Welcome to the Moulin Rouge!
For a movie such as this–being a Baz Luhrmann production–I recommend that you all find a seatbelt and buckle up before you try your luck at watching it. I apologize for the cliché, but this movie's editing and pace is much like riding a roller coaster that was designed by the schizophrenic love-child of Tim Burton and Salvador Dali...In other words, Luhrmann.
So please, give yourself a moment to grab some motion sickness medication and enjoy the review.
"A story about a time, a story about a place...But above all things, a story about love."
Before we go on to talk about the technical aspects of the film, here are a few things that you need to know:
The film takes place in turn of the century France, and revolves around aspiring poet and bohemian Christian (Ewan McGregor) in his quest for freedom, beauty, truth, and most of all love. After joining an acting troupe and writing a play, he leaves for the Moulin Rouge to persuade the courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman) to agree to put it on. While pitching his idea, the two fall in love but are forced to keep mum about the ordeal. In order for the show to be produced and to keep the Moulin Rouge in business, Satine must seduce the Duke (Richard Roxburgh), which leads to a whirlwind of drama and tragedy in the film.
Geek Out Moment: The film's story line is an amalgamation of not only one, but three operas: "Great Performances: La bohéme," "La traviata" and "Orpheus in the Underworld."
"There was a boy, a very strange enchanted boy..."
...And his name was Baz Luhrmann. As a director, Luhrmann is either one who is blatantly criticized or widely acclaimed; the poor guy just rarely seems to catch a break from critics. The primary reason behind this–as I eluded to at the beginning of this review–is due to his fast-paced editing style and his excessive use of bright colors. Both factors should subject his films to have a warning show before they start for people who get motion sick fairly easily or who suffer from seizures.
Moulin Rouge! was the first of his that I've ever seen, and I suffered from a sensory overload for what felt like days for lack of preparation for the many sharp turns, rapid changes and the vortex of colors and songs that would intoxicate my senses. But it wasn't only his directing technique that offset me, but also the writing. The script for the movie was co-written by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce, and in my point of view, suffered from bipolarity. At one moment it was sombre, then outlandishly ecstatic, creepy and then would flip to a romantically gooey scene. Each scene had dialoge to match, and although the writing was as out-of-control as it seemed...It worked.
Everything, every little element that Luhrmann added in to this film worked out. Why? Well, it all served a purpose. Here you have this wide-eyed and love-obsessed, never-been-loved poet who leaves his quiet life in London to the center of an artistic and bohemian revolution in Paris. The camera direction and the vivacious color scheme hit the audience as violently as it hit Christian. The pacing needs to be fast-paced so that the audience feels how new and exciting this new environment is to him. The writing also plays its part well, building up how utterly insane and chaotic the lives of the characters are, and all of the songs that were mashed and redone (that yes, Luhrmann played a part in perfecting) helped the story progress very well. In fact, the El Tango de Roxanne is one of my favorite songs...ever.
In other words, this very, very strange enchanting boy did his job very well...Albeit painfully so.
"He's got a huge...talent."
Yes, all of the actors who were a part of this movie do have quite a bit of talent; however, I wouldn't pick this out as a movie to study if you were an aspiring actor. If this movie is good, it's due to the art direction and the editing, not the acting (although Kidman was nominated for an Oscar for her performance).
The actors approached this movie, and performed it as one would a stage production: slightly overdone with exaggerated emotional responses and line delivery. In any other movie, this would not be acceptable, but it blends well with the overall feel that the film puts off. For the most part, they all pull their weight and evoke whatever emotions they are meant to, but that's as far as it goes really. However, there is one scene at the end of the film where McGregor breaks out into a sob that would make Toby Maguire's cry scene in Spider-Man 3 look worthy of an Academy Award.
Another Geek Out Moment:Nicole Kidman fractured two ribs and injured her knee while rehearsing a dance routine for the film. Many scenes where she was shot from the waist up were shot while she was in a wheelchair.
"Come what may"
This movie, despite all of its flash and flair, is one that is rather enjoyable. After I watched this a second time on my own, and a third and fourth and fifth time with friends, I found that it is a great movie night type of film. If you end up watching it, please watch it with a group of people. One does not simply watch Moulin Rouge!, one must experience it. Once you do that, you'll like it a heck of a lot more, and the reason behind your headache will be from your pals' attempts to sing a duet with Ewan McGregor, not from the scene transitions.
All in all, I give this movie a 3 out of 5 stars.
Be sure to weigh in on what you think of the movie in the comments below and to also leave behind suggestions for next Tuesday's review!
Geek-ily yours,
Ms. Emily
