Moulin Rouge is a veritable visual feast. The first comment I made to my friend when we came out of the cinema after seeing this was 'I'm glad I came to the cinema to see it, rather than waiting for the video'. It's the kind of film I can't imagine would be the same on the small screen. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, and I laughed at it, and with it, but it didn't blow me away, I wouldn't say, you have to rush out to see it, and in some ways I was a little disappointed.
Moulin Rouge struck me as a film that is full of colour and of life, it is a perfect post-modern film and is a product of the time we live in. It tries to be clever as Hollywood movies rarely do, as if it wanted to be both an arty movie and a glitzy Hollywood razzamatazz movie and sometimes it works wonderfully, but other times you are treated to a sensory overload as the wonderful visuals and musical numbers can lose track of their purpose.
As for the film, itself, as far as the plot goes, it is fairly simple. Poor writer (MacGregor) meets beautiful showgirl (Kidman). This is Montmartre at the it's fin-de-siecle height, the heart of bohemian hedonism. Of course, she is promised to a rich Duke who has money to invest and the owner of the famous Moulin Rouge (Broadbent) needs to keep his backers sweet and lures them with the beautiful girls he has to offer. It is basically a love story against the odds with its highs and lows set to contemporary music numbers.
The plot though, is almost a sideline, which is possibly the strangest aspect of the film. The set piece show routines are great and the feeling is almost that you are watching a play rather than a film, which I think, is why it works much better in the cinema.
The plot is moved with the help of music, because it's a musical! The film as is common with Luhrmann (the director) uses contemporary pieces in clever ways and seems to be, as is characteristic of the direction, of throwing heaps of cultural references into the film as much as possible, and you can't resist chuckling when you realise what he is doing and feel quite proud of yourself for 'getting' the joke.
The film seems to be filmed in a continual dream-sequence which is very clever and very beautiful.
The acting and the singing is superb. The artwork, for the film is a work of art, is incredible. If this doesn't win loads of Oscars, I'll be very surprised, particularly with the cinematography.
Highlights have to include Broadbent's rendition of 'Like a Virgin' which had the cinema, myself included, in stitches, and the reworking of Elton John's 'Your Song'. The lyrics work particularly well and the film is undeniably very beautiful and very clever.
I would definitely recommend this film is seen, it deserves to be seen, and it is very very impressive. Luhrmann is trying to do something different with this film, which is admirable and very interesting. The main reservation is that it is almost trying too hard to break new ground.. maybe I'm just being a bit too picky here. I almost feel bad for criticising the film because it does so many great films and often it seems to be a work of art, which I suppose is it is, with Luhrmann using the screen as a canvass. But something just held me back from raving too much about it, perhaps because, it just seemed too full of brightness and colour, too many cute cultural references that try to draw the audience it, and alienate them simultaneously.
But I do think that everyone would find something to enjoy in it.. oh, and 'The Sound of Music' is a bonus treat!
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Production Year: 1999 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, Richard Attenborough
I still think that this is PRETENSE FEST, and that botth Kidman and Mr Obi Wan the younger cAnt sing... anyway, its just my pinion, a great op nevertheless.
anjuschka 21.09.2001 23:12
You've convinced me to go and see it! Thanks, Anja :)
Versatile 17.09.2001 15:40
A fine opinion on a great movie ~ Thanks Versatile :O)
Watching Baz Luhrmann's award-winningMoulin Rougeis a lot like falling in love. It is ... more
total immersion cinema and while you're experiencing it ("watching" is too passive a word) you can't imagine that cinema could be for anything else. In the harsh, obj...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Watching Baz Luhrmann's award-winningMoulin Rougeis a lot like falling in love. It is ... more
total immersion cinema and while you're experiencing it ("watching" is too passive a word) you can't imagine that cinema could be for anything else. In the harsh, obj...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Passion - filled poet falls for a breathtaking courtesan in this exotic musical love story ... more
from the unique and spellbinding imagination of visionary director Baz Luhrmann. Stunning performances from stars Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor fuel this movin...
Advantages: Great songs, direction and performances Disadvantages: Having to watch it in a cinema with people talking restlessly because they can't be bothered to pay sufficient attention!
![Moulin Rouge -- Two-Disc Set [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78237871.jpg "Moulin Rouge -- Two-Disc Set [DVD] [2001]")
![Moulin Rouge! [Special Edition] (2001)](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/97375302.jpg "Moulin Rouge! [Special Edition] (2001)")
Sep 17th, 2001
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