I haven’t seen this film since it was in the cinema (10 years ago!!), but yesterday decided to revisit it on the small screen. How glad I am that I did. I loved it when I first saw it, and wondered if I would still enjoy it – the answer is an emphatic yes!
Nicole Kidman is radiant (and exquisite) as Satine, a high class courtesan at Moulin Rouge in Paris, a club frequented by bohemians, artistes, writers, who call themselves the children of the revolution. When penniless writer Christian (Ewan McGregor) meets her, they fall in love…but Satine has already been promised to a rich and powerful Duke. A love triangle ensues, but even as the lovers struggle to stay together, an even darker force is exerting it’s pull on Satine…
I hesitate to use the word extravaganza very often, but in the case of this film, it’s deserved. The movie combines, energetic, colourful dance routines, with romance, comedy and drama. The music is all drawn from familiar 20th century sources, although the setting for the film is Paris at the end of the 19th century (seriously, the songs here are from such artistes as Madonna, Nirvana, The Police, Bolan, Bowie – but all given a new and exciting spin). The colour and energy radiates off the screen, and there are many laugh-out-loud moments of hilarity. My favourite scene is where Satine, Christian, and their bohemian friends (including Toulouse Lautrec are pitching their idea for a new show to the Duke, in the hope of gaining his financial backing.
The two leads are brilliant. Nicole Kidman has never looked more beautiful, and has never been so funny and tragic as she is here. McGregor too is at his most endearing and makes you want to root for his character. However, special mention must be made of Jim Broadbent, who played Harold Zindler, the manager of Moulin Rouge; and especially John Leguizamo, who played Toulouse Lautrec. I have only ever seen Leguizamo in one other role – a coke addled Doctor on ER, and I hated him in that role. Here however, he was fantastic. What an incredible actor!
The aforementioned soundtrack is fabulous, and the story plays along nicely with a perfect balance of comedy and tragedy. If you haven’t experienced Moulin Rouge yet (and if you haven’t, then why not?), I really recommend watching this film. You might love it, you might hate it, but I doubt that you will forget it.
Year of release: 2001
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writers: Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pierce
Main cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent, John Leguizamo
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