"Faraway Downs: Baz Luhrmann's Resurrection from the Abyss"

Hulu's miniseries "Faraway Downs" is Baz Luhrmann's expanded take on his 2008 film "Australia," featuring previously unused footage and a reworked ending. While some added material smooths over details and provides extra depth to supporting characters, the overall flaws of the film remain. The most significant deviation comes in the closing minutes, offering a better ending than the original. However, the miniseries fails to address criticisms of its portrayal of characters of color, particularly Aboriginal characters. The experience of watching "Faraway Downs" on TV highlights the thinness of the characters and their relationships, lacking intimacy and nuance. While Luhrmann's extravagance can work on TV, the ambitious scope of "Australia" loses some of its grandeur in the transition to a miniseries format.