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(out of 5)
Forcefully passionate, Australian director Baz Luhrmann’s third film drops you immediately into a carnivalesque world of magical and musical mayhem, telling the story of a young writer (Ewan McGregor) who decides to live the bohemian life in the Montmartre district of Paris. Rooming across the street from the famous Moulin Rouge, McGregor is drawn to the club by his curiousity to see the spectacles inside its decorated walls and to fulfil a job his new neighbour Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo) has commissioned for him: write the club’s brand new musical theatrical “Spectacular Spectacular”, set to star the Moulin Rouge’s main attraction, the courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman). Our young hero falls madly in love with the untouchable goddess, oblivious to the fact that her devotion is already being bought by an evil merchant (Richard Roxburgh). Despite its being set at the turn of the century, Lurhmann uses music from all periods of the twentieth century, from Richard Rodgers to Nirvana, and uses it in such abundance that all the songs add to the emotional substance of the story rather than call attention to themselves in a gimmicky way. Kidman and McGregor couldn’t be better both as actors and singers, Kidman especially has never been more attractive, and the supporting cast topped by Jim Broadbent as the club’s owner are all top-notch. Song highlights include a beautiful rendition of Elton John’s “Your Song” and a great tango version of The Police’s “Roxanne”.
Twentieth Century Fox, Bazmark Films
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Screenplay by Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce
Cinematography by Donald McAlpine
Produced by Fred Baron, Martin Brown, Baz Luhrmann
Music by Craig Armstrong
Production Design by Catherine Martin
Costume Design by Catherine Martin, Angus Strathie
Film Editing by Jill Bilcock
Film Festivals: Cannes 2001
Academy Awards
Best Art Direction (art direction: Catherine Martin; set decoration: Brigitte Broch)
Best Costume Design (Catherine Martin, Angus Strathie)
Nominations
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Nicole Kidman as “Satine”)
Best Cinematography (Donald M. McAlpine)
Best Film Editing (Jill Bilcock)
Best Makeup (Maurizio Silvi, Aldo Signoretti)
Best Picture (Martin Brown, Baz Luhrmann, Fred Baron, producers)
Best Sound (Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Roger Savage, Guntis Sics)
Golden Globe Awards
Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Nicole Kidman)
Best Original Score-Motion Picture (Craig Armstrong)
Nominations
Best Performance By An Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Ewan McGregor)
Best Director (Baz Luhrmann)
Best Original Song-Motion Picture (“Come What May”, music and lyrics by David Baerwald)
