Spectacular! Spectacular!

Rating: 10/10 (27 March 2003)

Absolutely breathtaking. "Moulin Rouge" is director Baz Luhrman's pop music masterpiece about Christian, a struggling writer who goes to Paris, France in 1899 and falls head over heels in love with Satine, a courtesan in the French nightclub known as the Moulin Rouge. "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return!" Filmed entirely on soundstages in Australia, this haunting love story with a bittersweet ending has become a worldwide sensation. Vastly superior to the subsequently released and disappointing Hollywood musical, "Chicago" (2002), which undeservedly won "Best Picture", "Moulin Rouge" appears to have revived Hollywoods interest in musicals. "Moulin Rouge" creates a colorful magical world with remarkable sets, flashy costumes, delightful songs and an amazing cast who uniformly deliver riveting performances. Nicole Kidman in a heartbreaking performance is the ill fated "Satine" who struggles with the choice between love or fame and fortune. Ewan McGregor is touching as the heroic and naive young writer, "Christian", who fights for her love. John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent and Richard Roxburg are all three incredible in meaty roles which are both unique and truly astounding. Baz Luhrman has created a work of art which I have no doubt will in years to come be considered one of the classic films of all time.