Beneath the Sensory Extravaganza there is More than Meets the Eye

Rating: 10/10 (22 July 2002)

Moulin Rouge, for me, is one of those unique films that cannot fully be appreciated until it is viewed for at least a second, and maybe a third time. After my first encounter with Moulin Rouge I found myself making the usual comments: Colorful, lively soundtrack, fine performances, but at times visually distracting and unnerving, but an overall good movie that I enjoyed. But after a second viewing, I discovered so much, much more.
Beneath the soundtrack, slick editing, elaborate costuming and eclectic sets is, at heart, a simplistic, emotional love story. That the plot is simplistic and not terribly original cannot be denied. However, like most great stories, it is this simplicity that allows the performers to carry the show, to utterly convince us that this story is important and worth telling. Plot complexity would merely distract from the emotional, sincere portrayals given by the cast. It is the performances and director Baz Luhrman's willingness to capitalize on them rather than subjugate them to visual frenzy that transform Moulin Rouge from a fun song and dance number into poetic filmmaking.
Ewan McGregor is perfect as the idealistic, hopeful romantic who woos the world (and Satine) with his song. He is unafraid to expose himself as an actor emotionally and whimsically. Jim Broadbent as Zidler is clever and witty with just enough bombast to make us like a character who at his core should not be very likable. And Richard Roxburgh does a fine job in the end of turning what could have been a prototypical "foppish bad guy" into a more complicated villain with real pain of his own. All the actors sing effectively (particularly Kidman and McGregor) and they use the songs not as an interruption to entertain us, but to further the story in an effective, emotional way.
Ultimately, in this writer's humble opinion, it is Nicole Kidman who pushes the movie to the highest level. Unfortunately, before this film, I was one of the many who perceived Kidman as a decent talent, but successful largely due to her husband's coattails. I stand corrected. In Moulin Rouge Kidman conveys more emotion with simply her eyes than most actresses can do with a hundred words. What makes her performance extra special is the ability to tell the story without saying a word. Kidman's character goes through changes, some subtle and not-so-subtle, that pushes the actress to great work. In the Elephant Love Medley, if one can stop from rollicking along with the music (which admittedly is difficult to do)and observe Kidman's acting, it is a marvelous thing to behold. She evolves through defiance, amusement, wonder, fear, doubt, hope and finally embraces Christian's love, and she does all this definitively and effectively in three and a half minutes.
Kidman takes us through Satine's complicated journey throughout the movie. She is a woman yearning for what she has never known (true love), but certain that yearning will lead to destitution and heartbreak. She dives in with Christian, only to realize, despite her anguish, that this love cannot succeed, it is just not meant to be. Of course she comes to realize Christian is a man who loves her more than he loves what she can provide and do for him. She is astounded by this and commits to him no matter what, until she realizes she is dying and cannot offer him anything. It is painful to watch her fight with the idea and resolution of telling Christian she doesn't love him and must send him away.
Beneath the flash and bang of Moulin Rouge exists the picture I just described, and if we let it, it will take us on an emotional ride with which we can relate, share and feel. We really do feel for the characters and understand their love, sorrow, love and pain. This is the Moulin Rouge I saw the second time around, and it has made all the difference. I challenge others out there to give this movie the same chance.