watching movies one cup at a time

Welcome to Ice Cubes In My Coffee :: The Caffeinated Movie Guide. I love movies and I have strong opinions about all of them. When they are great, they can change your life. And when they suck, you can at least have fun ripping them to shreds. I have seen a million movies and I have a bunch of movie facts and trivia stored up in my head - it's time to share. I'm going to be filling this movie guide with reviews on an ongoing basis, building up a large library of reviews so YOU, the movie-watching public, will know what movies are essential viewing and what movies you must avoid at all costs (hint: anything with the words "Starring Dane Cook"). I will also be posting some interesting articles and lists along the way as well. So grab a cup of joe and settle in for some movie talk!
      -- Mr. Coffee

Moulin Rouge

Starring: Nicole Kdman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh
Director: Baz Luhrman
Year of Release: 2001
 Rated 4 cups

This is the third dazzling film from Australian director, Baz Luhrman. He has a very unique directing style which people either love or hate. It is not generic, it’s not fast food, and it’s not easy-to-ignore. His films are bright, colorful, fast, detailed and full of life. I love them, even tho he has only managed to make three in 15 years. Romeo + Juliet was brilliant and Strictly Ballroom was a great debut already showing a lot of style that would flourish in his next films. Baz’s blended vision of pop culture mixed with old world tradition produces an amazing experience that is very rare in movies these days. It takes you on a wild ride you don’t want to get off.

Nicole Kidman plays the oscar-nominated lead role of the fated Satine. She does an excellent job and easily carries the demanding musical numbers in stride. Ewan McGregor also shows his musical chops and is equally skilled at giving his character the right combination of passion and naivety. The set pieces are simply astounding. I want to live in that Elephant structure. Wave after wave of bright color fills the screen. It is breathtaking. You really feel transported into Baz’s dream world.

Nicole Kidman’s character dies of consumption or pneumonia or something by the end of the movie. And I don’t like plot devices like illness kind of tossed in there to make it tragic. I’m not saying everything has to be a happy ending. But the whole “I’m dying, my love” is a little uninspired. Especially compared to the Romeo + Juliet double-suicide. Now THAT’S tragedy!

This movie came out in 2001 and Baz has still not followed up with another film. However there is one on the way also starring Nicole Kidman. And I will be there on opening day.

Filed Under (M, Movie Reviews) by admin on 03-02-2008 | Read More

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