A dazzling and yet frequently maddening bid to bring the movie musical kicking and screaming into the 21st century, Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge bears no relation to the many previous films set in the famous Parisian nightclub. This may appear to be Paris in the 1890s, with can-can dancers, bohemian denizens like Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo), and ribaldry at every turn, but it’s really Luhrmann’s pop-cultural wonderland. Everyone and everything is encouraged to shatter boundaries of time and texture, colliding and careening in a fast-cutting frenzy that thinks nothing of casting Elton John’s “Your Song” 80 years before its time. Nothing is original in this kaleidoscopic, absinthe-inspired love tragedy–the words, the music, it’s all been heard before. But when filtered through Luhrmann’s love for pop songs and timeless showmanship, you’re reminded of the cinema’s power to renew itself while paying homage to its past.
Luhrmann’s overall success with his third “red-curtain” extravaganza (following Strictly Ballroom and William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet) is wildly debatable: the scenario is simple to the point of silliness, and how can you appreciate choreography when it’s been diced into hash by attention-deficit editing? Still, there’s something genuine brewing between costars Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman (as, respectively, a poor writer and his unobtainable object of desire), and their vocal talents are impressive enough to match Luhrmann’s orgy of extraordinary sets, costumes, and digital wizardry. The movie’s novelty may wear thin, along with its shallow indulgence of a marketable soundtrack, but Luhrmann’s inventiveness yields moments that border on ecstasy, when sound and vision point the way to a moribund genre’s joyously welcomed revival. –Jeff Shannon
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August 16, 2010
#1
Review by Dan Droman
Rating:
I must admit that when I first went to see Mouln Rouge in the theaters, I was most reluctant. It looked cheesy to me, but I kept hearing good things about it. So finally I went, and was blown away. This movie, from a writing aspect, breaks no new ground, but visually,it is astonishing. The beautiful thing about film is that the same story can be told over and over in different styles. And Baz Luhrman’s style is most definitely unique. The movie pulls you in from it’s opening moments, and rarely lets go. I did find the movie slightly over-indulgent at times, as though Baz was throwing certain visual effects in for the sake of throwing them in. But the acting all around is incredible, and the music is absolutely genius. Many may have a problem with what could be describe as a 2 hour music video, but I loved it. It is definitely geared towards the MTV generation, but I think it can be enjoyed by all. All in all, it is the best movie I have seen in a long time.
August 16, 2010
#2
Review by
Rating:
At a time when movie-goers reward high budget, formulaic, Hollywood concoctions, I am grateful for this creative, unconventional, genre-defying movie. By genre, I don’t mean musical or drama. I mean film, theater, opera, circus. Somehow the director had so much vision he managed to take so many unsavory elements (unoriginal love story, singing, dancing, so much lace and ruffles, a bit of campiness)and turned them into breath-taking entertainment. The first time I saw it, it did strange things to my pulse, but it was the second time that I let myself enjoy it. I feel sorry for all the critics and movie-goers who expected it to be what movies are ‘supposed’ to be and so didnt have anything to compare it to or knew how to relate to it. There really has never been anything like it. For those who have not seen it, I suggest approaching it as you would a roller-coaster ride (dont expect to be in control).
August 16, 2010
#3
Review by Scott
Rating:
I went into the cinema expecting to be amazed with the costumes and scenery, in awe of the singing, and enthralled in the story. Basically I went into Moulin Rouge with unreachable expectations.I wasn’t disappointed!The movie was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The camera angles, and difficult shots are at times dizzying and overwhelming, but in the fantasy world that Baz Lurhmann has created it all works. The music is beautiful and inspiring and funny all at the same time. Nicole doesn’t have the most powerful or experienced voice, but it only adds to the poignancy of her character. I found that she fit the part far better than I expected. Her rendition of “One Day I’ll Fly Away” was especially nice. As for Ewan, he can *really* sing! His voice was clear and powerful, and the Elephant love melody duet was probably one of my favourite sequences. That last scene (*sniffs)…Wow.I laughed (never I thought I’d enjoy Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” quite so much!) and I cried, and I left the theatre shaking. I haven’t felt that way since…I’ve never felt that way. I sincerly hope this film does well, because it is so unique and beautiful and touching.I heartily recommend Moulin Rouge to everyone. It’s truly a movie lover’s movie. It’s a movie, and you never once forget it. It’s flashy and loud and fake. But the fact that it just doesn’t make sense is what makes it make sense. It’s a movie and it’s art at the same time.Stop reading already, and go see Moulin Rouge!”The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return.”
August 16, 2010
#4
Review by Megan H. Watkins
Rating:
If you like musicals, fantasies and romantic dramas, you’ll go nuts for Moulin Rouge. With unique camera action, wierd, wacky and wonderful sets, delightfully surprising musical adaptations and more than a touch of the fantastic, Moulin Rouge is sure to please. McGregor’s performance, both dramatic and vocal, is to die for. How can one person be so shamelessly multi-talented?Kidman does an excellent job as the courtesan “Satine”. Though her singing did not have the “wow” factor of McGregor’s, it was more than adequate for the task. And many of the hopeless love songs she performed seemed quite touching when one recalls her present situation in real life.If you don’t like musicals, see Moulin Rouge anyway. You’ll be treated to a film that doesn’t fit the usual, ho-hum summer offerings. Instead it provides a rare treat for the jaded and bored movie goer.
August 16, 2010
#5
Review by Craig Bonney
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Boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl.That’s basically the plotline of “Moulin Rouge” in a nutshell, but the way Baz Luhrmann interprets this story on screen has to be seen to be believed.Lots of lavish color, movement, sights and sounds explode on the screen like a Toulouse Lautrec painting on acid.Baz has captured all the excitement and decadence of 1800s Paris, given it a modern twist and reinvented the classic movie musicals of days gone by. And the result? A truly unique cinematic experience that will be talked about for years to come!The first frenetic 30 minutes will have you clutching your seat and gasping for breath. It’s like a white-knuckle ride at your favorite theme park – it’s almost too much to take. But what a ride!”Moulin Rouge” is a movie to be viewed more than once….if only to take in what you missed the first time.You’ll either love or loathe it. But if you choose the latter, quickly take your pulse and check that you’re still in the land of the living!