If you want to make love to someone, do it in bed: If you want to SEDUCE someone, do it with a Song....... Seduction complete!

Rating: 10/10 (26 May 2001)

I was a little hesistant at first about going to see this show. I found Strictly Ballroom to be fun. And have not seen R&J simply because the actors do nothing for me in it. But about three weeks ago, one drizzly afternoon in a local store I saw the CD and decided to have a listen. In todays society of croakers being passed off as crooners I was interested to see what sort of sound Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman would have. I walked out of the store with two things. One a copy of the CD and two a firm commitment to see the film when it was released two weeks later.
Moulin Rouge is banquet, a gargantuan feast of sight and sound. It screams Baz Luhrman, but's that's ok - it's his trademark. Baz has assembled a cast that suits perfectly. I didn't feel that there was one person who shouldn't have been there (however it was a bit of a shock to see "Diver Dan" in drag - Aussie readers will understand).
As a self confessed Musicals freak, I had a predilection towards this film as I walked in. The numbers are fantastic with ny hat going off to the "Roxanne" number, it reminded me very much of the three way song that The Phantom, Christine and Raoul do at the end of Phantom of the Opera. I had an idea that Ewan could sing from Velvet Goldmine and Emma, but Baz has helped to fully develop a wonderful voice and set it free. Nicole Kidman said that Ewan and herself have made a pact that they are not singing in pubs, clubs, parties, or generally in public though. The one exception I hope they make is if the song is nominated for an Oscar.
Well done to all involved, if this was a stage play it would be up there with the great stories like Les Mis, Phantom or West Side Story.