There's Magic in Moulin Rouge

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2001)

Earlier this year, two friends of mine and I decided to go see a movie. Seeing as we already saw the other big blockbusters Pearl Harbor and The Mummy 2 (like everyone else in the world), we thought we'd take our chances seeing Moulin Rouge. After reading a few negative articles about it beforehand, as I was buying my ticket and walking into the theater, I thought this movie was going to be a complete waste of my time and money... I have never been so wrong. Director Baz Luhrmann has the gift of taking his audience into a world we could never imagine. At the begining there are so many twist and turns and suprises, you feel as if your head is about to explode, but he then slows it down to a pace where the audience is able to "act" like they are calm, but their adrenaline is still vastly going. Uniquely, Luhrmann takes 19th century pop songs as the musical basis, remixes from the Beetles, Elton John, David Bowie, and Madonna's "Like a Virgin" are just a few. Nicole Kidman gives a beautiful performance as the heroine Satine. Her dancing, singing, acting, all lovely combined; I could not think of anyone better for the role. The real surprise, however, came at the point where Ewan McGregor (know to many as "that one dude in Star Wars"), began to burst into song. His voice resembles that of a mix between Elton John and Sting (sorry if you disagree). His acting performance shines through and through in each scene, and during the "Elephant Love Melody", any woman would wish it was her up on the screen and Nicole out of the picture. But then one comes back to reality and realizes that unfortunately, this is only a movie. One with dazzling special effects, beautiful costumes, amazing scenery, breathtaking performances, and soulful singing. If Moulin Rouge does not win an Oscar in 2002 for best picture as well as in many other categories, I will not only be surprised, but disappointed in the Academy that they do not know an Awardwinning movie when they see one.