RETURN TO YESTERYEAR WHERE MUSICALS WERE FUN

My wife and I just returning from seeing Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge". After the first 20 minutes, I turned to her and asked "What do you think?" She said and I agreed that the movie was one of the goofiest films we'd seen in a long time.

Then, either the movie changed or we became engulfed in the silliness of the musical genre to such an extent that we both ended up loving the movie. As the movie progressed, I realized that we were truly looking at an amazing film. Amazing because big budget musicals just aren't made anymore. Amazing because the visual effects were, to borrow a word from the movie, Spectacular. Amazing because a movie set in 1900 in Paris included pop hits from nearly every decade (The Sound of Music, Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend, Like a Virgin, Nature Boy and numerous others.)

THE PLOT

Goofy. Silly. Like most musicals with the exception of "All That Jazz" and the musical remakes of Romeo and Juliet. A starving English writer (Christian) moves to Paris to join in the Bohemian art movement. He's quickly befriended by Toulouse-Lautrec and others and starts writing an avant-garde musical for them at once. The boy (played by Ewan MaGregor)meets and becomes enamored with the lead show girl at Moulin Rouge. Her name is Satine
and she is more than simply a showgirl. She is paid to make men happy.

A melodrama ensues in which Satine is promised to the rich, semi-evil (but simpy) Duke played by Richard Roxburgh in exchange for his producing a gigantic show entitled
"Spectacular Spectacular" for Satine's somewhat bumbling boss, Harry Zidler, who is played by Jim Broadbent.

Not only is Satine caught in a love triangle, she is also dying of consumption. The only thing not used here was Satine being tied to railroad ties. But, guess what, I didn't care how silly it was. I just enjoyed how different it was.

THE ACTORS

The lead characters, Kidman and MaGregor, not only do a good job of acting but they have very pleasant singing voices. MaGregor's voice is superior but Kidman manages to do a mean Marilyn Monroe imitation on "Diamonds." As the movie progressed, I felt each actor grew more believable.

John Leguizamo does an excellent job as Lautrec and exhibits the skill I remember in his HBO specials a few years back. Broadbent also does a great job in playing the Moulin Rouge's owner. One of the highlights of the movie is his rendition of "Like a Virgin." Richard Roxburgh is cast as the jerk Duke and he does well although I think he goes over the top too often.

THE MUSICAL NUMBERS AND SPECIAL EFFECTS

The phrase "eye candy" may be overused but that's what this movie is. I haven't seen such incredible musical numbers in years. There is not a dull moment after you once realize what you're watching. I was enthralled by the choreography, musical variety and cinematography
throughout the film. Director Luhrmann deserves a huge pat on the back in directing something that is different for a change. His imagination is astounding. Sepia tones set the
time; zoom shots bring you into the action while wide shots show you the Paris of 1900. The sets are fantastic with Satine's "love parlor" deserving an Oscar by itself. Ditto for the costumes.

All in all, this is what movies used to do. They lavishly entertained you. I, for one, hope that this extravaganza production is not one of a kind.