Cross LA BOHME with CABARET throw in a little bit of RENT and you might almost begin to describe Baz Luhrmann's visually opulent fast-paced funny heartrending MOULIN ROUGE. Th ... more

Cross LA BOHME with CABARET throw in a little bit of RENT and you might almost begin to describe Baz Luhrmann's visually opulent fast-paced funny heartrending MOULIN ROUGE. The film which premiered as the opener to the 2001 Cannes Film Festival is a musical set in 1899 Paris at the notorious Montmartre cabaret club the Moulin Rouge. Directed by Luhrmann WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO AND JULIET STRICTLY BALLROOM the movie stars Nicole Kidman as the high-kicking courtesan Satine; Ewan McGregor as the sensitive poet Christian; and John Leguizamo as the flamboyant artist and matchmaker Toulouse-Lautrec. Luhrmann's use of eclectic lighting and saturated color the fast zooms and quick cuts of his camera and his magnificent costumes and sets perfectly capture the excess and freneticism for which the Moulin Rouge was famous. Beautifully led by McGregor and Kidman the flawless supporting cast brings to life the culture of belle poque Paris with magical realism. Above all the anachronistic energetic contemporary soundtra less