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| 29 September 2004 | Rush Is Koala Food
Geoffrey joins the cast of Eucalyptus |
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After playing a ghostly pirate and one of the world's great comedians, Geoffrey Rush is on something of a roll. Australia's most in-demand character actor (sorry, Paul Hogan) is now returning to his native shores, to star opposite fellow antipodean Russell Crowe in the most Australian film since Rolf Harris starred in Toby And The Koala Bear.
Based on a book by Murray Bail, the plot concerns a man named Holland (Rush), a widower who lives on a farm in New South Wales. He has a daughter, Ellen, an extraordinarily beautiful girl, whose hand in marriage he offers to anyone who can correctly name all the many hundreds of varieties of eucalyptus growing on his estate. A eucalyptus scholar named Roy Cave seems to have the best chance – but meanwhile Ellen is secretly meeting with a charming stranger (Crowe), who tells her enchanting stories about each of the trees.
It's described as a modern-day fable, and certainly the storyline suggests no shred of realism, but that's no bad thing. Rush and Crowe haven't appeared together on the big screen before, and it will be interesting to see whether the whole thing doesn't end up up a gum tree (that's a bad thing to happen in Australia, folks).
Meanwhile, the search continues for the perfect Ellen. Bryce Dallas Howard (The Village) was in consideration early on, but apparently the producers want an unknown Australian actress instead. Neighbours stars, this could be your chance! Although you'll have to convince them you fit the description "actor". |
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