Is Australia’s 2014 Oscars Nominations a clear case of David vs Goliath? Feature films, “The Great Gatsby” and “The Rocket,” go head to head in the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards nominations announced last Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013.

The two films, though described as world’s apart in many spectrum, both dominated the third Aussie Oscars nominations.

Here are the top things you might want to know about Aussie Oscars top nominees - - "The Great Gatsby" and "The Rocket"

1. Fact Sheet
The “Great Gatsby” is a 2013 romantic drama film based on the 1925 novel of the same title written by “F. Scott Fitzgerald. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the film is hailed as one of the most popular films in Australia this year, with its production held mostly Down Under.

The film stars Hollywood’s top celebrity, Leonardo DiCaprio joined by few Australian actors, including Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Debicki, among others. “Great Gatsby” also features Isla Fisher, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Nick Tate and more. See full cast here.

“The Rocket” is a 2013 Australian drama film, both written and directed by Kim Mordaunt. The production of the low-budgeted film took place in Laos while post-production was conducted Down Under. The film focused on the “calamity-filled journey” of a boy who is known in his community as one who brings bad luck to those around him. Yet he leads his family and two friends in a journey to Laos to find a new home. He proved everyone wrong as he changed his luck when he entered a festival - - the Rocket Festival - - and won.

The film stars local and unfamiliar faces. These include Sitthiphon Disamoe, Loungnam Kaosainam, Thep Phongam, Bunsri Yindi, Sumrit Warin, Alice Keohavon, among others. See full cast here.

2. Box Office
It should be interesting to note that the films’ budget is one clear representation of the David and Goliath in the race.

The “Great Gatsby” has been hailed as one of the greatest films at this day and age for the colorful, cinematic effect of its production. From the stars’ costume design to the production set, the film producers made sure that it achieved the images as pictured in the novel. It should not come as a surprise however, if the film’s budget is estimated at hundred times over than “The Rocket.”

Luhrmann’s adaptation was a box office hit that it earned an astounding US $105-M in its opening weekend.

“The Rocket” on the other hand gives you a whole different perspective. Described by multiple news outlets as “low-budgeted film, the project did not stop Mordaunt from flying overseas to get his picture done. An interesting trivia about “The Rocket” is that some of the members of the film crew came in their own accord, some even shared some expenses out of their own pockets during their production in Laos.

Even at the box office, Mordaunt’s film is David to Luhrmann’s Goliath. “The Rocket” only earned an estimated AUD 2,000,000 (US $1.8-M), according to IMDB. The feature film’s earnings in its opening weekend is estimated only one percent of the total amount earned by the Great Gatsby on its first week upon release.

3. The Actors
The “Great Gatsby” has Hollywood legendary hunk (of his time) Leonardo DiCaprio as its lead star. He came into the picture as big as most iconic and popular cruise ship in the world as the Titanic. Joining him in the film were multi-nominated actors and actresses, including Australia’s very own, Joel Edgerton and Elizabeth Debicki, and other big stars who already appeared in other big films including, Isla Fisher, Carey Mulligan, Nick Tate and more.

“The Rocket” for its part stars local actors, and they were mostly non-professional performers. The stars included Sitthiphon Disamoe, Loungnam Kaosainam, Thep Phongam, Bunsri Yindi, Sumrit Warin, Alice Keohavon - - most of whom learned acting as they came on the production set.

4. Nominations received
Despite the big differences between the “Great Gatsby” and “The Rocket,” the two went head to head in the third AACTA 2014.

The “Great Gatsby” earned 14 nods while “The Rocket” nabbed 12 at the Aussie Oscars nominations announced early this week. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the two films are battling against each other at the best film category.

Click here to see the complete list of nominees at the 2014 AACTA awards, the Aussie Oscars awards.

Watch the videos below and take a sneak peek of the Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby,” and Kim Mordaunt’s “The Rocket.”

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"The Great Gatsby" - - Credit: YouTube/ MOVIES Coming Soon

"The Rocket" - - Credit: YouTube/Screen Australia

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