A Surprisingly Bold Film.

Rating: 9/10 (2 June 2001)

Let's face it: It's hard to release a musical in these modern times if it's not animated or doesn't have the Disney name attached to it. What worked as a staple in the '50's is all but shunned in the last few decades. And now "Moulin Rouge" comes out. Whether or not it will revitalize the musical genre remains to be seen, but at least it's something to take notice of.
Well, yes and no. Everyone I've heard critique this movie has said either you're going to love this film or hate it. There's no middle ground. And I think that's a fair assumption. Some people just can't stand singing in a film. I, however, really liked the film, but I heard a person or two grumbling as they walked out, wishing they had seen "Pearl Harbor" instead. But almost enough about my film-going experience.
This film's look is as bright and flashy as the on-screen action itself. Huge elaborate sets, detailed costumes, special effects and numerous camera tricks definitely keep things interesting. There were a lot of things that I liked about this movie. Bear in mind that I studied film in college so I "got" a lot of visual tricks the director was trying to do. I think it's going to be a little hard for some general audience to catch some of the attitudes and styles if you haven't watched a lot of films from the musical era, and even before that. "Moulin Rouge" has a cartoony atmosphere to it at times, but you can tell the actors are having fun with their roles.
Speaking of actors, Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman are exceptional in their roles. I never would have thought either to have singing talent, but they do. I was very surprised, and their acting complimented their singing very well. The songs are clever, cycling through SEVERAL popular hits from several decades (often in the same song), which resulted in several laughs from the audience. The rest of the supporting cast held their own as well. And thankfully, that amazingly obnoxious and overplayed (Hence why it's obnoxious) "Lady Marmalade" remake factors in and is spaced throughout the film for less than two minutes, and gratefully doesn't blare as the credits roll. Thank God for keeping artistic integrity. The previews and the radio make you think the whole movie is based around this one song.
I think the film's biggest hang-up for me was due to the camera tricks. It walked a very fine line between being amusing at times and very distracting. I nearly walked out on Luhrmann's camera antics in "Romeo + Juliet", but fortunately, he tones this down within the first 20 minutes.
"Moulin Rouge" is a hard film to recommend. I liked it, but I can see reasons why people wouldn't. But if anything, it's a film to see if you would like to see something a little different, or at least McGregor or Kidman display a new facet of their versatility. Worth the risk of something out of the ordinary.