All Need is Love... da...da

Rating: 9/10 (15 June 2001)

"Moulin Rouge" is not really a movie in the perfunctory sense, rather it is an experience, and a spectacle. "Moulin Rouge" is visually stunning in it's cinematography, staging, and costuming. The musical is reborn. The dialogue and fusion of contemporary song lyrics are seamless-- truly inspired. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor are simply fabulous. The setting is 1899 at the Moulin Rouge in the "Bohemian Revolution" that virtues Truth, Beauty, Freedom... and most of all Love. The introduction of young writer Christian (McGregor)-- Love's champion though he has never been in love-- drew me in. The woman who will be the love of Christian's life, Satine (Kidman), is a beautiful and isolated courtesan, who professes that she is not allowed to love. What a wonderful setting for classic tragedy, and great music along the way. The first few minutes of MR is disorienting, until the realization: "This is a musical. Deal with it." The lyrical element is like a genetic code to this movie. The characters come alive through their singing. McGregor is believable as the writer, Christian, experiencing love for the first time. Kidman as Satine balances the tragedy and humor with grace and style. Both are great singers. John Leguizamo as Toulouse Lautrec is surprising as the story's muse. Great work here. The movie must get points for having the audacity of doing a musical number of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" performed entirely by dudes. See the movie...