Hi all!

Today I am ranking all of Baz Luhrmann’s movies! He is definitely my favourite non-horror director. To be honest, his style of film-making is not for everyone. If you don’t get his ways, you probably won’t enjoy his works. They are known to be flamboyant, theatrical, colourful and romantic. He is a whiz at bringing stories to life, adding modern touches to classical tales and let’s be frank, breaking your heart. If you’re not crying after a Baz flick, were you really watching one? Without further ado, let’s get into it!

1.) Moulin Rouge 

Moulin Rouge is not only my favourite movie of Baz Luhrmann’s, it’s one of my favourites period. I cannot even count how many times I’ve seen it. Not only that, I saw the stage show in March and it was phenomenal! The story – set in 1899 – follows talented writer, Christian (Ewan McGregor), who moves to Paris in search of a love that will last forever. There, he meets a troupe of bohemian actors, aspiring to put on their play at the Moulin Rouge. Christian pretends to be a wealthy sponsor, in order to gain funding from the manager, but ends up falling head over heels for the star of the show; the beautiful courtesan, Satine (Nicole Kidman). They are forced to keep their relationship a secret, lest the jealous and evil Duke (the real benefactor of the production) discover Satine’s heart does not truly belong to him. The acting, the soundtrack, the costumes, the singing, the love, the heartbreak, the ending and performances, deliver a cinematic, magical feature. If you haven’t yet seen it, don’t delay!

2.) Romeo + Juliet

In second place, we have Romeo + Juliet. I feel like this film is his most misunderstood. It’s a Shakespearean tale, with a modern twist. It follows two families at war: the Montagues and the Capulets. When Romeo Montague falls madly in love with Juliet Capulet, they must keep their love a secret or risk their lives. It’s a tragedy about star-crossed lovers, doomed from the very beginning. I never get tired of the scene where they first meet. It’s so romantic and full of passion. Young Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes were so convincing. Their connection was 100% believable. Also, the soundtrack is perfection. Each song hits hard. I am obsessed. Don’t be put off by the Shakespearean language. It is a masterpiece of a movie.

3.) The Great Gatsby 

The Great Gatsby was a close second to Romeo + Juliet. This beloved literary classic follows Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), who moves to New York in 1922, to seek the American dream. By chance, he moves next door to elusive billionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), who happens to be in love with Nick’s married cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Nick forms a friendship with Gatsby, becoming drawn into the world of the wealthy. However, he is shocked to learn that money and status means nothing, when you cannot be with your true love. Baz definitely leans toward tales of forbidden desire. I bought the soundtrack after I saw the film in theatres. It’s incredible. I adored the 1920s setting, with the elaborate parties and gorgeous flappers. The film itself requires multiple watches to appreciate. There are many important themes and messages painted throughout, you might miss the first time. The main one being: life is meaningless, when the heart is empty. 

4.) Elvis 

In fourth place, we have Baz’s newest production. It tells the tale of Elvis Presley’s life (Austin Butler), from the perspective of his conniving and greedy manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). We learn of the King’s rise to fame, due to his unique movements across the stage and arresting deep voice. As the years pass, Tom Parker becomes more obsessed with exploiting his protege and capitalising on his success. It’s a heartbreaking story, based on Presley’s actual experience. If things had been handled differently, we would not have lost such a musical legend, at the devastatingly young age of 42. It hurt to watch. Having said that, this biopic was done to perfection. Even Lisa Marie (daughter of Elvis), commented that her father had never been portrayed so accurately and respectfully before. Austin did a wonderful job emulating the icon we all know and love. We got to hear his greatest hits, plus witness his famous pelvic thrusts, as he drove women worldwide wild. It’s lower on my list because I preferred the other three more, but I still gave it 5 stars.

5.) Australia

In fifth place, we have Australia. It’s quite different from the rest of Baz’s works. It definitely carries a more serious tone. With the globe on the brink of World War II, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), travels from Britain to Australia, to inspect a ranch she inherited. Reluctantly joining forces with a rugged local, known as the Drover (Hugh Jackman), they set out on a cattle drive, across hundreds of miles of harsh terrain, to save her property. However, when they finally reach the town of Darwin, they must contend with the same Japanese bombers, that just rained death upon Pearl Harbour. I’ve only seen it once but I remember the acting was incredible. It was also very heartbreaking. I am Australian, so it meant a lot seeing a movie like this. It’s his longest film, at just under three hours of run time. For this reason and the sombre nature, I wouldn’t re-watch it. But it’s still wonderful.

6.) Strictly Ballroom 

Last, but certainly not least, we have Strictly Ballroom. This was Baz Luhrmann’s directorial debut. Set in 1992, it follows professional ballroom dancer, Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio), who pairs up with a plain, left-footed local girl, named Fran (Tara Morice), to win the title at the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Dancing Competition. Scott is known for his innovative and flashy “crowd-pleasing” dance moves – not considered strictly ballroom by his peers. His partnership with Fran is further ridiculed, when she is accused of damaging his chances of success. Through it all, they form an unlikely friendship, making the dance floor their own. The only reason this film is bottom of my list, is because compared to Baz’s other grand productions, it pales in comparison. It’s more on the simpler side. Having said that, there are some iconic scenes, like when they learn the Paso Doble and of course, the winning dance number at the end. It’s also set in Australia – my country.

Thank you so much for reading! How would you rank Baz’s movies?

Peace & Love xoxo