Overall Rating
 Awesome: 60.08%
Worth A Look: 11.46%
Average: 4.35%
Pretty Bad: 8.04%
Total Crap: 16.07%
18 reviews, 651 user ratings
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| Moulin Rouge! |
by Brian McKay
"Get ready to run with this movie, or be hopelessly left in the dust."
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I generally hate musicals, but I have to respect any film that defies the usual genres and conventions and strives to be unique, perhaps achieving greatness in the process. Moulin Rouge is such a film. To paraphrase Eric Cartman, "This movie has blown my fragile little mind". And if you can't get laid after taking your significant other to see this, then it just ain't gonna happen.From the very beginning, Moulin Rouge is a sensory (and sensual) overload. Set amid the decadence of a turn-of-the-century Parisian red light district, the "Red Windmill" is a cabaret nightclub and gentlemans's brothel. The surreal Paris streets, and the Moulin Rouge itself, are something that could only spring from the mind of Baz Lurhmann ("Strictly Ballroom", "Romeo + Juliet") and is certainly his most ambitious project by far. Though his previous two films were entertaining and very well done, the third time is definitely the charm.
Ewan McGregor comes to town in the role of "Christian", an idealistic but pennyless writer who wants to write about the one thing he has never experienced first-hand: Love. He gets sucked into the frenetic world of the Moulin Rouge when he becomes involved with a motley group playwrights who want to convince the club's owner, Zidler (Jim Broadbent), to allow them to stage their production there and have Satine (Nicole Kidman) take the starring role. It is at the Moulin Rouge that Christian catches his first glimpse of Satine, the star attraction and courtesan (yes, it means hooker) of the club. In a case of mistaken identity, she believes Christian to be the Duke of Worcester (Played by Richard Roxburgh playing Gary Oldman - the resemblance is that uncanny). She soon realizes her mistake, but not before falling for Christian. The Duke, however, agrees to fund the play and make Satine a star - but only if he will be given "exclusive" rights to her.
That's all you need to know about the plot, because what really drives this film is not the plot, but the characters and the way they are developed through music. And the music . . . oh my God, the music. It's is quite simply flawless. Not a note is wasted or misplaced, and the film and score complement each other perfectly. And if the stunning visuals of the Moulin Rouge aren't surreal enough, the music, a medley of distinctly post-1900 pop and rock songs, perfectly completes this fantasy world. Everything from Elton John to Nirvana is adapted into the score, the highlight of which is a medley of a dozen or more love songs sung by Christian and Satine on the Paris rooftops. Many of these are incredibly moving in their beauty and complexity, while others, like the duet of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" between Zidler and the Duke, are utterly hilarious. The result is a rich tapestry of comedy, drama, tragedy, and redemption. If you don't laugh or tear up even once in this film, then you simply aren't human.
While the supporting cast is excellent, the real chemistry is between Christian and Satine. Nicole Kidman is absolutely stunning in this film (Tom Cruise should be kicking himself in the ass right about now), and her portrayal of Satine is as beautiful as it is tragic. MacGregor is equally charismatic and heartbreaking as the country bumpkin wannabe writer who becomes a warrior-poet in the name of love. And did I mention the chemistry between them? Oh Lord, they are practically spurting chemistry all over the lens. Don't believe any crap reviews you might read about this film that say it is "all style and no substance" or "emotionally bankrupt". This film has the rare ability to stir every emotion in the human soul without pandering to the audience or reducing itself to smarmy melodrama.I don't care if you hate musicals (like I do). I don't care if you're too much of a manly-man to be caught dead in a film like this (like I am). See this movie, then see it again, then buy the soundtrack, then pre-order the DVD. And do both you and your better half a favor and take them to see it. You won't be sorry.
link directly to this review at http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=4303&reviewer=258
originally posted: 06/02/01 22:33:48
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For more in the Australian series, click here.
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USA
01-Jun-2001 (PG-13)
DVD: 14-Jan-2003
UK
07-Sep-2001 (12)
Australia
31-May-2001 (M)
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