paulclaassen Oh, how delightful! I absolutely love this movie! It is so genuine and unpretentious. Good, solid storytelling and acting, and wonderfully funny. This is pure magic. This was the film time I saw Hugh Jackman, and I've been hooked since then...on this movie AND on Hugh Jackman! This remains one of my favorite Hugh Jackman films and also one of my favorite movies. Absolutely bloody fantastic, mate!

cory-114 Some of the best qualities of Australian film-making are demonstrated in this great film. Absolutely tremendous acting, a touching and tender sense of humor, and an understated but deep feeling. Watching this film I get happy and emotionally moved at the same time. The actors meet the demands of the many closeup shots with complete success. Every facial expression and timing of the gestures and words is perfect. I have enjoyed Claudia Karvan in other films and in her TV work but I had no idea of how great an actress she really is. Having lived in the desert outback (Alice Springs) for a number of years I also really appreciate the depiction of the land. It is not easy to conceive of how beautiful the outback is unless you have been there. This film conveys that beauty very well. This movie is a real treat.

ozq A wonderful romantic comedy movie, full of satire and unresolved emotions. If you've ever spent a decent amount of time in the outback of Australia where the bull dust covers everything and the road trains take 5 blocks to park, then you'll understand the humour in this movie. If you've never even seen Australia then you'll probably have a hard time keeping up, and you may not find it humorous at all, as most of the humour is very outback Aussie (as opposed to city Aussie - there's a difference, ya know) - although British viewers may enjoy the humour as well.Hugh Jackman plays a believable (and gorgeous) truckie in Outback Oz somewhere out the back of Woop Woop. They're not to specific as to the exact whereabouts of the setting. Claudia Karvan as Ruby is a believable sheila who happens to fly planes, as well as own the name Hugh's character put on his book.If you really want to see what the Aussie Outback is like, make sure you take note of all the story background including the characters. The storyline isn't too realistic, but I've seen a lot of those road trains and bull dust (the red stuff flying everywhere). Lots of fun for Romantic Aussies :))))

Steve Baker The acronym K.I.S.S., meaning Keep It Simple Stupid came to my challenged mind while I watched Paperback Hero, the latest Aussie film on show.And this isn't a criticism of the film. Paperback Hero is simple. It's a pleasurable comedy romance which stars Aussie would be pin up Hugh Jackman and the always loveable Claudia Karvan. It is kept simple, especially the style of acting, and that's its charm.The plot isn't complicated by anything much more complicated than a smiling dog. Paperback Hero is sweet and unaffected just as films should be, every now and then.Jack in Paperback Hero has written a women's novel but being a tough truckie doesn't want to put his name to the book. He uses his old mate Ruby Vales name (Claudia Karvan) but doesn't tell her.Australian bush comedies often end up being somewhat embarrassing lampoonings of our precious heritage. Paperback Hero has stock bush pub characters but somehow manages to avoid making them seem ridiculous even if the film is a comedy.A lightness of touch from new director Antony Bowman allows Paperback Hero to exhibit our more strident rural identities without causing a cringe. He should have a good handle on the plot though. He apparently wrote the novel upon which the film is based.The language is often colourful but is uttered in the natural way we know is correct. The plot does get a bit fuzzy, especially with regards to Ziggy, but that's more than compensated for by big natural smiles from two very appealing lead actors.