Moulin Rouge (2001)

Film Title: Moulin Rouge (2001)

Genre: Drama / Musical / Romance

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Two Most Important Member of the Cast: Nicole Kidman (Satine) and Ewan McGregor (Christian)

Review

[1]In this movie, Ewan McGregor plays Christian, a young immature writer who comes to a highly fictionalized and fantastical turn of the 20th century Paris. He falls in with a crowd of Bohemian artists led by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo) who are writing a show, “the Spectacular Spectacular” to be performed at the Moulin Rouge, a hot nightspot. The Bohemian artists want Christian to write the show for them. They also send him to convince Satine (Nicole Kidman), the celebrity of Moulin Rouge to star in their show. Zidler (Jim Broadbent), the owner of the Moulin Rouge arranged the meeting of Satine and the Duke of Monroth (Richard Roxburgh), a potential investor on that night. Satine thought that Christian is the Duke; thus she takes him to her bedchamber. They both fall in love with each other. However, Satine is a courtesan and love for her is a foolish risk. Further, the Duke invested on her which could be her chance to become a legitimate actress.

[2]According to Ivana Redwine (2006), the movie is a visually alluring and lavishly theatrical drama. Furthermore, the style of the movie is eclectic, drawing on grand opera, MTV music videos and MGM musicals. The music also is almost entirely in the 20th century pop even though Moulin Rouge is set in 1899 Paris. However, Luhrmann captured the feeling that seems to be there in 1899. Similarly, the sets and costumes are also tremendous giving the film an artificial, edge quality that serves the fantasy-like quality of the story.

[3]Equally, Gildrie-Voyles (2001) points out that despite the tragic plot of the movie, it is comical as it is moving. This good deal of humor comes from Luhrman's magical directing style. He mixes reality and fantasy with quirky camera angle, quick cuts and lots of special effects. The music itself also adds humor. On one hand, while the song brings laughter to the audience and distract the scenes sometimes, they are appropriate. Moreover, the production numbers are thrilling and gorgeous especially the tango led by Jacek Koman.

[4]On the contrary one of the criticisms of the movie is the songs used in the musical. According to the review posted on Reel Criticism.com (2001), all of the songs in the movie are modern songs that mark a striking contrast to the time and setting they are being sung since the movie is set to 1899 Paris. Examples of these songs are the Material Girl by Madonna and the few lines from the Nirvana song. Another problem found in the film is the shift from goofiness to seriousness and back again. The shifting is so harsh making it difficult to get into the story.

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[1] Voyles-Gildrie, E. (2001). Moulin Rouge. Matt Heffernan’s Film Head. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from www.filmhead.com

[2] Redwine, I. (2006). Moulin Rouge-Review. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from http://homevideo.about.com

[3] Voyles-Gildrie, E. (2001). Moulin Rouge. Matt Heffernan’s Film Head. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from www.filmhead.com

[4] Internet. (2001). Review of Moulin Rouge (2001). Retrieved November 9, 2006, from www.reelcriticism.com