MOVIE REVIEW: Oscar and Lucinda

Oscar and Lucinda - 3 STARS

Production companies in the film industry have found great success in rebooting and reimagining classic films over the years, with certain titles like Cleopatra having been remade on numerous occasions. When it comes to masterpieces that are deserving of a remake, the original film must have been popular, and a new version needs to offer a sense of nostalgia for viewers. There are a few gems out there that could undergo this treatment, with Oscar and Lucinda perhaps being a strong option to suit modern audiences.

Lesson #1: Australian Cinema is Underrated

Oscar and Lucinda was a hugely popular film in Australia at the time of its release in 1997, earning just shy of $1.7 million at the time. It faired best there because it was set in the country and was produced by Film Finance Corporation Australia. There were also several Australians involved in the project including director Gillian Armstrong and leading lady Cate Blanchett.

It made another $3 million around the world but was a niche production that didn’t garner global attention at the time. However, some of its themes would arguably be better received by today’s modern audiences, meaning that it is the ideal candidate for a reboot. Aside from it being a classic romantic drama, one of the main themes of Oscar and Lucinda was gambling. Ralph Fiennes' and Blanchett’s characters form a bond over playing card games, and the plot of the film is to do with the two betting on the success of a delivery of a glass church.

At the time of release, gambling games were nowhere near as well-known as they are now. Nowadays, though, we’re seeing plenty of land-based and online casinos offering all types of games. As a result, online gambling in Australia, Europe, USA and other big markets is getting more and more popular. It is safe to say that more people know the rules of the card games featured in the films now and would have a better chance of understanding the motives of the characters.

Lesson #2: Perfect for a Reboot

Reboots can sometimes be flops, but often they are major money-spinners for production companies. It all comes down to identifying a film that could be suited to contemporary audiences. Oscar and Lucinda fits that bill because the themes it used are now mainstream. Its popularity in Australia would mean that people in the country are likely to watch a remake, and it may also be a better time to market it to audiences around the world.

Since the turn of the millennium, there have been numerous remakes that have gone on to massively outdo the originals upon which they were based. One of the most notable offerings was Ocean’s Eleven in 2001, which came out at the perfect time to capitalize on the growing online gambling industry of the early 2000s. It made more than $450 million worldwide and inspired other filmmakers to follow suit. Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011 and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes in 2014 made $470 million and $710 million respectively, while 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, 2019’s Aladdin, and 2019’s The Lion King all smashed past the $1 billion mark at the global box office.

Lesson #3: Contender to Become Mainstream

It’s not just the film industry that has found success from remaking classic offerings from the past. Indeed, every other sector of the entertainment industry follows this model. For example, there are numerous television series that are now being made based on old films and books. Amazon is making its own Lord of the Rings series centered on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, while HBO’s Westworld and FX’s Fargo have both been incredibly popular as well.

In gaming, iconic titles from days gone by are regularly brought back into the mainstream for modern audiences. For example, long-term household favorites like Tetris and Monopoly are still going strong in today’s gaming world thanks to digitalized mobile reboots of them.

The Australian film industry has produced a few great films over the years, with Oscar and Lucinda being one of the strongest. However, it may not have earned the plaudits it deserved as the time of its release. With its themes being popular among today’s audiences, it could be the ideal time for a reboot