Moulin Rouge!

Kitschy, over-stylized, zany, and wildly postmodern — Moulin Rouge! is a rollercoaster you can't help but love. Right from the start, it doesn't let up. The rapid-fire editing takes some getting used to, and the humor might seem dumb at first, but stick with it and keep an open mind, and you'll likely find yourself completely swept up in it, just like I did. The mix of humor, romance, and drama can feel a bit over-the-top and uneven, but it worked for me. Plus, what starts as a comedy transforms into a powerful and intense drama in the second half, solidifying the film's uniqueness. The romantic storyline isn't groundbreaking, but it's executed so well that you forgive the clichés and just enjoy the ride. The musical highlights for me are definitely "Your Song" and "Elephant Love Medley." The chemistry between Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor is perfect and feels completely natural. My only real gripe is that the film's resolution is revealed right from the beginning. While the ending is still strong, it might have hit even harder if we didn't know what was coming. All in all, it's a magical film I'll watch many times over. (10/08/2017)

A musical fairy tale about paying homage to the film century. The experience is, of course, deeper if one consciously perceives all the sources of inspiration. Viewers who only suspect something will only grope on the surface. The film features everything from de Toulouse-Lautrec, Méliès, Violetta, Monroe, Madonna, and Queen. Thank you, absinthe fairy. (02/04/2009)

I've kept Moulin Rouge in my cupboard of unwatched films for a relatively long time and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see this musical classic on the big screen for the first time, where its qualities stood out all the more. From the very first minutes, we are thrown into a slightly maddening carousel of events interwoven with colourful costumes and sets, amazing singing and dancing sequences, and especially strong and convincing performances of a tragicomic nature. Of the ensemble cast, I was most impressed by Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman, who gave unforgettable and supremely plastic creations. I must also praise the plethora of interludes referring to various legendary songs, which surprisingly fit perfectly into the scenes, and the visuals and cinematography referring to different periods or genres of cinema. A film that is a feast for the senses and forms an unmissable gem within its genre. (11/13/2018)

Sometimes I tell myself that it's hardly possible for there to exist such a precisely balanced border between deafening noise and indescribable beauty. A highly romantic affair, in which a tremendous amount of tension lies hidden, led by my favorite film scene of all time: The hiding of the main couple, ingeniously built up to the perfect Because she doesn't love you! moment. The pinnacle of cinematography and the most emotionally captivating affair. Thank you, Mr. Luhrmann, for the best film I have ever seen. (12/23/2004)

Although the makers if this tried to remain on the brink of bearable and laughably bombastic kitsch soft porn, all too often this slips into a stupid, noisy (I don’t think there is one second of silence here or no scenes where someone isn’t jumping around, screaming, whistling etc.) patchwork full of cuts, certainly worthy of an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. However, once in a while it calms down and looks good, and so for instance during the tango or the live scene with Satine and Krystian, all of these criticisms move aside, because at these times Moulin Rouge is simply flawless. A shame that there aren’t more similarly powerful moments in this movie, but on the other hand there aren’t that few of them really. (12/28/2006)