Moulin Rouge
Directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.
Baz Luhrmann has directed in Moulin Rouge a film that is, if nothing else, uniquely entertaining. The Moulin Rouge is a nightclub in late 19th century Paris: the age of absinthe. The club offers its top-hatted patrons extravagantly bawdy entertainment, of which courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman) is the jewel in the crown. The poet Christian (Ewan McGregor) falls in love with Satine, and by a happy mistake ends up getting invited back to her elephant. (You’ll know what I mean when you see it.) But the road to true love is not smooth for the two, for a jealous and powerful duke (Richard Roxburgh) stands between them threatening not only their love, but the very future of the Moulin Rouge.
The story is told in an over-the-top, often humorous combination of words, music and dance. Very colourful, very entertaining, and rather clever, Moulin Rouge is certainly value for money. There is even philosophical interest, in the interplay between the real and the staged that colours the whole film. Thoroughly recommended.
And by the way, the whole movie isn’t as ridiculous and incoherent as the opening scenes might lead you to expect; and Kylie Minogue’s appearance is thankfully brief. You might like to attend equipped with a checklist of every Australian actor you’ve seen on TV and film over the last twenty years; I reckon you’d get most of the boxes ticked.
Emilio Zapata
