Moulin Rouge (15) Review

Overall Rating

* Brilliant acting
* Excellent audio & video on DVD
* Very clever integration of song into the script
* A unique experience

* At times a far too frantic pace with dizzyingly changing short clips

We see many many films a year including many foreign French, German & Scandinavian origin. Many of the English speaking ones are well reviewed by Maltin and others but we do not particularly enjoy. On the other hand, some with lukewarm reviews do appeal to us, so our taste, like that of most, is personal.
In that context I can see why "Moulin Rouge" might not appeal to many. The opening sequences are very jazzy and the rapidly changing scene clips are overwhelmingly kaleidoscopic in effect and create an initial negative response. However the film soon settles down and the performance of Nicole Kidman is brilliant and rivetting to this viewer. "Moulin Rouge" is completely different to all other films we have viewed and it is difficult to categorise it. Drama, musical, romantic, fantasy ??? It was all of those but presented in a fresh but challenging way.
It is a film to buy and watch many times to appreciate the full subtlety and depth of its content. Recommended to serious movie buffs.