Archives

Trivia

Our Award

Box Office Reports

Release Dates

Links

e-mail

HOME

    What a fantastic, creative, witty movie. It's fun, loud, and bawdy, just like you would expect The Moulin Rouge to be.
Ewan McGregor plays a writer who helps out some entertainers led by Leguizamo. They are trying to get a show at the local bordello, The Moulin Rouge. In order to get the show, they have to impress the lead "performer", Nicole Kidman. A meeting is arranged, but Nicole gets confused and believes that McGregor is a duke who will finance the Moulin Rouge. You can see where it goes from there.

     We've heard Ewan's voice before in movies like Emma and A Life Less Ordinary but this is the first time I've ever heard Nicole Kidman's. I must say it's fantastic. She sounds like a pro. I haven't liked her in anything really since she started straightening her hair but I loved her in this. I've always loved Ewan and I knew this movie would be no different.

    I know I originally said that I was afraid of the music because of the scary rendition of "Roxanne" that they feature in the preview, but I must say that it wasn't that bad. Most of the time it was pretty witty and/or humorous. Personally I thought the use of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was hysterical. Kurt Cobain probably rolled over in his grave. The use of "Like a Virgin" was pretty good too. And still, the only one that I can think of that I really didn't like was "Roxanne", but I understand some people thought it was cool, so maybe it's just me.

    Now, if you didn't like Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes...you won't like this. Baz Luhrman has such a unique way of looking at things and this movie is even more over the top than R & J. As I said, it's loud and bawdy. I think this movie needed to be bigger in order to show what it was like at the Moulin Rouge. I won't say that it's over directed like I've heard. I think it was well done and is beautiful.

    The supporting cast is decent. Leguizamo can get on your nerves after a while with his indistinguishable accent and the fact that he plays a midget. Strange. The Duke is good enough, nothing spectacular but he doesn't take away from the movie.

     The reason this movie doesn't get a full 4 stars is for a few small reasons. I thought there were a few points in the movie where the story lost momentum. With a fast paced, wild movie, like this one, it's important to keep it up the entire time. I understand how difficult that is, but it's necessary. Also, the dramatic ending was a little much for me and it just didn't work really with the whole film as far as I was concerned. It was okay, but the rest of the movie, I thought, was much more polished.

     This movie isn't for everyone. Don't forget that it's about a courtesan and a lowly writer. Don't forget that Ewan McGregor's name is Christian and Nicole Kidman's is Satine (take away the "e" and what do you get) If you go to see this movie, anticipate the loud craziness and you'll be fine. It's a very well done movie and I think Baz Luhrman did a fantastic job.