Brilliant! Delicious buffet for the senses!

Rating: 10/10 (8 June 2001)

Baz Luhrmann manages, with Moulin Rouge, to take the fast pacing of Romeo + Juliet (which I did not like) and apply it effectively to this extravagant, musical love story. Kidman and McGregor are the perfect pair. His devastating good looks and her timeless beauty fit the scene perfectly. The wild nights of the Moulin Rouge, the famous French nightclub that provides the dramatic backdrop for this tragic tale, third in the "Red Curtain Trilogy" from Luhrmann. Satine (Kidman) is the tragic heroine, "Sparkling Diamond" of the Moulin Rouge. Christian (McGregor) is the Bohemian writer who becomes Satine's truest love and champion. Her beauty drives the Duke to bitter jealousy, which threatens the two lovers. The trailers may make you feel as if you know the end of the movie, but trust me, you don't!

The plot is not complex at all. Its the simple tale of tragic, but pure, love. Satine and Christian represent all that is good, wonderful and right in love and the world; their story shows that love can overcome everything, except nature. The Duke is the evil that can destroy such beauty. All of the relevant details play out in the sumptuous sets of the film. Lavish replicas of the once great club, right down to the elephant, historically acquired for the Moulin Rouge at the World's Fair. The costuming is gorgeous, vivid colors and rich fabrics. Further, there is a wonderfully comical and supportive cast of characters (Zidler, the Unconscious Argentinian, Toulouse Lautrec, etc).
And boy can Kidman and McGregor sing!!!! They are outstanding in their duets and can even carry themselves on their own. They don't hide behind backup singers and studio recordings, they just belt the songs out for our enjoyment. The other songs in the film are wonderful, new renditions of old favorites (Like a Virgin, Lady Marmalade, Up Where We Belong, etc). They are relevant and fast paced, in keeping with the movie. (I must note that there was one musical element that my sister absolutely hated -- the singing moon. It was a bit much. :-))
This movie is a masterpiece and I will be buying it the moment it comes out on video.
My rating for this movie would be off the scale!! Enjoy!!