I have been staring at my computer screen for at least an hour now. I have the soundtrack of the film playing quite loud and I cannot think of a lead in to tell you how utterly surprised and moved I was in seeing this film. So, how do I open this? If you want to go and see a film that will feed your eyes as well as renew your faith in musicals, this would be it. Or, when was the last time you allowed yourself to be seduced by a film? Funny, sexy, bawdy, an absolute feast for the eyes as well as the ears. Nothing I can say, nothing you will read about this film can, nor will, prepare you for the delirious thrill that is Moulin Rouge. This is all, of course, in my humble opinion …
At the heart of it Moulin Rouge is a love story. In turn of the century Paris, an aspiring poet Christian (Ewan McGregor from The Phantom Menace) arrives in the bohemian Montmartre, known for the famous Moulin Rouge (a nightclub, a dancehall, and a bordello), and run by Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent from Topsy-Turvy). Looking to be inspire and write to his heart’s content.
A
freakish accident opens him up to a friendship with painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo from Spawn, Pest), eventually leading Christian into a writing gig of "Spectacular Spectacular", a play to be performed at the Moulin Rouge. The star of the play? Paris’ most famous courtesan, Satine (Nicole Kidman from Eyes Wide Shut, Days of Thunder, Dead Calm).
And the love story - Christian and Satine, through a series of mishaps, end up falling in love only to have their happiness thwarted by The Duke of Worcester (played wonderfully by Richard Roxburgh from Mission: Impossible 2), who is not only financially supporting this new play but also funding the building of a theatre at Moulin Rouge. So, is he doing all of this out of the kindness of his heart or maybe because he is a true theatre patron? Oh no neither, he has a much better reason, his participation in this funding is solely conditional on his exclusive access to Satine.
Ewan McGregor manages to give a grounded performance surrounding a very likable character for which all of the films’ antics revolve. And, something you might not have known, that boy can really sing. Yes, he played an Iggy Pop wanna-be rock star in Velvet Goldmine but, considering the range of styles brought forth here, I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Nicole Kidman does an equally wonderful job as the diva who wants to be a serious actress, torn between love and all the spoils that can come with money.
Baz Luhrmann directed and, as in his earlier film Strictly Ballroom, the lovers in Moulin Rouge are more realistic characters than their surrounding supports. Possibly allowing for the film to be a bit more realistic in the middle of all of the can-can fantasy.
Yeah, I am one of those freaky people that loved What Dreams May Come, both for the love story (it’s a powerful thing to see something that dark and deep and then think to yourself "hell yes I would do that for my lover, no questions") and for the colors, the visions that were put before my eyes. I am in no way comparing Moulin Rouge to What Dreams May Come but what I am saying is that, for me, when you get a film that has a good story (whether it is completely developed to your satisfaction or not) and then you add to it so many visions, colors, music, incredible sets, etc. that the whole film, in the end, becomes complete. For all the faults you may or may not have seen yourself, in the end it all comes together enough so that you have cried, cheered, laughed, and even more so realized that you have been moved more than a film recently has moved you - that is why I keep coming back to the movies. On that one chance that I will be amazed, dazzled even, but ultimately … moved.
So, can a film make your heart sing? If you are willing to allow yourself to be seduced for a little over two hours and it’s been awhile since your eyes last feasted to your heart’s content, take a chance and watch Moulin Rouge. From the very beginning as Christian recalls the events of the film, the signature song introducing us to the Paris of 1900, it’s broken-hearted lyrics cascading off of the screen, quietly leading us into the story of a "strange, enchanted, lonely boy, who wandered very far, who discovered that the greatest thing, was just to love, and be loved in return," then this is most definitely the film for you.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1999 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, Richard Attenborough
Passion - filled poet falls for a breathtaking courtesan in this exotic musical love story ... more
from the unique and spellbinding imagination of visionary director Baz Luhrmann. Stunning performances from stars Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor fuel this movin...
Watching Baz Luhrmann's award-winningMoulin Rougeis a lot like falling in love. It is ... more
total immersion cinema and while you're experiencing it ("watching" is too passive a word) you can't imagine that cinema could be for anything else. In the harsh, obj...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Watching Baz Luhrmann's award-winningMoulin Rougeis a lot like falling in love. It is ... more
total immersion cinema and while you're experiencing it ("watching" is too passive a word) you can't imagine that cinema could be for anything else. In the harsh, obj...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
![Moulin Rouge! [Special Edition] (2001)-CD](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/97375302.jpg "Moulin Rouge! [Special Edition] (2001)-CD")
![Moulin Rouge -- Two-Disc Set [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78237871.jpg "Moulin Rouge -- Two-Disc Set [DVD] [2001]")
Sep 7th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
