Rating- * * * * (4/5)
One of biggest disappointments for me at the Oscars this year was seeing this great film walk away empty-handed. It may not be the most moving film or the most socially relevant but it is certainly the most unique film of the year. What makes it so unique? Well, firstly, it’s a musical. There has been a lot of interest floating around Hollywood to revive this long-dead genre and this may have done it. Along with a few original songs, Moulin Rouge incorporates contemporary pop favorites that seem to fit the moment even though this is period film set in turn-of-the-century France. Director Baz Luhrmann says that he uses these anachronistic pop songs to emphasize the spirit of the moment rather than the realism. We are meant to experience the same feelings the characters would experience rather than witness them as most historical films would do. The performances are fantastic with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor playing the leads and singing the songs. Both give bright and energetic performances and also have fantastic voices. Jim Broadbent and John Leguizamo also do a great job as the comic relief of the film. The biggest complaint I’ve heard about the film is that the editing is too erratic and fast-paced. While it is certainly fast-paced, the visual style of this film is meant to be inconsistent; rapid and disorienting at times and slow and sumptuous at others. Much like the human experience. Ultimately, Moulin Rouge is a stunning and memorable piece of cinema that stands out as one of the year’s best. If you’re a film-lover, you can’t afford to pass this one up. If you’re not, see it for the music.