Plot: What’s it about?
Christian (Ewan McGregor) has come to Paris to write about truth, beauty, freedom, and above all things, love. Of course, he has never been in love and has little experience in the bohemian lifestyle, but he plans to make up for lost time. His father warned him not to venture to Paris, but he followed his spirit and has now arrived. After someone fell through his ceiling, Christian met up with a team of bohemian actors, who want to showcase the first bohemian stage show ever, at the infamous Moulin Rouge, no less. They soon discover his immense skills as a poet and have him to pen their play, but he will need permission from the Moulin Rouge’s highest paid performer, Satine (Nicole Kidman). His newfound friends ensure he will have a private meeting with the courtesan, thanks to some underhanded tactics, though she assumes he is a duke and not a simple writer. The two hit it off and even after she learns the truth, she realizes his skills and despite the real duke’s presence, they have a whirlwind romance. But when the smoke clears, will Christian have his true love or will he learn that love is not able to conquer all?
This is one of the most gorgeous, unique American films I’ve seen in the past decade, but it is hit or miss, in terms of audiences. I saw this a few times in theaters and while some people loved it, other simply hated it and few remained undecided. I suppose that’s the mark of a good movie, one that evokes a real response, with few viewers left unsure. The mix of new & old music is a little hard to adjust to at first, but it fits in with the material to perfection and as such, it doesn’t remain an issue past the first time the technique is used. The elaborate dance numbers feature complex steps, intense visuals, and some good camerawork, although the edits movie a little too fast, as some of the action is lost in the translation. The main complaint with Moulin Rouge would be the storyline, which is rather thin and always takes a backseat to the production design & musical numbers. Even so, this movie can be enjoyed for what it is, a wild ride through some dazzling visuals and stunning production design, with some of the coolest musical scenes in a long while. If you’re at all interested, Moulin Rouge is a worthwhile flick and with a deluxe two disc edition from Fox, there’s no reason to let this one slip through your grasp.
As I mentioned before, the visuals are the main element in Moulin Rouge, thanks to director Baz Luhrmann’s approach. Of course, he has become known for his amazing visual prowess and as such, I think we should expect a visual focus, without a doubt. As per usual, he and his production design team layer the visuals to no mortal end, so your eyes never have a chance to take it all in, so you’ll want to watch a couple of times, just to see it all. I happen to like that concept and while it is true that it distracts from the story & performances, it makes for a beautiful movie and as such, I am willing to make those concessions. The lush visuals, memorable costumes, excellent cinematography, and epic scope all make Moulin Rouge a true visual masterpiece, even if it won’t win any awards for story or character work. Other films directed by Luhrmann include Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet. The cast here includes Nicole Kidman (Eyes Wide Shut, Far and Away), Ewan McGregor (Rogue Trader, Trainspotting), Jim Broadbent (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Smilla’s Sense of Snow), and John Leguizamo (The Pest, Spawn).
Video: How does it look?
Moulin Rouge is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This film has some complex, intense visuals and as such, it needed a flawless transfer here and thankfully, Fox has issued just that with this release. The movie uses all sorts of tricks and approaches, from black & white scenes to chemical techniques to computer enhanced moments to filters and beyond, but this treatment never falters, even for a second. The colors are the richest, most vibrant hues I’ve seen on DVD, with no signs of errors in the least, simply phenomenal work from Fox on this one, perhaps their best of all time. The contrast is stark and dead on, with refined black levels and an unbelievable amount of detail, when needed. It was crucial that this transfer be of the highest level and as per usual, Fox has delivered the goods and then some.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release sports 5.1 options in both Dolby Digital & DTS, so you know those musical numbers sound excellent. I was kind of surprised by how little the surrounds are used, but it never hampers the material in the least, quite the opposite. The front channels shoulder the burden with ease, so the songs sound rich and expansive, even though the rear speakers aren’t used at a constant level. The rears spark when they need to and always to natural ends, so the songs sound superb in both mixes, very impressive work indeed. The overall audio might not overwhelm you, but it has a natural, deep scope and as such, I see no reason to complain much. The dialogue is clean and crisp also, never held back or overpowered by the other elements. This set also includes a Spanish language option, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The first disc of this set houses the film itself, as well as two audio commentary tracks, both well worth a listen. One track features director Baz Luhrmann, production designer/costume designer Catherine Martin, and director of photography Don McAlpine, while the other is with Luhrmann and writer Craig Pearce. I found both tracks to be very informative, as Luhrmann serves as a guide of sorts and prompts his coworkers for data, which they provide in great detail. The visuals are discussed at great length, as it is the soundtrack and photography, while Pearce reveals a lot about his writing and his thoughts on the picture. These are more technical than expected, but on a movie like Moulin Rouge, I think that’s a welcome concept. Also on the first disc is a Behind The Red Curtain option, which displays the green fairy on screen at times and when you click her, you’ll be shown various behind the scenes clips. We’ve seen this method before of course, but it is still cool to see additional production featurettes.
The second disc contains the rest of the extras and if you like featurettes, then you should be heaven with the selection of them found here. A section is devoted to the music, in which you’ll find a ten minute featurette with the musical supervisors, a piece on the Lady Marmalade phenomenon, a music video, and an interview with musical artist Fatboy Slim. Next up the cutting room area, which stores a brief interview on the editing techniques used, six clips of abandon edits, three previsualization sequences, and four full length dance numbers that were cut short in the main feature (some of which feature alternate camera angles). If you explore the section that highlights the stars of the film, you’ll uncover a selection of brief interviews with some of the main players, as well as some test footage and other goodies. An additional interview with Luhrmann and Pearce is also found on this disc, as well as a couple more clips with Pearce, where he discusses the screenplay and how it was brought to the screen. A generic HBO behind the scenes featurette is next and while it is rather thin, it has some nice interviews and behind the scenes clip, so it is worth a look if you’re interested. Of course, an entire section has been turned over to the production design, where you’ll discover six subsections loaded with featurettes on such topics as the green fairy sequences, the opening titles, and many others, as well as a healthy selection of behind the scenes & production photos. This disc also includes some additional still photos, The Little Red Book feature, a selection of poster artwork, and the film’s American & Japanese theatrical trailers.
