My Bleeding Eyes and Ears

Rating: 5/10 (4 August 2010)

This is a color-drenched, frantically directed, near-operatic song and dance fest laced with special effects. The plot is thoroughly trounced in the trappings, but it involves handsome songwriter Ewan McGregor (as Christian) falling in love with leggy Nicole Kidman (as Satine), a "Cabaret" singer with a "Camille" complex. Yes, Ms. Kidman mixes up Liza Minnelli with Greta Garbo. It's set in Paris at the turn of the century (1899/1900), but the soundtrack finds most of its songs in the second half of the 1900s.
The justification for the inclusion of "future" songs may be found in the lyric "songs they have sung for a thousand years" from "The Sound of Music". "Nature Boy" is the most important tune, making Mr. McGregor's "enchanted" character believable. The Beatles' publishing companies were only mildly forthcoming, but Madonna was generous. Elton John's "Your Song" is also featured prominently. And, McGregor sings it well. The extravagant DVD package smells nice. But, the film's taste is strictly acquired.
***** Moulin Rouge! (5/9/01) Baz Luhrmann ~ Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent, John Leguizamo