Absolutely stunning movie but....

Rating: 9/10 (20 September 2001)

I totally agree with all those other contributors who've heaped such lavish praise on this movie. As a spectacle it was stunning, an assault on the senses, but I don't think I've ever come across a movie where the views of the critics are so polarised. It's either one of the best films of all time or else it's total garbage. When I saw it at least 6 people walked out. I guess some people don't like weird movies, and let's face it this is a weird movie, it doesn't obey any of the rules, and some people are obviously uncomfortable with that.
But I do have one big criticism, and that is Nicole Kidman's performance. I did not believe for one minute that Satine loved Christian. She was too cool, she was too distant, she could have been wondering how the hell she got involved in such a movie, but she was not in love. I've asked myself several times whether that mattered in such a surreal film where style triumphs over everything, but I think it does. Love is the message, this is a film about love and Baz Luhrman could have found an actress who looked as if she was mad about the boy. Instead we got Kidman trying to be Marlene Dietrich.
It was still wonderful, but it could have been almost perfect.