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Moulin Rouge

"Love is like oxygen. Love lifts you up where you belong. All you need is love."

If at any moment in your life, you've been blessed to experience such a rare and precious love, you will be enamored with Moulin Rouge.

At the turn of the century, the elite in-crowd gathers to socialize with the creatures of the seedy underworld and the Bohemian lifestyle at the legendary Parisian hot spot, the Moulin Rouge.

Satine (Nicole Kidman) is known as the "Sparkling Diamond" for her dazzling beauty and immense talent as a courtesan. When Christian (Ewan McGregor), a young and talented writer, falls in love with her, she realizes he will be bad for business.

A deal is made between the Moulin Rouge's owner, Harold Sidler (Jim Broadbent) and the Duke (Richard Roxburgh) to transform the club into a theater and put on a show, Spectacular Spectacular. In order to close the deal, Christian comes up with a bizarre story off the top of his head and the ensemble cast follows along with it. As the final piece, Satine must exclusively belong to the Duke, a slimy character with evil intentions.

While Sidler agrees, it is already too late as Satine has fallen in love with Christian. They are careful to hide their torrid love affair, but it becomes evident to everyone except the Duke who's as sharp as a sack of wet mice.

Lushly directed by Baz Luhrmann, this post-modern twist on the musical uses extreme photography techniques, vibrant colors and costumes, and visionary dream sequences to tell the story through song. Academy Awards were won for Costume Design and Art Direction, both by Catherine Martin.

The magic of falling in love is captured so perfectly in the setting and musical numbers, you are swept away with the overwhelming desire to go fall in love. Kidman and McGregor pour themselves into these musical numbers and sing with the emotions of a thousand magical dreams. It almost feels like you are in a fairy tale.

Original songs "I'll fly away" and "Come what may" easily rival any memorable show tunes, but what really sells them are the voices of Kidman and especially McGregor. As Christian, McGregor gives all an artist possibly could to portray the young writer who is captivated by the gorgeous Satine. You truly believe and feel every emotion he experiences on screen just by looking in his eyes. It feels like you are looking into his soul.

Kidman is marvelous as the famed courtesan who is dying but doesn't know it. She is the consumate performer, and as the number goes, "the show must go on." She won the Golden Globe for her performance in this role and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Among the dazzling music, vibrant scenery and captivating performances, this tale teaches us "the greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return."

Written by: Jenni Mennella

Reviewers Rating: 9.5
Reader's Rating: 9.00
Reader's Votes: 50

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