flawed, yet remarkable

Rating: 8/10 (3 June 2001)

This movie, like its show-within-a-show, is spectacular in the original sense of the word. It is a visual spectacle unlike anything else in recent memory. Baz Luhrman is to be commended for pushing the boundaries of mainstream American film. Regardless of any other qualities, this accomplishment alone makes this movie a must-see for film buffs.
Luhrman is a risk-taking filmmaker if there ever was one, and as such he is bound to make a few mistakes. The movie drags at the end, unable to keep up the fast-cut, MTV-style frantic pace of the first two-thirds. McGregor's character, while inherently likeable, is perhaps not such a great writer, as his narration grows increasingly cliched and saccharine. Nevertheless, McGregor and Kidman have created characters that the audience cares about and will root for, and so it is not difficult to stick with the film through its flaws.
The use of popular songs, often in unexpected ways, is arresting and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. This humor is a strength of the movie, as this film would have fallen flat on its face had it taken itself too seriously. The music is done very well with sharp choreography and surprisingly good--even excellent--vocals. In particular, the 'Roxanne' sequence is magnificently performed and edited.
While there are moments in which 'Moulin Rouge' flounders, it more than makes up for it in its visual allure and boundary-pushing style.