An Energy and Charisma not usually seen in main-stream film ...

Rating: 9/10 (28 May 2002)

The weekend prior to the Academy Awards, I decided I could avoid it no longer, and I rented "Moulin Rouge!" As a devotee of classic musicals, I thought I would be offended and disappointed by a film that destroyed their legacy rather than honoring or bettering it. Boy, was I ever wrong! From the opening seconds of the film, I was shocked, dazzled and inspired. As I have since learned, the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice (with a large chunk of appreciation due to "Camille") served as the source material for this unbelievable piece of showmanship. Each shot (and they are seemingly endless) was carefully planned, is part of both story and atmosphere and is unlike practically anything else produced today. Each member of the cast is wonderful, maintaining the perfect balance between melodrama and true passion/emotion, all with this fantastic self-awareness. "Moulin Rouge!" performs for the viewer, asking at each turn whether he/she is satisfied. Lines, songs, costumes: they all change the ultimate outcome of the story, but if you are unsatisfied, wait just a few minutes, and they will change it again, aware of their power and yet free of pretension. No comments on this movie would be complete without a word about the magnificent singing voices of those involved. When Ewan McGregor pops up with "The hills are alive ... " and later "My gift is my song ... " my mouth dropped open. And Nicole Kidman, descending on that trapeze murmuring "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" - I almost applauded. This IS what musicals are all about: Spectacular, Spectacular!
And so somehow, this film works. It works and it laughs at the cynic who thought it would fail.
After the first hour, I was ready to change my Oscar predictions. How could something of this magnitude be ignored? Yes, it is gaudy and garish. Yes, the actors do spontaneously burst into song and dance about. Yes, Baz was more than a little obnoxious in interviews in the weeks before. But isn't that the point? Unfortunately, Oscar voters would like to distance themselves from their craft. On "the big night," they seem to desire that which is safe, that which is normal, that which is mundane. "Moulin Rouge!" is none of these; and although my first predictions of its success were wrong, I feel positive that this film will survive and entertain as long as people are interested in intelligent, stimulating art.