Baz' masturbatory piece of fluff.

Rating: Null/10 (7 July 2002)

The cinematography was spotless, and the visuals, although quick and headache inducing, were fabulous. But good FX do not a good movie make.
Moulin Rouge is eye candy with no substance other than force fed cornball MTV fluff, with inane dialogue, dreadful performances (only John Leguizamo stands above the material), and is visual proof that Baz Luhrmann has his head in a fluffy fantasy world where good writing falters in the face of visual aesthetics.
But, I enjoyed parts of the film. Once again, the visuals were pleasing, if a little pretentious. I also loved John Leguizamo as the little guy, proving he has what it takes to be a serious actor amidst shit fests like The Pest. But Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor were totally, off the wall awful. Kidman was great to look at, but let's face it folks, she couldn't act her way out of a wet paper bag. McGregor is a talented actor, and has the ability to choose interesting roles. He was out of his league here.
The predictable script doesn't help matters. We know Kidman is doomed. Cough, gag. For a film that nearly modernizes 19th and early 20th century Paris, it makes you wonder why none of the clueless characters could have picked up on her ailing. I mean, they did somehow manage to get high tech surround sound in the theatres and through the music... Why not modern medicine? That's right - then she would have lived and the story wouldn't have the tug at the heart strings ending. Yawn.
I suppose Moulin Rouge is what it is. I imagine it'll be Baz Luhrmann's one and only swan song in the field of entertainment, and I imagine every 15 year old girl with an itch for schmaltzy sap fests will purchase the extravagant DVD... But, I suppose I'll just forget the film, as should any intelligent movie goer.