It’s a good thing the two leads, Kelly Macdonald as Georgie, the heroine of the piece, and Garrett Hedlund as Lu Fox, the mysterious stranger, have innate chemistry together as the script is quite opaque during the first act. It initially suffers from a lack of background information to connect the players with their actions.

By the time the elements that drive the characters’ actions become known, it has missed the chance to spike your interest and draw you in emotionally. Trying to soften up the harsher elements in the book to make it more accessible has led to a rather indifferent cinematic experience.

Director Phillip Noyce attempted to bring the novel to the big screen in 2009 but stated he just couldn’t capture the lyrical flow of the text. Try as they might, it appears that director Gregor Jordan and writers Jack Thorne have come up short in that respect as well. It is very pretty to look at but ultimately leaves you wanting more.

Rob Hudson
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One hazy night she sees the lone figure of Lu Fox (Garret Hedlund) appear in the mists of the bay. A long time ago he was a dirt musician, but now he survives as a poacher – an unwise choice given Jim’s iron-grip on the local fishing trade.

Georgie is instantly drawn to Lu, and the pair begin an intense affair. What Georgie doesn’t realise is that the Foxes and the Buckridges have a long, murky history.

Fearing Jim’s fury and haunted by his tragic past, Lu flees north to Coronation Island, a place dear to Georgie’s heart. Discovering Lu has fled, Georgie decides to follow him north with the unlikely help of Jim.

Based on the critically acclaimed novel by iconic Australian writer Tim Winton, Dirt Music is a tale of love and redemption, set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Australian West.

Dirt Music will be coming soon to Australian cinemas in 2020!
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