"Christian" (Ewan McGregor) is a struggling writer living a stone's throw from the legendary Moulin Rouge in Paris. He cuts quite a solitary figure until he is befriended by "Toulouse-Lautrec" (the scene stealing John Leguizamo) and introduced to the hedonism of the club run by "Zidler" (Jim Broadbent) that features it's superstar turn "Satine" (Nicole Kidman). He is besotted, he must meet her in her blue elephant apartment and love must follow, surely? Well, maybe, but "Zidler" has other plans on behalf of the seedy "Duke" (Richard Roxburgh) who has determined to make her his. "Christian" now finds himself inspired, and sets about writing his "Spectacular Spectacular" piece of musical theatre that thinly disguises the burgeoning romance between the pair whilst hopefully throwing the "Duke" off the scent. These things are expensive, though, so the venal "Zidler" ends up having to do a deal with the devil to pay the bill - and that leaves everyone exposed to the lasciviousness of the amorous aristocrat. We also learn that, not unusual for the late 19th century, "Satine" isn't so well and so time might not be much of an ally for them, either. Can they thwart the lecherous "Duke" and save their love? Though I didn't really love McGregor's rather flat singing so much, the rest of this is an highly entertaining romp through a tawdry Parisian society riddled with sexiness, vibrancy and just a little hint of evil. Broadbent is in his element as the master of ceremonies who'd have looked just as impressive hosting a circus - and indeed it's a circus that his boozed up and horny guests want every night as the original sex-club comes alive with colour, dancing and champagne. The soundtrack works really well using just about everyone from Rufus Wainwright to Elton John via Broadway and T-Rex - even Kylie manages a tinker-bell of a cameo. The film looks great, with huge attention to the detail of the look; the costumes and the set - with the perilously poised pachyderm overhead. There's heaps of chemistry between McGregor and a very natural looking Kidman and two hours just flies by. It's one of those films that positively wallows on the big screen and each time I see it, I seem to get just a little bit more from the humour and the pathos in the writing. Original, quirky, zany and good fun.
