Exploiting the Best

Rating: 8/10 (1 June 2001)

Moulin Rouge is one of the best cinematic experiences I have seen in years. Baz Luhrman takes his directorial style to new heights with this soaring story of love. At the heart of the movie is the simplest idea. All you need is love. Now...for the cynical moviegoer...this won't be enough to sustain your interest for two hours. But for the moviegoer who loves to believe in love, this movie delivers. Set admist the very un-romantic setting of a french brothel in 1900 is a story of true romance. AND IT'S A MUSICAL!!! Firt...a note on musicals...the theory behind musicals isn't to be cheesy as many moviegoers feel. It is said that characters in musicals sing and dance because they have to. They've expressed all of their emotions in speech and need a new platform to convey their feelings. So they sing...they sing for life...for love...and for the world. Granted...it gives the performer a chance to show off his abilities...to wow the audience with a number or two. But it is meant to express the charcters inner feelings.
That's what Moulin Rouge does. Going with the convention of using modern day lyrics in 1900 France...the musical numbers explode from the screen. Baz is a master of eye candy...but beneath his candy is feeling...passion and romance. Maybe the lead vocals were doctored. To quote history...Audrey Hepburn did not do all of her own singing in MY FAIR LADY and that is considered a masterpiece. Entire characters vocal tracks were dubbed in THE KING and I and even recently in EVERYBODY SAYS I LOVE YOU a nice musical as well) Drew Barrymore was obviously overdubbed. Those stars of movie musicals inthe past weren't the greatest singers either...but they emoted...just like Nicole Kidman and Ewan Mcgregor. This is coming from a person who is not an avid musical fan. I hate the cheesy MY FAIR LADY's and GIGI's and anything with Rodger or Hammerstein in the title. I like the musicals that speak to the audience in a real way. Like Cabaret...or Chorus Line. Moulin Rouge spoke to me. It created a world where love is possible...and not only possible...but wonderful. Where love can make you sing. Visually the movie is like nothing before. Baz exploits all the best of cinema. With his quick takes, and moving camera, and extreme close-ups you see all the little sublties in a not so subtle movie.
To pause on that...the movie isn't subtle. That isn't its intention...the musical from 1960 and before isn't subtle. Its not supposed to be. TO use current lyrics is brilliant by Baz. It allows the viewers to be connected and still experience a musical. Something which is foreign to modern movie-goers. Baz is trying to recreate the musical...which is needed. There is talk of RENT and CHICAGO being movies. I hope they are. So few people view the theatre anymore...and what better way to expose them to it but to bring it to the movies. Back to the movie...to truly experience the movie you have to let yourself go...accept the blatantness of the movie and allow all of its conventions to surround. It is more than a two hour music video...it is a simple story of love...where every emotion is so great...the characters must sing. The characters will carry you away. Ewan is moving as the lost poet with love in his heart...and Kidman is appropriately fetching and sensistive. They float this movie up into the moonlit scenes that much of it takes place in. I'm hoping the academy doesn't look over Jim Broadbent who steals everyscene he is in...like the Emcee of Cabaret Broadbent embodies the feeling of the Moulin Rouge. He is the abandoment of the club...but more than that he is its heart. John Leguizamo...who may become a Baz staple...is very scene stealing and very effective. In sum...the cast shines...the movie shines...and you will want to talk about it after it is over. See the movie which EXPLOITS (in a good way) all that cinema has to offer.