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With: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh, Kerry Walker, Christine Anu, Lara Mulcahy, David Wenham, Kylie Minogue
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Written by: Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce
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Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
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MPAA Rating: PG-13
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Running Time: 126
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Date: 05/09/2001
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Spectacular, Spectacular
By Jeffrey M. Anderson Director Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet) sets out to dazzle with this stunning musical, and he accomplishes just that. Ewan McGregor stars as a penniless writer who falls for a glamorous courtesan (Nicole Kidman), who is in turn engaged to a sexless and selfish Duke (Richard Roxburgh). When McGregor and Kidman sing classic FM radio hits (like "Heroes" and "Silly Love Songs") to each other, the film soars; the passion is palpable. But Moulin Rouge also counts on stale plot devices like the boring "quick-hide-behind-the-bed" bedroom farce scene. Yet a sense of timelessness and irony-free romance make this a winner. I admired Baz Luhrmann's musical in the theater, even though it's not one of my favorite films of the year. But Fox's 2-disc set breaks all the boundaries for DVD excellence, even going so far as to match the amazing Fight Club DVD from last year. In 2010, Fox followed up with a super-deluxe Blu-Ray release, complete with several new extras.
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