Moulin Rouge!

MOULIN ROUGE!
No Laws. No Limits. One Rule. Never Fall In Love

Moulin Rouge! is a romantic jukebox, musical film directed and produced by Baz Luhrmann. Released in 2001, a major major success worldwide, a noticed musical picture. Starring the ever beautiful and the very lovely (particularly in this movie) Nicole Kidman in her Oscar nominated role of Satine, also starring is Ewan McGregor as Christian. Rest of the cast includes Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh and Kylie Minogue in a special role as the Green Fairy.

Initially, the role of Satine was given to Kate Winslet and the deal was made, but she had to opt out due to shooting conflicts for her movie Iris, also released in 2001. If Kate had done the role of Satine, first of all she would have looked ammmmmazing in the get-up, the red hair, outlandishly wonderful and grand dresses and of course, the red lipstick! But Nicole looked awesome as heck as well, loved her in the movie, she stole it. Anyways, if Kate had done the role, she would have sung all her songs herself -for she being a singer as well (won Grammy award for her single 'What if' as best spoken for children's album). Nevertheless its Nicole's moment and her movie so it goes to Nicole that she looked absolutely ravishing and just simply beautiful.

The movie tells the story of a young and youthful English writer who moves to Montmarte district of Paris in 1899 to become a writer in the Bohemian culture, there he meets performers who perform in the famous Moulin Rouge there and they were to finish the story for a new play called 'Spectacular Spectacular' , where Christian helps them too. The performers arrange a meeting for him to meet the star of the Moulin Rouge, Satine, the star courtesan.

Christian very much enjoys the meeting but Satine has big plans for herself. She wants to be a big, famous performer and a star and so does Harold Zilder, owner of the Moulin Rouge. Unaware of it, Zilder is promising Satine to Duke of Monroth who is very very wealthy and firmly in love with Satine. He also promises to fund the Moulin Rouge. Satine is very excited to meet the man who is to make her a star.

The meeting for Satine and Chiristan is set and Satine is very very excited to meet the Duke. When first sent to the room by the performers, she mistakes Christian for the Duke and starts to please him, talk to him and seduce him somehow. Very eager to show her skills to the Duke and convincing him she has it 'all'. The two share a song and the mystery is short lived, Christian tells her of his identity of a writer but by that time, he has fallen in love with her, how could he not while Satine is such a charming beauty, a perfect diamond.

The two are interrupted by the Duke but Satine tells him that they were practicing lines for the new act 'Spectacular Spectacular' and by the help of Christian, Zilder and the rest of the troupe, they pitch the show to the Duke with a very spontaneous and improvised plot of how an evil maharaja attempts to woo and marry an Indian courtesan who loves a poor Sitar player.

The Duke agrees to fund the act on one condition that only he is allowed to see and meet Satine and after the act, he would take her with him (plots to himself initially). Christian and Satine continue to see each other secretly and later Satine forbids to see him. He visits her next only to convince her that she loves him too. The two continue to see each other while rehearsing for Satine's lines from which the Duke becomes greatly jealous and threatens Zilder that make it stop or he'd stop financing the show.

Zilder talks to Satine about it and arranges a dinner for her and the Duke but makes an excuse for Satine later to the Duke (*SPOILER, won't tell why he made an excuse, see for yourself).

Satine talks to Christian that how their relationship is endangering the show and they should end it, Christian writes a love song to her and puts it in the production to prove it to her. A jealous performer of the Moulin Rouge points to the Duke that the act is originally about himself, Christian and Satine as the maharja, Sitar player and courtesan respectively. The Duke is in rage and orders to change the ending of the play as maharaja marries the courtesan. Satine is sad and agrees to spend a night with the Duke and convince him to keep the original ending as the courtesan and the Sitar player get married. She however sees Christian from a window and withdraws from her plan.The Duke tries to take her forcibly but she is saved by 2 of the performers and reunites her with Christian and recommends that they run away together.

The Duke tells Zilder that he will get Christian killed if Satine is not his. Zilder again warns Satine of the situation. Satine tells him that they can't see each other anymore as she will now be staying with the Duke and he must leave. Christian tries following her but is denied entry in the Moulin Rouge and he falls in sudden depression.

On the night of the show, Christian sneaks in behind the stage to talk to Satine but the two are presented in the spotlight, on the stage. Zilder tells that he is the disguised Sitar player but what happens next?

Will the Duke get Satine or will Christian fight for his love on the stage for the final time?

Being a musical, the film of course had a great great soundtrack lined up that included medley from Bollywood, and ranging from Queen to Elton John to Madonna. The film also had original songs, most notable were 'What May Come' and 'Lady Marmalade' sung by Christina Aguilera, Mya, Lil' Kim and P!nk (not featured in film) but was released after the movie and was a smash hit!

The movie itself was so well made, well acted, well-everything that it was hard not to like it if not love it. On its release, the movie grossed a great number and held re-releases in U.S and Australia. Also the movie was well received by the critics, calling it a musical masterpiece, and acting for Nicole Kidaman, Ewan McGregor and Jim Broadbent greatly appreciated.

The movie was a success for the awards season where it was heavily nominated, winning the Best Musical or Comedy and Best Actress for Kidman, BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor to Broadbent. Also winning the Oscars for Best Costumes and Best Art Direction. Nicole Kidman was nominated for Best Actress, the movie itself nominated for Best Picture. In short 8 Oscar nominations! -Spectacular!!

Well, the movie is a must watch! Its light, it nice, romantic, great faces to watch or just watch it for Nicole. Its just great!

My ratings: 8.5/10.