The Brilliance of Moulin Rouge

Rating: 10/10 (25 February 2002)

Moulin Rouge has to be one of the greatest films of all time, if not the year. Dazzling you with incredible editing and brilliant effects shots, it captures your attention and won't let go until the end. It takes you on a journey of true love and leaves you wanting more.
Moulin Rouge begins with the once naive Christian (Ewan McGregor) sitting down at his typewriter to tell his story. He begins with how he came to Paris to write and live a penniless existence. And is then greeted by an unconscious Argentinian falling through his roof. "And is quickly joined by a dwarf dressed as a nun." Talous La Trec. Talous introduces him to the Bohemian lifestyle and gets him his first job in Paris...writing "Spectacular, Spectacular". Satine ( Nicole Kidman) the "Sparkling Diamond" mistakes Christian for the duke and falls in love with him. But she is a courtesan and isn't suppose to fall in love with anyone, except the duke, who is financing the conversion of the Moulin Rouge "into a theater". Satine is supposed to be his. Christian and Satine have to hide their love from the duke. But like any forbidden love, they are found out. The duke forbids her to see Christian or he will be killed. So Satine makes Christian believe she doesn't love him to protect him from the duke. Okay that's as far as I'm going to go. I don't want to give away the ending. If you want to know, go see it.
I have to tell that I was swept up in this film. I saw it six times in the theater in a time when I couldn't afford to see one movie let alone it six times. I had to choose between eating and seeing this movie and I chose this movie. That's how powerful it was. It is beyond anything else I've seen all year and I've seen alot. The musical score is fabulous. Ewan McGregor, although always one of my favorites, went beyond what I thought possible for him. (And should have been nominated for an oscar, but was passed over) And Nicole Kidman, never one of my favorites, showed me that she too can act just as well as anyone and is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Their voices compliment each other perfectly.
The visuals were outstanding. Never seen effects shots so perfect. Usually I can find something wrong with films, but I couldn't find one single, solitary thing. Baz did a fantastic job both writing and directing and is one of the most creative directors in the industry today.