The 2001 film, directed by Baz Luhrmann, stars Ewan McGregor as a penniless writer who falls in love with the star attraction (Nicole Kidman) at the famous Paris cabaret. The movie uses songs by artists ranging from David Bowie to U2 to Dolly Parton, and the only original track is the lovers' anthem "Come What May," which was originally written for Luhrmann's 1996 modern interpretation of "Romeo and Juliet" titled "Romeo + Juliet."
The movie received mixed reviews. "What Mr. Luhrmann has done is take the most thrilling moments in a movie musical — the seconds before the actors are about to burst into song and dance, when every breath they take is heightened — and made an entire picture of such pinnacles," New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell wrote. "As a result every moment in the film feels italicized." He wrote that the film lacked a "coherent narrative."
