Mixed Feelings, But Mostly Impressed

Rating: 8/10 (21 December 2001)

I am thrilled about and a little bit mad at this movie. The film is mostly spectacular, but unfortunately Baz Luhrmann is not only a fabulous filmmaker; he is also a raving lunatic. This could easily have been the best musical of all-time, but crazy and unfunny humor constantly ruins the rhythm of the film. Extremely annoying, but I managed to ignore it as the film went on.
The musical scenes are absolutely fantastic. They are either explosive (as in the scene where the Moulin Rouge is introduced, powered by Fatboy Slim's Because We Can) or beautifully romantic. The soundtrack is a must-buy. I am usually a little troubled by musical scenes but in this film they work much better than the scenes where the music is absent.
Nicole Kidman is as enchanting as ever, but surprisingly enough, Ewan McGregor ends up being the scene stealer. This is his best performance to date. He really makes you root for him. I think this is the best portrayal of "boy in love" I have seen. Luhrmann messed up "The greatest love story ever told" in Romeo + Juliet, but this time he makes it almost right with what must be the second greatest love story ever told. The ending is just as hopelessly sad as in Shakespeare's story, and that proves much stronger than any happy ending.
All the visual aspects make for great eyecandy. Paris is portrayed as a dreamy and beautiful city just as it is in Amelie. Nothing like the reality, but that's fine. I suspects quite a few technical Oscar nominations for this film and also, of course, some musical nominations. I can't wait to see Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman duet Come What May at the show.
I was, as I said, much troubled by the comical elements of the film, and would have absolutely adored a purely dramatic cut of the film, but if you manage to see past that (or if you are one of the few who share Luhrmann's twisted form for humor), you are in for a treat. I want to give this film as many points as I can, but I feel obligated to punish it for not doing all that it could.
Rating: 8/10