Truth, beauty, freedom, love - all in a day's work for Moulin Rouge

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2001)

This is probably a biased review, given that I have long been a fan of Baz Luhrmann's works. His envelope pushing has, what I think is, an Australian freshness about it - which is perhaps why it has received mixed reviews.

The story is simple Christian (Ewan McGregor) has come to Paris, to Montmartre (the bohemian capital of France), to seek out freedom, truth, beauty and love. He enters the infamous nightclub the Moulin Rouge where he's instantly smitten by the courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman). She mistakes him for the Duke (the fabulous Richard Roxburgh in a brilliantly slimy role) who she's meant to seduce for money for a new play Christian is writing. But just like so many musical comedies the mistake strikes sparks of romance. Excellent cameo roles from Australian musical icons - Kylie Minogue, Christine Anu, Jackson Mendoza, Caroline O'Connor as well as well rounded performances from Jim Broadbent, John Leguizamo, David Wenham, Gary McDonald and Jacek Koman as a narcaleptic Argentinian.
This is a complete rollercoaster ride - you run the gamut of emotions and with typical Baz style there's oodles of humour in it. It's glitzzy glamourous, fast moving, funny, sad and entirely well worth the almost 2 wait for it to come to the screens. The music, also, is extraordinary. From Elton John, to Marilyn Munroe, to Madonna, U2, Moby, Sting - together with a brilliant score.
By the way - it's worth staying to the end of the credits for a small reminder of what the film is about.