Title: The Water Diviner
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Russell Crowe
Starring: Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

What It Is: Based on a true story we follow Connor, an Australian man who lost his three sons in the Battle of Gallipoli a year long campaign in World War I between the then Ottoman Empire and the British Army. In this case it was Turkish forces against the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC). Upon arriving in Turkey to try to find his sons remains Connor is accosted to stay at an establishment by a tricky little boy. It is here he meets Ayshe the boys mother, who manages the hotel and also lost her husband in the battle. As Connor gets closer to finding his boys people and secrets will both be uncovered. Will he find his boys? What will he discover about himself, and the strange land he is now in.

What We Think: Russell Crowe takes the helm for his time, and it’s a mixed bag on the result. Sure some of his work is great, but I think a lot of it is Australias natural beauty. One point I’d like to make is that Jai Courtney wasn’t awful! This in and of itself is an absolute miracle. Kurylenko is charming and you get the sense that she trust in Crowe as a director. Crowe saves his own movie with his own performance. He’s brillant as a man on a mission. Likewise Yilmaz Ergodan is great as Major Hasan, I’d even go so far as to say he steals the show.

Our Grade: B-, It can sometimes venture into manipulation. but overall it is an interesting film that tells a relatively unknown story. There aren’t enough World War I films as it is, let alone ones from the Ottoman or Australian perspective. Most look at France and Germany (like All Quiet on the Western Front) and that’s okay but this is quite refreshing. This hits theaters today so hit this one up before next week when Marvel’s super team crushes everyone and everything. Shout out to all you Aussies out there!  

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