Once Upon a Time in the West (DVD)

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) starring Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards. Directed by Sergio Leone. The widow McBain (Cardinale) holds the title to land the railroad wants, and she faces the murderous outlaw Frank (Fonda), who would just as soon take it away from her. "Harmonica" (Bronson) becomes her protector, for reasons which are not at first clear. The movie's length, at two hours, 45 minutes, works against it; but it ultimately has a satisfying climax. Grade: B

Australia (DVD)

Australia (2008) starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman. Kidman sports the most unflattering hair style I've ever seen her wear in this would-be epic Western set in 1939 in (where else) Australia. She plays Lady Sarah Ashley, who inherits a cattle ranch when her husband, Lord Ashley, is killed. It falls to her and the Drover (Jackman) to drive the ranch's entire herd across the outback and onto a ship in Darwin, where the cattle will feed the troops in World War II. That much action alone would be enough to make an entire movie, but this movie is just at the halfway point when the cattle arrive in Darwin. There's still an hour and a half to go, but luckily the movie becomes much more entertaining in the second half. It's mostly about Lady Ashley's efforts to adopt a half-caste aboriginal boy, mixed in with the Japanese bombing of Darwin, which ushered Australia into World War II. First half: D. Second half: B. Grade: C