surgique de plaste cannot be ruled out.)

Perhaps the most disturbing discovery of the night is that even office openings have after-parties, so the social set were dispatched to Sydney's almost-ubiquitous Ivy Pool Club, where the fabulous congregate for the purpose of splashing and thrashing. There was chatter, there was hilarity. There was almost certainly something inappropriate going on in Cabana #3 and, unless social mores have changed since my generation, there are a number of young lassies who ought to be having a good, hard think about themselves this morning. Dress code? Tankini and clogs. Chance of getting out alive? 50/50. Just remember - it's women, VIPs and BlackBerrys first.

* Actual age may differ.

Ready for a plethora of photos (courtesy of Minkey)?  Here we go.  Please hold onto the handrail, and keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. 

By the way, I don't think they put enough watermarks on there.

Toasting with Adele Beachley

With Adele Beachley and Siobhan Fahey of Banarama

With Bianca Dye

With Tom McDonald and his wife

From today's Sydney Morning Herald:

Murdoch matriarch's big day in
by Andrew Hornery

Pssst . . .

Who would have guessed that David Wenham was a closet Bananarama fan? Certainly not one of the band's founders, Siobhan Fahey, who looked a little bewildered after being introduced to Wenham at Tuesday night's BlackBerry party. And how did the cool, calm and collected heart-throb react? Like a giggling schoolgirl on a first date. Sydney is set to host Fahey for at least another month, as the pop music legend, who went on to co-found Shakespear's Sister, is extending her holiday. The London-based 50-year-old has been something of a recluse of late, avoiding the spotlight despite her international fame. Fahey co-wrote many of Bananarama's major hits, including Cruel Summer, Robert DeNiro's Waiting, I Heard A Rumour, and Love In The First Degree, helping the band sell 40 million records. In 1987 she married Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. They had two sons, Sam and Django, before splitting up in 1996. She found success again with Shakespear's Sister, particularly in the ballad Stay. More recently she has been a DJ, dabbling in more off-beat projects and pursuing her musical endeavours.

From today's Daily Telegraph:

Wenham sticks up for Nicole

HE may play the villain in the outback melodrama but Australia actor David Wenham is a nice guy when it comes to his co-stars, sticking up for pal Nicole Kidman and the toxic reviews she has been bombarded with since the film premiered in November.

While the Sydneysider managed to escape a lot of attention associated with the Baz Luhrman flick, with the heat turning to Kidman and Hugh Jackman after international reviews slammed everything from production to performance, Wenham told Confidential the criticisms were "unfair''.

"She [Kidman] has received this barrage of nasty personal press and I just can't work out why,'' he said.

"That movie could never be considered a flop. It's no mega-hit but it's not a flop.''

And he's on to something, with figures showing Australia is the second highest-grossing Aussie movie with $310 million.

Schepisi in the wars, but hopeful  Not so good news today: An Italian financier has backed out at the last minute, leaving Last Man temporarily without funding.

Sigh.  Looks like we're going to have to have that bake sale after all, if we ever want to see this film.  I've been busy in the kitchen this morning, whipping up a little something to raise the funds needed to get this project underway.  It's an amusing cassata of goji-infused Riesling jelly and rare cacaos hauled by donkeys through the jungles of Venezuela, garnished with 1st century B.C. Roman strawberries excavated from an archaeological dig at Fiesole, draped with an 80-carat aquamarine pendant, and served in a candied Fendi handbag.  Price tag: $5,550,000.

That should cover it, right?  Assuming, of course, that the Sultan of Brunei will be attending our bake sale.

Plan B: hack off slices from a frozen Pillsbury cookie dough log, bung them in the oven for ten minutes, charge 50 cents apiece, and sell....oh, 12 or 15 million cookies.  That ought to do it.

Somehow, some way, this film must, and will, be made.  Have faith, dear friends.

*****

NOW PLAYING

300 in 1-D!

Above: a scene from the newly released trailer

THRILL to the realistic one-dimensional attack of thousands of ferocious Persian dots!

GASP as Dilios, seen edge-on, rallies the troops!

LIFELIKE colored blobs, squashed to a point, flicker in and out of existence!

The action practically JUMPS off the filament!  Six-packs become no-packs!  King Lineidas and the Spot-ans make their final, compressed stand at the Hot Segment of Thermopylae!

(Oh, you wanted to see this in 3D?  Sorry.  Everybody's tightening their belts these days.  Even the entertainment industry.)

And lastly, this article (contributed by Minkey) will provide medical reassurance should you be experiencing any unusual upper respiratory symptoms as a result of seeing Australia:  Australian flu: how to tell your lozzies from your Lemmies 

Australia Kritic's Korner (thanks to Neil for rounding up these quotes):

"Surprisingly, Brown’s character did not end up as the movie’s main antagonist. That task fell upon David Wenham, who portrayed Neil Fletcher, Lady Ashley’s station manager and later, business adversary. Recalling Richard Roxburgh’s over-the-top performance as the Duke of Monroth in ”MOULIN ROUGE!”, I had feared that Wenham would utilize the same approach. Thankfully, Wenham’s villainy turned out to be more nuanced and low key. He gave a perfect portrayal of an insecure man who not only harbored a deep resentment toward the more privileged types like Lady Ashley and King Carney, but was too racist to acknowledge his own half-white/half-Aborigine son, Nullah, who also happened to be tribal leader King George’s grandson."  -- Felaries65

"It’s Wenham that fascinates as the brooding, soft-spoken Fletcher, nemesis of Lady Ashley, a venomous presence who slithers through scenes, never talking directly to, or looking at, those he’s attempting, very effectively, to intimidate." -- Little Village Magazine

