DVD Reviews

Moulin Rouge! - Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Oct 27, 2010, 16:27 GMT

Oscar(R) Winner Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent and John Leguizamo head an internationally renowned cast in this musical extravaganza. Baz Luhrmann\'s sensual reinvention of the movie musical was Nominated for 8 Academy Awards(R) including Best Picture. Set in a Paris nightclub that caters to society\'s decadent elite, the exhilarating "Moulin Rouge" follows the story of the ill-fated love affair between a stunning courtesan (Kidman) and a struggling young writer ...more

Why should you buy Moulin Rouge on Blu-ray?  Because you can-can-can.  [Insert groan here]  Well, actually it’s because of the copious special features and fantastic look of the picture. 

In 1900, struggling writer Christian (Ewan McGregor) sits down to write his magnum opus that recounts the previous year.  He arrived in gay Paree in 1899 to poverty, a rundown apartment, and his father’s scorn for his chosen profession. 

A group of bohemians, led by painter Toulouse Lautrec (John Leguizamo), literally crashes into his lap and he’s found some folks with similar motives to his own.  This ragtag band is planning a new play that they hope to sell to Zidler (Jim Broadbent) who runs the flashy Moulin Rouge nightclub. 

Zidler has other plans.  He’s wanting his club to be funded by the ferret-like Duke of Worchester (Richard Roxburgh) and to that end he’s having his star Satine (Nicole Kidman) woo him.  When our bohemians show up at the club a case of mistaken identity has Satine thinking that Christian is the wealthy potential patron.  It’s love at first sight for the two. 

When the mistake is discovered, Christian and Satine’s fast thinking has the Duke, who also has lust at first sight for Satine, funding the new play by the bohemians and the club’s conversion to a theater for its presentation. 

This allows the Duke to think he’s courting Satine, but it also allows her and Christian to secretly romance under his nose.  However, not all is well with Satine and it threatens to separate the lovers for an eternity if the vindictive Duke doesn’t do that sooner. 

From the opening credits you know that you’re in for a stylized treat that harkens back to the musicals of old.  The frenetic film certainly has a generous helping of style as Baz Luhrmann deftly navigates us through a musically enhanced vision of turn-of-the-century Paris. 

Although Moulin Rouge (!) presents us with something anachronistic since it uses the lyrics of many modern pop songs and many computer generated special effects.  The technology may have changed but the song still remains the same.  In fact, the underlying tale of two star-crossed lovers seems very much old school.  Luhrmann’s previous film tackled the granddaddy of those types in Romeo + Juliet.

However, that oft-told tale is bolstered by the musical and acting performances of McGregor and Kidman.  Kidman got an Oscar nomination for best actress out of it and the film would be nominated for a further five including best picture.  It would win Oscars for art direction and costume design and it certainly was deserving of those. 

Of course, the anachronism of the characters belting out Elton John in 1899 Paris might confuse some, but it does sound grand and sweeping, as the film is.  Our two stars acquit themselves nicely in the singing department, although it’s not their forte.  I thought that Leguizamo’s lispy Lautrec was a bit much. 

Roxburgh also chews the scenery with gusto in his villainous role, much better here than in other film’s I’ve seen him in (and didn’t like him).  It’s really all Luhrmann and his production company’s show and they do score highly. 

Moulin Rouge is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.40:1).  The colors and detail leap off the screen and certainly fans of the film will be pleased.  Delightful spectacle and Luhrmann opens the production vaults to let some goodies out.  Special features are presented in high definition, but maybe some not ought to have been because of the way they’re presented.   

The big new addition is the “Spectacular Spectacular” picture-in-picture track that has a commentary from writer/director Luhrmann, production designer Catherine Martin, director of photography Donald McAlpine, and co-writer Craig Pearce (you can listen to the commentary separately from the p-i-p) along with storyboards, behind the scenes footage, and a host of other goodies.

You also get a 2 minute “Word from Baz” praising Blu-ray.  The 11 minute “Creative Adventure” talks to couple Luhrmann and Martin about their relationship in film and reality.  The 7 minute “House of Iona” looks at the production facility that the couple works out of.  The 26 minute “Making of Moulin Rouge” details the making of the film.  The “Bazmark Vault” has over 30 minutes of featurettes (that are also featured in the p-i-p mode). 

“The Stars” has 15 minutes of interviews with the primary stars of the film.  “The Writers” has a 6 minute interview with writers Luhrmann and Pearce and a 2 minute reading of an early treatment.  “The Design” has 30 minutes of featurettes on the film’s stylized designs, costumes, and effects.  “The Dance” has 16 minutes of extended dance sequences and a 6 minute interview with choreographer John O’Connell.  “The Music” has 19 minutes of featurettes and 12 minutes of music videos. 

“The Cutting Room” has a 3 minute interview with Luhrmann and editor Jill Bilcock and a 4 minute previsualization.  “The Toulouse Tonight” web series were done as promotions for the film and run around 20 minutes total.  There is also a 2 minute “Around the World with Moulin Rouge” complication of premiere footage, the 2 minute theatrical trailer, and a 2 minute Japanese trailer. 

Some of the footage is obviously standard definition (the web series) but is presented in a high def “frame” that reduces it to the middle of the screen so my player interpreted it as high definition.  Your enjoyment may depend the size of your TV for those segments.  It’s still a plethora of content.

Moulin Rouge is a grand return to the musicals of yore, with a modern technical twist, but a familiar story.  It’s a great time for musical fans and there is plenty of special features for the film’s fan to enjoy.  A spectacular Spectacular if there ever was one. 

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