Moulin Rouge!…where to begin? A movie known to many of today’s older generation, Baz Luhrmann’s spectacle of a musical is now almost twenty years old and many of today’s youth is negligently unware of its existence. How possibly could this be true? With eight Oscar nominations and two wins, it’s hard to believe that this movie isn’t known to many and all who’ve ever set down to watch a movie, and yet it somehow qualifies as a hidden jewel to many. Thankfully there are pages like this one to blog about it. So, here’s what to expect for those reading who have yet to be graced with this viewing experience.
It’s the turn of the century in Paris. The year is 1900 and English writer Christian, alone and depressed, is writing a story of events that encompassed his life just a year before. As his stories goes, Christian who’s new to Paris links up with a group of performers with the intention of creating a new show for the insanely wild club ‘Moulin Rouge’. That’s until Christian meets the beautiful ‘courtesan’ Satine, beginning a dangerous love affair that could potentially mean the end for them both. The plot is definitely much more complex than the explanation above and actually carries much more depth, though it’s better left there so as to not spoil too much.
One thing is for certain: this is a musical unlike any that’s been put on screen before. Baz Luhrmann’s vision is a spectacle that can only be compared to dreams and fantasies. The dance numbers, the colors, the costumes, the camera work, the cuts and sleek editing, all show that Moulin Rouge! was not an easy undertaking. Luhrmann is of course known for this style of filmmaking, and his forte is integrating pop culture into all his movies as he’s done before in films prior to this, and even later on after. It is something of a ‘jukebox’ musical, so viewers can expect to hear some of their favorite songs from artists such as Elton John, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Police, Nirvana, Madonna, and many more all performed by members of the cast in epic style. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor are at the center of the artistry, and having their work cut out for them, made the movie ultimately what it was via their stellar musical performances and their acting.
They were the stars, but no actor or performance fell short. What’s most important for a film like Moulin Rouge! is falling in line with the overall vision, and everyone involved does.
They were the stars, but no actor or performance fell short. What’s most important for a film like Moulin Rouge! is falling in line with the overall vision, and everyone involved does. At the moment Netflix is streaming it in select territories, and it’s available for purchase. For those who’ve yet to see it, don’t leave yourselves out. For those that have, revisit it so has to not leave it forgotten. Also, this is ‘Music Monday’, and some may not want to watch the movie, so the full soundtrack can be heard on Spotify and most of the tracks are also on Youtube.
