Wonderful, Glorious Tragedy

Rating: 10/10 (25 March 2007)

When I first saw Moulin Rouge! at the movie theater, I was shocked, surprised and stunned by the most most original cinematology I had ever seen. Its difficult to explain the visual feast for the eyes created by Baz Luhrman in this masterpiece. Suffice to say, no one had ever seen anything like it before. But to dwell only on the visual aspect of this movie does a grave disservice because it is not only a visual marvel but also a superb film in its own right. I have never been a huge fan of traditional musicals such as "Oklahoma" or "Sound of Music". However, Moulin Rouge! completely explodes and re-invents musical film-making. With all deference to the subsequently released "Chicago", Moulin Rouge! is in a league of its own. The melange of pop songs in the "Elephant Song" could have easily have been a disaster but here, it fits perfectly with the story. I would also be remiss not to mention the performances of Nicole Kidman and Ewan MacGregor. Kidman is a revelation. First, her singing was surprisingly accomplished. But the true stunner was the vulnerability and honesty that comes across in her performance - it was simply breathtaking. MacGregor also shocks with his convincing if unspectacular singing and well as his simple but spot on performance as the young and penniless writer. I see literally dozens if not hundreds of movies a year, both classics and new releases but I only own about ten DVDs and reserve purchases only to the absolute classics like The Godfather Trilogy and "The Maltese Falcon". Yes, one of the privileged few DVDs on my shelf is Moulin Rouge! Enough said!