Moulin Rouge! (2001)

A poet falls for a beautiful courtesan whom a jealous duke covets.

Director:

Baz Luhrmann

Writers:

Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce

Stars:

Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo

Won 2 Oscars. Another 84 wins & 130 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicole Kidman	...	Satine
Ewan McGregor	...	Christian
John Leguizamo	...	Toulouse-Lautrec
Jim Broadbent	...	Harold Zidler
Richard Roxburgh	...	The Duke
Garry McDonald	...	The Doctor
Jacek Koman	...	The Unconscious Argentinean
Matthew Whittet	...	Satie
Kerry Walker	...	Marie
Caroline O'Connor	...	Nini Legs In The Air
Christine Anu	...	Arabia
Natalie Mendoza	...	China Doll
Lara Mulcahy	...	Môme Fromage
David Wenham	...	Audrey
Kylie Minogue	...	The Green Fairy

Storyline

The year is 1899, and Christian, a young English writer, has come to Paris to follow the Bohemian revolution taking hold of the city's drug and prostitute infested underworld. And nowhere is the thrill of the underworld more alive than at the Moulin Rouge, a night club where the rich and poor men alike come to be entertained by the dancers, but things take a wicked turn for Christian as he starts a deadly love affair with the star courtesan of the club, Satine. But her affections are also coveted by the club's patron: the Duke. A dangerous love triangle ensues as Satine and Christian attempt to fight all odds to stay together but a force that not even love can conquer is taking its toll on Satine...

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Plot Keywords:

belle epoque | tragic ending | two word title | jealousy | jukebox musical | 

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Taglines:

This Story Is About Truth

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English French Spanish

Release Date:

1 June 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Moulin Rouge

Filming Locations:

Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$167,540, 20 May 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$57,386,607

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$179,213,434

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Bazmark Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

For much of the film, Satie (Matthew Whittet) is wearing a long, colorful scarf very reminiscent of the trademark scarf worn by Tom Baker on Doctor Who (1963). The scarf Baker wore was inspired by a long red scarf worn in the painting "Ambassadeurs: Aristide Bruant dans son cabaret" by famous bohemian Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who is a character in this movie.

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Goofs

During "Spectacular Spectacular" the doors can be seen closing behind Satine and Christian as Christian throws down the money. It can be seen closing again in the next shot when Christian has walked off stage and Harold comes to Satine.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Toulouse-Lautrec: [singing] There was a boy, a very strange enchanted boy...

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Crazy Credits

When the film's title is shown, a silhouette of a cutout can-can dancer dances across the title card, with other silhouettes of men in top hats below her.

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Connections

References The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

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Soundtracks

Zidler's Rap (Medley)
Featuring:
"Zidler's Rap"
Written by Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce, and Marius De Vries (as Marius Devries)
Performed by Jim Broadbent
Produced by Blam, Josh G. Abrahams, and Marius De Vries (as Marius Devries)
"Lady Marmalade"
Written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan
Performed by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, and Pink
Produced by Missy Elliott (as Missy Elliott) for Mass Confusion Productions Inc. and Rockwilder for F-5 Productions Inc.
Christina Aguilera performs courtesy of The RCA Music Group
Lil' Kim performs courtesy of Queen Bee Entertainment Inc./Undeas/
Atlantic Recording Corporation
Mya performs courtesy of A&M Records
Pink performs courtesy of Laface Records
"Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Written by Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl
Produced by Danny Saber

User Reviews

The most original and groundbreaking movie of recent history

I have seen Moulin Rouge at least 25 times. I think it is the most extraordinary movie of my generation and breaks every limit set by the industry. I have heard all the traditional complaints...people didn't like the music, the editing was too swift, or it wasn't "their taste". Moulin Rouge took a risk. A risk films like A Beautiful Mind and Shakespeare in Love don't. It risked by being controversial. To make a likeable movie isn't hard, follow the Hollywood mold and stick in a few attractive actors, some bland dialogue and viola you have a film. Moulin Rouge was made knowing that not everyone would like it, but knowing everyone would at least appreciate it for its artistic ingenuity. Visually it is superb, an indulgent feast for the eyes with every breathtaking, artistic scene. Everything about it is over the top, every scene more stunning than the next, and as it continues your heart becomes more and more intertwined in the love story. The editing in the Roxanne scene rushes through your body and is the most incredible of any movie in history. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGreggor are the most passionate on-screen couple; entirely convincing as their voices meld them together into one. Never has a movie done what Moulin Rouge did. It realized that the world of film is only being represented in one small way, whereas Moulin Rouge uses a camera and screen to make something bigger and more extraordinary than has ever been made before. It pushes against the confines of convention and leaves you breathless.