This musical drama represents the fruit of four years' labour for director Baz Luhrmann and brings what he calls his "Red Curtain" trilogy to a suitably colourful and theatrical close after the success of Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet. The time, the effort and the sweat are all up there on the screen in this opulent, no-holds-barred and multilayered movie. It revolves around a simple story: struggling writer Ewan McGregor falls in love with beautiful courtesan Nicole Kidman at the famous Parisian nightclub of the title, but their love is threatened by her tuberculosis, as well as the fact she is betrothed to unscrupulous duke Richard Roxburgh. This is wrapped up in such an audacious mix of traditional and contemporary song - including David Bowie, Elton John, Madonna and Nirvana - and staged with a near-insane visual ambition, you will either fall in love with every camp flourish, or find yourself exhausted after 20 minutes. It's a singular achievement either way.

A celebration of love and creative inspiration takes place in the infamous, gaudy and glamorous Parisian nightclub, at the cusp of the 20th century. A young poet, who is plunged into the heady world of Moulin Rouge, begins a passionate affair with the club's most notorious and beautiful star.