The Best Musical Since "The Sound of Music".

Rating: Null/10 (22 May 2002)

Outstanding musical that is breath-taking, smart, visually-stunning and top-notch in most all cinematic categories. It is 1899 Paris, France and a young poet (Ewan McGregor) falls in love with the main attraction at the Moulin Rouge club (courtesan Nicole Kidman in her Oscar-nominated performance). But trouble looms as the Duke of Monroth (Richard Roxburgh in perhaps a star-making role) has his eyes on the club and Kidman herself. Kidman is put into a dilemma as all she has worked and slaved for could be taken away in a heartbeat by Roxburgh. The fact that her heart belongs to McGregor adds to the problem. Jim Broadbent (Oscar-winning for "Iris" even though he is much better in this film) steals every scene as the master of ceremonies at the club. John Leguizamo also does the best work of his career as McGregor's vertically-challenged best friend. "Moulin Rouge" is a smart film that is a mix of "Cabaret" and "Titanic". It is both highly dramatic and visually stunning in every way imaginable. This is hands down the best musical produced in over 35 years and its great success critically and economically could be enough to resurrect the Hollywood musical, an art that has been in limbo since the late-1960s. Baz Luhrmann's direction makes him the greatest star of "Moulin Rouge". 4.5 out of 5 stars.