Save your money for something really interesting

Rating: Null/10 (30 July 2001)

I have recently seen this movie and was NOT impressed. I'm not a big fan of Nicole Kidman to begin with--in fact the only movie she's done that I enjoyed was To Die For and her upcoming The Others looks rather promising--save those two, no dice. The movie is an intense jumble of emotions that leaves the viewer with a headache. There are many shots when the effect they are going for reminds one of running with a video camera--I paid good money for a bunch of blurry shots? My six-year-old could create the same effect. I was rather excited about the fact that it is a musical but once the music starts, it's very disappointing. "Musical" renditions of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Madonna's "Like A Virgin" are not what I go to see in a musical. I'm looking for the originality of Rodgers and Hammerstein or other great musical writers, not 20th century songs plopped in 1900.
The only saving grace of this movie was Ewan McGregor. His acting was superb in comparison to Nicole Kidman's boring courtesan character. John Leguizamo's character was also entertaining at rare times. This is the first movie I have ever had to fight to stay awake for. My advice: skip it or wait for it to come out in a discount theatre. Watching grass grow is more entertaining than this film--and I simply ADORE musicals! This one's a disgrace.