Moulin Rouge Review
by Tim Wick
I have seldom, if ever, seen a film more theatrical than Moulin Rouge. At
the same time, the film is the most elegant justification for its own
medium
than I have seen in a long time. Director Baz Luhrmann (Strictly
Ballroom,
Romeo + Juliet) has succeeded in creating a modern musical that recalls
the
great MGM musicals of the 50's (if they were on speed and perhaps a little
bit of acid).
Luhrmann uses familiar music lyrics as dialogue, which makes the transitions
into song almost natural, be he knows that the conceit of breaking into song
is, at it's core, just a little silly. He expects us to laugh when he
presents us with an elaborately choreographed version of Madonna's Like a
Virgin. If we didn't, he would be sorely disappointed. And laugh I most
certainly did.
But I also marveled at the lush visuals of this film. The movie is made to
be looked at, to be immersed in. Lavish sets and costumes are everywhere.
Not to impress, but to draw you into the marvelous world that is Moulin
Rouge.
It is stunning that a film so artificially constructed can seem so real.
Camera shots, sound effects and dialogue constantly remind us we are
watching
a film but somehow we don't care. The theatre melts away and we are
transported to a place of dreams.
The previews for this film do not make it terribly apparent that this film
is
a musical. The characters break into song so naturally, it is simply an
extension of their speech. Ewan Macgregor's tenor gives the earnest lover
Christian a childlike quality while Nicole Kidman's Santine sings with a
throaty soprano that seems to wish for the days when she was as innocent as
Christian.
The film will tell you that it is about Truth, Freedom, Beauty and above all
Love. What a perfect description. Nothing but the most broad terms can
capture what this broad film is about. It is larger than it's actors, it's
script and even it's director. It soars so high that when it crashes, it is
as if you have been buried under the whole of Mont Marte.
The basic story (and it is basic - as all musicals must be) is a story of
love between a beautiful courtesan Satine (Kidman) and a poor writer
Christian (MacGregor). Their love is challenged by The Duke (Richard
Roxborough) who has convinced the owner of the Mulin Rouge (Jim Broadbent)
to
give Satine to him in exchange for funding a play Christian has written.
This is all you need to know - in fact you don't need to know it. The story
is simply a hanger on which the film is draped.
The songs in this film are all familiar but they have been altered (even
twisted in the cast of the Police's Roxanne) to fit the visual and
auditory
styles of the film. Some songs aren't immediately recognizable and when you
realize what they are singing, you giggle because the film pulled one over
on
you again. In particular, a love song montage is so over the top it's
delightful.
To say that I loved this film is an understatement. I have not seen a movie
more capable of touching me since Magnolia. I am certain that it is not
for everyone. Some of it's extravagances are a little much (although I
firmly believe that was the point).
Moulin Rouge may well be the most gutsy and original work to have found
it's way on screen in the last several years. Because of that, I think it
will be a challenge for this film to find an audience. It is also possible
that the audience will grow as people like me find this film and drag their
friends to showing after showing. Make no mistake, this film is a
masterpiece. This film loves the medium of FILM as much as every film
should. In a perfect world, Moulin Rouge would be the yardstick by which
all musicals to come are measured.
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