Christian falls into a passionate love affair with Satine, the Sparkling Diamond. But she is forced to involve herself with a Duke. When the Duke becomes suspicious of Satine’s relationship with the writer, the future of the Moulin Rouge and Christian’s life is placed in jeopardy…
Baz Lurhmann has produced an unexpected ending to make a ‘spectacular spectacular’ movie. Those who have seen earlier products of Lurhmann’s wild and wonderful brain, totally stimulating ‘Strictly Ballroom’. And the intense modern retelling of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ I advise you to watch this equally powerful ‘Moulin Rouge’.
Musical influences in this film effectively implement the heightened world of drama. Baz Lurhmann’s diverse musical consists of a combination of sophisticated and extravagant contemporary music and stunning vocal work from Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.
The use of popular music has made this film inventive and attractive although interpretive for the audience as when Satine sings ‘We are living in a material world and I am a material girl’ a ripple of recognition runs throughout the audience. The genius of using original artists is to make us think as though all songs were written specifically for the film, because music represents the feelings and emotions of the characters to make this musical film popular in the film industry.
Moulin Rouge has dazzling use of contemporary music setting a mark out as one of the most inventive films ever made, with the combination of sophisticated and extravagant music.
Baz Lurhmann uses STAFS: Scenes That Are Fundamental, to create a mood and form the beginning and end successfully to the musical. Moulin Rouge includes songs such as the energetic ‘Lady Marmalade’ pace is kept right through to one of the films original song ‘Hindi Sad Diamonds’ which incorporates parts of ‘Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend’. The songs performed by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman such as ‘Elephants Love Medley’, ‘Come What May’ and ‘One Day Ill Fly Away’ are surprising and simply has to be heard. The music is ecstatic and truly dazzling and spells the film together.
One of my favourite sequences Al Tango De Roxanne an electrical emotional song and dance showing sharp feelings, and characters state of mind, it is this factor which makes this film an incredible musical by showing emotions through music. As Baz himself says ‘Music touches us and unites us where words cannot describe, it is when words fail us.’
This film is one of Truth (Nature boy) Beauty (One Day Ill Fly Away) Freedom (Children of the revolution) and above all LOVE (Come What May)!
Like almost everything in this film, the lighting and colour is far more exaggerated, symbolic than realistic, with often contrasts between light and dark. There is constant contrast between blues and reds. Blue implies the cold, desolate and deathlike scenes it shows the present state of the Moulin Rouge where everything has become heartbreaking scene. This contrast to the Moulin Rouge Christian was first aware of: vibrant and full of colour, intensifying reds representing the liveliness
Satine’s pale skin radiantly stands out with the red wavy hair and the use of red lipstick shows us an image of a classical Hollywood actress like Marilyn Monroe connecting with the idea of being a sex goddess as Satine is in the Moulin Rouge.
The characters have particular costumes to reflect their emotions and intensify situations. Satine wears colour co-ordinated outfits to represent her as when she first encounters Christian, she wears a flamboyant and highly passionate red dress, showing their love and relationship is still blooming. And the luscious red dress becomes deeper and powerful as the relationship develops. However jealousy is shown in dark muted colours. Satine dresses in black with a black veil as though she is at mourning when she has to inform Christian that the relationship has to end.
Characters have been exaggerated by the use of strong colour like Zidler’s energetic red hair, as the father of the Moulin Rouge he suits being dressed as a ringmaster. The Moulin Rouge is colourful, tasteful overwhelming and magical and has a bohemian feel to it. The unique visionary is an opulent feast of colour.
My thought on this film: well a daring integration of well-known tunes…and need I say a daring integration of times and class. The cinematography was dazzling and the whole feel was totally bohemian. Well don’t to all, especially Ewan and Nicole…and of course Baz!
