Moulin Rouge

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</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>Moulin Rouge </B>**** (PG-13)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Reviewed By George O. Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="545"><div> Silly Love Songs Hit A Home Run</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="598" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Satine: Nicole Kidman</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="322"><div> Christian: Ewan McGregor</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Toulouse-Lautrec: John Leguizamo</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="322"><div> Zidler: Jim Broadbent</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Duke of Monroth: Richard Roxburgh</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="322"><div> Le Chocolate: Deobia Oparel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Director: Baz Luhrmann</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Singer/Dancer: Lil Kim & Christina Aguilera</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: A struggling writer falls in love with a nightclub singer/dancer/courtesan and becomes thwarted in developing the relationship by the desires of a powerful and wealthy man holding the title of Duke, and ultimately by her illness.  </div> <bR> <div>  <B>Story Line:</B> <I>Moulin Rouge</I> allows you to take a trip to the 19<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century Paris hot spot for the price of a movie ticket. It's a musical play set with the stage background reminiscent of <I><B>The Grinch…</B></I> for adults. That is to say we see real people against a fairy tale backdrop, performing nearly impossible stunts to the tune of contemporary pop music.</div> <bR> <div> Satine (Nicole Kidman) is a singer/dancer and courtesan with the stage name "Sparkling Diamond." She wants to become a theatrical actress in the worse way (no pun intended). Through happenstance Christian (Ewan McGregor), an aspiring writer, meets Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo), who introduces him to Zidler (Jim Broadbent), the owner of the nightclub, Moulin Rouge. </div> <bR> <div> Christian writes a play, to be produced by Zidler, and as soon as he and Satine set eyes on each other, it's love at first sight. But the Duke (Richard Roxburgh) wants Satine as his own, and after she mistakenly thinks that Christian <B>is</B> the Duke, a love triangle is created.     In all fairness, the Duke is not in love, but he knows what he wants, is used to getting what he wants and what he wants now is Satine. </div> <bR> <div> Zidler does not have the money to convert his nightclub to a theater for a play. He works out a deal with the Duke to provide the funding in exchange for holding the deed to the property and the full, undivided attention of Satine. </div> <bR> <div> During one of Satine's performances in the nightclub, she falls from her velvet swing suspended high above the sated audience and is saved by Le Chocolate (Deobia Oparel), a muscular male dancer. We soon learn that Satine has what we now call tuberculosis, which was then called "the consumption," and that she may be dying. </div> <bR> <div> Will Satine really die? How can a financially destitute writer win out over a powerful and wealthy Duke for her love and attention? Will the play be any good? Things work out in the end somewhat as you expect, but not in the way you might expect.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: Although the story takes place in the arty section of Paris known is Momarte, it was filmed entirely down under in Australia. The costumes are wonderful, just as they were when we saw Jim Broadbent in <I><B>Topsy Turvy.</B></I> In that film, the setting, costumes and music were 19<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century. Here, the setting is 19<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century, yet the music spans the last 30 years; with songs you will recognize such as <I>Like a Virgin, Rhythm of the Night, Material Girl </I>and<I> Lady Marmalade. </I> It may sound crazy, but director Luhrmann brings it all together just as he did with <I><B>Strictly Ballroom.</B></I> </div> <bR> <div> Usually clichés make me groan, but in this case, they fit in perfectly. The phrases from popular songs are used in the dialogue as the characters are speaking to one another and it sounds like a funny type of Shakespeare where you really know what they are talking about. It's also hilarious to listen to because it's like talking to someone with bits and pieces of songs that you've heard a thousand times. </div> <bR> <div> The biggest and most pleasant surprise for me was that all of the actors did their own singing and dancing and they sounded more than just good. Some may want to quibble with Nicole not having the range of Mariah Carey, but that's irrelevant. She is a good night club singer and the quality of singing by her and Ewan could fit into a Broadway show that you'd pay $75 a ticket for any day and feel you got your money's worth. Ewan in particular has a strong and lovely voice, which he uses to convey the passion he feels for Satine very effectively. </div> <bR> <div> Over the top, energetic and extravagant musical numbers, as well as tender solos make <I>Moulin Rouge </I>soar. When <I>Lady Marmalade</I> was being done, I'm sure that although Patti Labelle was not on the screen, she would be proud of what they did with her song. It's somewhat like Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis singing <I>Cruisin</I> in the film <I><B>Duets</B></I><B>.</B> They sounded great and would give the man himself, Smokey Robinson, a run for his money on its performance. Who would have thought that Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor can sing well enough to make you want to <I><B>buy the CD</B></I>?! Elton John says, regarding Ewan's performance of <I>Your Song</I>, "This guy sings this song better than I sing it." Word is that Ewan is working on getting a recording contract. I think it will happen…he's that good!</div> <bR> <div> <I>Moulin Rouge</I> is a spectacle that keeps you breathless because it moves so fast. You see so much, you hear so much and you think so much about the story and its eccentric characters that you can't help but enjoy so much. There are at least three or four times I had to restrain myself from applauding after a musical number. This is one film that deserves a standing ovation. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> PG-13(sexual content)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> George O. Singleton © 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Mini Filmography </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Nicole Kidman: <I><B>Eyes Wide Shut</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Ewan McGregor: <I><B>Eye of the Beholder</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="286"><div> John Leguizamo: <I><B>What's the worse that could Happen?</B></I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Jim Broadbent: <I><B>Bridget Jones's Diary</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="286"><div> Richard Roxburgh: <I><B>Mission Impossible:2</B></I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Baz Luhrmann: <I><B>Strictly Ballroom</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>