Wobbly start but developed tremendous force later

Rating: 9/10 (8 October 2001)

This strange film, apparently a film within a film, started off rather eccentricly and at various times included literally a singing man in the moon, a green angel with wings and people flying a la superman. Despite being set in 1899-1900, it included music from such "19th" century songwriters as Elton John, Madonna, and Paul McCartney, and bizarrely even parts of The Sound of Music. Supposedly a lot of this was composed spontaneously by the penniless hero, a romantic dreamer who spoke of love but knew nothing of it. Let's be honest, this wasn't a promising start, but what developed steadily as it went through was a very human story of emotion and conflict, including a choice between feelings and materialism. As to which won, and what became of the hero and the courtesan he fell in love with, you'll have to watch it and see - but expect a real tear-jerker of a story which will ultimately make you forget the preposterous way it has been filmed. Too emotional to be my "favourite" film, but certainly in the top ten.