The Water Diviner review: Russell Crowe's directorial debut flounders in sentimentality

By Paul Byrnes
Updated December 22 2014 - 5:23pm, first published 4:02pm
Joshua Connor (Russel Crowe) and Orhan (Dylan Georgiades) in a scene from The Water Diviner.
Joshua Connor (Russel Crowe) and Orhan (Dylan Georgiades) in a scene from The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe drifts from grief to sentiment and romanticism. Photo: Supplied
Russell Crowe drifts from grief to sentiment and romanticism. Photo: Supplied
Russell Crowe shares a moment with  Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) in  The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe shares a moment with Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) in The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe and Art (Ryan Corr) in a movie that started out well.
Russell Crowe and Art (Ryan Corr) in a movie that started out well.
Joshua Connor (Russel Crowe) and Orhan (Dylan Georgiades) in a scene from The Water Diviner.
Joshua Connor (Russel Crowe) and Orhan (Dylan Georgiades) in a scene from The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe drifts from grief to sentiment and romanticism. Photo: Supplied
Russell Crowe drifts from grief to sentiment and romanticism. Photo: Supplied
Russell Crowe shares a moment with  Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) in  The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe shares a moment with Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) in The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe and Art (Ryan Corr) in a movie that started out well.
Russell Crowe and Art (Ryan Corr) in a movie that started out well.
Joshua Connor (Russel Crowe) and Orhan (Dylan Georgiades) in a scene from The Water Diviner.
Joshua Connor (Russel Crowe) and Orhan (Dylan Georgiades) in a scene from The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe drifts from grief to sentiment and romanticism. Photo: Supplied
Russell Crowe drifts from grief to sentiment and romanticism. Photo: Supplied
Russell Crowe shares a moment with  Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) in  The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe shares a moment with Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) in The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe and Art (Ryan Corr) in a movie that started out well.
Russell Crowe and Art (Ryan Corr) in a movie that started out well.
Joshua Connor (Russel Crowe) and Orhan (Dylan Georgiades) in a scene from The Water Diviner.
Joshua Connor (Russel Crowe) and Orhan (Dylan Georgiades) in a scene from The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe drifts from grief to sentiment and romanticism. Photo: Supplied
Russell Crowe drifts from grief to sentiment and romanticism. Photo: Supplied
Russell Crowe shares a moment with  Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) in  The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe shares a moment with Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) in The Water Diviner.
Russell Crowe and Art (Ryan Corr) in a movie that started out well.
Russell Crowe and Art (Ryan Corr) in a movie that started out well.

THE WATER DIVINER