"David Wenham, another of my favorite actors, whose been in such movies as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Van Helsing," and "300," not to mention "Moulin Rouge," stars in this movie as our bad guy, Neil Fletcher…David Wenham is a great actor, and never before have I seen him in such a villainous and mean role, but he DEFINITELY pulled it off, and did well with it, making it a VERY convincing, and very MEAN bad guy, that many will fear and hate. He really gets the whole revenge and mean aspect down as well, and ties it all together very nicely. Plus, he's got the advantage of having worked together with Nicole Kidman already, since they were both in "Moulin Rouge," as well as having worked with Hugh Jackman already, since they both did "Van Helsing" together. So he was able to feel at home with two actors that he's already worked with. David Wenham delivers a performance that is convincing, believable and realistic, and makes it just an overall AWESOME bad guy/villain. He was DEFINITELY ANOTHER great casting choice for this movie."  -- Movieweb

"The conflicts in this film arise out of direct competition, excessive greed, an a policy designed specifically to breed the black out of the aboriginal population. Fletcher is portrayed as a heartless fiend who always appears accompanied by minor chords that inform the viewer that he is a man who cannot be trusted. His blind ambition gains him absolute control of Carney's properties but he is not satisfied with what he has. He's cruel, meanspirited and violent. The film portrays him as something of a demonic figure who possesses no human qualities until the very end when everything goes soft and even his character is slightly redeemed. It's all in a simple facial expression but it proves that he is capable of exhibiting actual emotion regarding a tremendous personal loss.
… David Wenham has a sinister look in his eye for the duration of the film. He sells his character's essential corruption through gestures and movements. There isn't a single moment until the very end when the audience isn't aware of just how we are supposed to read this particular character."  -- Cosmic Film Trigger

"The antagonist, Neil Fletcher, was brilliantly portrayed as well, by Sydney native David Wenham.  Fletcher, a convincingly ruthless character for which one finds no sympathy, is remarkably brutal and seemingly without conscience. His portrayal also requires the question of whether there might have been more to his motivations than what was presented by the film."  -- The Navigator


"David Wenham (who is usually good) was Fletcher - the most villainous villain in all of Villians-ville with a degree in Villainy from the University of Villains (sorry Black Adder)."  -- Paula Hewitt

DISCUSSION QUESTION

Who is more evil: Neil Fletcher or Darth Vader?

Oo!  So close, but I think we have to give this one to Neil.

NEXT WEEK:  Neil Fletcher goes head to head with Mr. Potter from It's A Wonderful Life.  "Every time a bell rings, a fly loses its wings."

Remember how, six days ago, we mentioned that David and his partner, Kate, were expecting their second child?

Well, it turns out his new daughter, Millie, already arrived a couple of weeks ago:

David Wenham's partner Kate Agnew gave birth to Eliza Jane

I wrestled with my conscience for a little while before linking to this article: the headline is confusing, the photo is an obviously sneaked paparazzi shot.  Eventually I maneuvered my conscience into a half-nelson, did a double-leg takedown, and won by a fall.  It's a major, wonderful life event, and congratulations are in order (from a safe and respectful distance, of course...not from behind a restaurant shrubbery)

And now, let's all leave David the heck alone and let him enjoy his family.

I really don't know what possessed me to write this mildly spicy Australia fanfic.

Neil Fletcher: Crepuscular Land Pirate

Poor Neil:  he's just a gentle, misunderstood soul, trapped in a world he never made.

(Not.)

More Australia premiere pics:

In all of the hubbub and tumult over Australia, this little news item nearly went unnoticed: 

(Nov. 28 Herald Sun)

(Nov. 28 Daily Telegraph)

Wow!  Very, very exciting news.  Here's hoping the new addition arrives safely.  (Thanks to Minkey for the update).

Australia came in at 5th place in last weekend's box office, behind Four Christmases, Bolt, some teenage vampire flick, and James Bond.  So, a respectable opening, though not boffo.  Hopefully, word of mouth will continue to lure people in to the theaters.

On the bright side, it did better than Beverly Hills Chihuahua. 

Over in today's Grove, I review Australia and ramble feverishly about the vile, vicious, varmint known as Neil Fletcher (and his venomous veal vendetta).  Warning: major plot spoilers.

Red carpet and press conference video footage of David, courtesy of Nenya and Miwa:

Australia red carpet interview with David Wenham

Australia: the stars  (press conference)

Australia's epic premiere

Stars brave rain for Australia premiere

Baz Luhrmann's "Australia" World Premiere in Sydney

and a link to a super-duper page of

Australia Trailer and Movie Clips

Australia premiere pics are here, in quantities so large they boggle the mind.  Posting them all here would be like trying to drink from a firehose.  Here's a small, representative sample.  You can see more at Getty Images, Wire Image, Just Jared, and JAMD.com.  (thank you to Nenya, bellis, and miwa for rounding these up)

A job well done!!

You have no doubt already applied your keen, Sherlock Holmes-like powers of deduction to the photo with the Sydney Opera House in the background, and surmised that David was not at the Bowen premiere.  Right again, my dear Watson! He attended the red-carpet gala in Sydney with Baz Luhrmann, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and an invited guest list of over 3,000.

At the press conference beforehand, David had a few words to say about his character:

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are not the only Aussie acting icons in Luhrmann's epic Australia. Yesterday David Wenham said he had a hard time deciding to play the villain, a racist and scheming station manager, Neil Fletcher. "Baz convinced me to come over to the dark side," Wenham said at the press conference before hinting that his Machiavellian character was based on a real person, encountered by Luhrmann on an early trip to scout for scenes. "In the trip they did to the outback they met a character who was very similar to the character I play in the film," Wenham said before he was silenced by protests from Luhrmann.

Fletcher does sound like rather an unpleasant fellow, based on the description of his character in this article (warning: major plot spoiler)

For previous news and updates, visit our News Archives