Fresh from reinventing cine-Shakespeare with Romeo + Juliet, Bazmark Anthony Luhrmann returned to megaphone-wielding duties to revive the ailing musical and make Nicole Kidman a superstar (Tom who?). It's Carry On Busby Berkeley for the opening, while the film's narrative frailties aren't helped by giving away the ending two minutes in. But the dazzling set design, innovative use of pop songs and superb turns from Kidman and Ewan McGregor ensure that this is a worthy Oscar contender.
DVD Extras:
Commentary with Baz Luhrmann, cinematographer Don McAlpine and production designer Catherine Martin, writer's commentary with Craig Pearce, Making Of, Behind The Red Curtain feature, behind-the-scenes `branches'. Luhrmann's musical pastiche gets surprisingly straight-laced treatment, with little evidence of the absinthe-fuelled shoot. The featurettes are slick but soulless, and the filmmakers' commentary is informative but dry. Most engaging is mouthy co-writer Craig Pearce on the writer's track, while the Behind The Red Curtain feature, a chance to nip behind the scenes as you see the film, is intermittent but interesting. Solid but hardly 'spectacular, spectacular!'
