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Top Box Office Hits FOR THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 1-3_ 1. Pearl Harbor' S29.6 million 6.‘The Mummy Returns’ $7.8 million 2. ‘Shrek’ S28.2 million 7. ‘A Knight's Tale' 3.4 million 3. ‘The Animal' $19.6 million 8. Bridget Jones's Diary’ $2.0 million 4. Moulin Rouge' $13.7 million 9. Angel Eyes’ $1.9 million 5. 'What’s the Worst That Could Happen’ 10. Memento' $1.1 million $13.0 million _ PLACES_ Page 6 f (gaffl CCO Ck Wednesday, June 6,2001 - ________ __ Luhrmann's latest surprises the senses by Tug Baker The Gamecock “Moulin Rouge” STARS: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor PLOT: A poet falls for a beautiful courtesan who’s promised to a duke OVERALL: Baz Luhrmann directs a musical for the MTV generation ☆☆☆☆ Of ☆☆☆☆☆ Whatever happened to the American musical? In the heyday of Hollywood, musicals were an integral part of the studio system. Even into the 1970s, musicals ruled the box office. Today, there’s a different story. The closest Hollywood comes to making a musical are Disney blockbuster cartoons and that lovely little picture “South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut.” Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge” is out to change it all. For the first time in recent years, a big budget musical, with real actors, has been made. But be warned — this is no “Singin’ in the Rain.” “Moulin Rouge takes Luhrmann’s mastery of explosive and opulent visuals, first seen in 1996’s “Romeo and Juliet,” and sets them in a world loosely based on tum-of-the-century Paris. However, Luhrmann’s visuals are more bohemian and steampunk than historical. With such a unique style, it would be very easy for the visuals to steal the show. However, the story and characters, indicative of typical musicals, seem to mesh with this extravagant background and, more importantly, with the music itself. The story follows Christian (Ewan McGregor) on his first trip to Paris, where he stumbles into the world of the Moulin Rouge, a nightclub famous for good entertainment and even better women. Here, he meets and falls in love with Satine (Nicole Kidman), the star of the Moulin Rouge. Unfortunately, Satine’s employer, Zidler (Jim Broadbent), has promised her to the Duke of Worcestor (Richard Roxburgh) so that he will fund the transformation of the Moulin Rouge from bawdy bordello to tame theater. The actors are all excellent. John Leguizamo plays a drunken midget, who despite his demeanor, is the voice of wisdom. More surprisingly, who would’ve thought Ewan McGregor could sing? The music itself is the key. Luhrmann has taken popular songs from almost every era of American music and thrown them together. Kidman, singing Marilyn Monroe's “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” goes straight into Madonna’s “Material Girl.” Broadbent and Roxburgh have a stab at Madonna as well with their saucy rendition of “Like a Virgin.” Ewan McGregor sings everything from “The Sound of Music” to “All You Need Is Love,” and this is certainly the only movie where you will hear Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sung along with Beauty and the Beast’s “Be Our Guest.” from tne start or tne mm, “Moulin Rouge” is a bold combination of music and style. However, many critics felt "mauled” by Luhrmann's outrageous style, and, admittedly, the film can be somewhat disorienting, much like a music video. Therein lies the genius behind “Moulin Rouge,” though. Like “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever” to the 1970s, “Moulin Rouge” is a musical for the MTV generation. So gather, fellow Gen Xers, and plan to see it twice — once sober and the once under the influence of a controlled substance. The spotlight desk can be reached at gamecockspotlight@hotmail.com