A brilliant symphony of incongruities

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2002)

My reaction to the first 15 minutes of this film was, `Oh, no. This is going to be a two hour music video, and from the looks of it, it is going to be like MTV on LSD.' I actually shut it off and went to bed. I returned the next day and vowed to keep my personal policy never to leave any movie unfinished, no matter how much I dislike it. I'm glad I have that policy because wow, was my first impression wrong.
Baz Luhrmann has delivered us a piece of filmmaking genius with this avant-garde film. It combines disparate elements that seem incompatible, yet they work magnificently together. Music video style is combined with the moorings of the traditional theatrical musical to create a piece that is simultaneously revolutionary and old guard.
This film is about incongruity. Modern popular music is woven into a turn of the century story. The sets, lighting and costumes are designed to create garish color clashes. The presentation is sometimes camp comedy and at others very straightforward and melodramatic. Normally, none of these elements work together, but Luhrmann orchestrates them into a symphony of visual and auditory harmony that is nothing short of overwhelming.
The story itself is nothing special. It is an old fashioned tragic love story where true love is pitted against practical realities. The impoverished writer (Ewan McGregor) loves the courtesan (Nicole Kidman) and she loves him, but the Duke (Richard Roxburgh) desires her and will stop at nothing to get her. She promises to be with the Duke, and he agrees to fund the `Spectacular Spectacular', refurbishing the Moulin Rouge for the event and promising to make her a great star. She agrees but continues to dally with the writer behind the Duke's back. Of course, this leads to a confrontation where she must decide between true love and great wealth.
The music is outstanding. The arrangements of familiar pop songs as well as the original music are fantastically done. The dance and choreography are Broadway quality. The costumes and sets are, well, Spectacular. The presentation is sometimes zany and at other times solemn, but always entertaining. While Luhrmann may not have redefined the movie musical, he has certainly expanded its limits by a couple of galaxies. In many ways it reminds me of the kind of effect shows like `Jesus Christ Superstar' and `The Wiz' had on theater, taking risks to go to irreverent places and traverse unspoken boundaries.
The acting is terrific. Ewan McGregor continues to expand his considerable acting talents into new and varied areas, and with each new project shows his adaptability and facility. In addition to giving a gut wrenching performance as the forlorn writer he also shows a reasonably good singing voice. However, as good as McGregor is, he is blown off the set by Nicole Kidman. Kidman astounds with powerful vocals of recording artist caliber that literally raise goose flesh. Her acting is multi-textured with amazing range, handling the comedy, the romance and the tragedy with equal aplomb. This is by far her best performance and her shining moment. Jim Broadbent is phenomenal as the over-the-top owner and ringmaster of the legendary night spot. The entire cast (especially the dancers) delivers a high energy performance.
This film is a treat for anyone who loves theater, popular music, great dance and an old fashioned love story. I rated it a 10/10. Yes, it is sappy and silly and overly melodramatic, but it is done with style . . . Spectacularly!