Story and music could have stood on their own.

Rating: Null/10 (2 June 2001)

The concept behind 'Moulin Rouge' has so much potential and could have been a classic, if director Baz Luhrmann had trusted his audience just a bit more. The leading actors (Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor), the use of music both familiar and original, the costumes, the color, the concept, and (above all) the love story were enough to make this a great movie. However, especially in the first half, the substance was secondary to the style. The fast cuts, sound effects, sped-up sequences, and slapstick often detracted from the strength of the story and the power of the music. For example, near the beginning there is a scene in the Moulin Rouge where the can-can dancers do a number to a minute or so of disco hit 'Lady Marmalade.' The spectacle, the costumes, the color and the anachronism would have had tremendous power if this sequence was filmed in one or two shots. Instead, it was as series of jump cuts with lots of screaming and shouting obscuring the music. There were many similar scenes.
This movie had everything it needed to be great: a hero you root for, a tragic heroine, a villain you love to hate, wonderful music, and an original look. If only Luhrmann had resisted the temptation to pile on his signature effects, it could have achieved that greatness. That said, Kidman and McGregor were brilliant and sang all their own songs, and the concept and use of music were fascinating. It's worth seeing on the big screen for the spectacle of it all.