The Water Diviner

"Marks an ambitious if emotionally manipulative directing debut for Russell Crowe."

"A postcard war melodrama illuminated by beautiful colours and sunshine-through-leaves lighting."

"The romanticism and sentiment take hold; repetitions and flashbacks crowd in, along with slow-motion camera effects that no-one really needs."

"The movie's not without its problems, but it's hard to fault its reverent determination to look beyond the jingoism of the Anzac Legend, to make salient points about reconciliation."

"Russell Crowe taps a deep well of symbolism, cultural empathy and good old-fashioned storytelling."

"An awkward beast, one that's too large and unwieldy for intimate drama, yet too small for the enormous frame that it hopes to fill."