Face-Off: La La Land vs. Moulin Rouge!

Nicole Kidman as Satine
Ewan McGregor as Christian
Jim Broadbent as Harold Zidler
John Leguizamo as Toulouse-Lautrec
Richard Roxburgh as Duke of Monroth
Jacek Koman as Unconscious Argentinian

Luhrmann certainly has a signature style, one drenched in quick cuts, lush costumes, bright colors and all manner of extravagance. Right out of the gate you know what to expect with one of his movies, and you know if you’ll love it or hate. He throws you head first into this vibrant, decadent world, and if you don’t buy into it (or admire the little gems in the madness) it will swallow you whole. It is, for this reason, MOULIN ROUGE! remains so unlike any other musical of the 21st Century, or of all moviedom. Sure, it can be quite suffocating at times. Even small romantic moments can fall victim to Luhrmann’s need to have everything be so over-the-top, but there’s something admirable about it. This is a traditional, sweeping love story, and no one could’ve done it so boldly but Luhrmann. Funny thing is, you would think a guy with such vision and energy would have done more than two movies since ROUGE!

After coming to Paris to pursue the life of a Bohemian artist, former rich kid, and starry-eyed dreamboat Christian soon finds himself among a wide swath of colorful and colorfully dressed characters. But his life is completely changed when he lays his eyes on the beautiful bombshell, Satine, making his heart go pitter-patter (although that may just be the absinthe). Although he is just a penniless writer, and she a loved courtesan, the two sing their hearts out and fall in love, and must hide it so that the evil Duke does not find out and close the Moulin Rouge for good.

A lavish and grand love story if there ever was one, and simple down to its very core. They love each other because they are both passionate and attractive with big dreams, and they are put in a situation where greed could tear them apart. It’s something people probably watch a lot while curled up on the couch or on their phone in the bathtub with a glass of wine. The movie is simple to a fault (though not without some memorable lines), and the overall Baz Luhrmann-ness can outshine much of the story and dialogue itself. Ultimately this is not a movie where you come to watch complex characters or three-dimensional storytelling, but rather all the pomp and thrills that make it such a trip.

A Broken Heart

An Unconsious Argentinian Man and a Dwarf Dressed as a Nun

Christians Bursts Into Song

The Moulin Rogue

Satine Arrives

Satine and Christian Alone

Christian: “You don’t have to stand, I mean. It’s sometimes that… It’s quite long and I’d like you to be comfortable. It’s quite modern what I do and it may feel a little strange at first, but I think, if you’re open, then you might enjoy it.”

Christian Sings “Your Song”

The Real Duke

Satine and Christian Sing “Elephant Love Medley”

“Like a Virigin” Number

Satine’s Sacrfice

“Roxeanne” Number

Satine: “I don’t need you anymore! All my life you made believe I was only worth what someone would pay for me! But Christian loves me. He loves me! He loves me, Harold. And that is worth everything! We’re going away from you, away from the Duke, away from the Moulin Rouge!”

Zidler: “The show must go on, Satine. We’re creatures of the underworld. We can’t afford to love.”

Satine Cuts Christian Loose

Christian: “This woman is yours now. I’ve paid my whore…I owe you nothing. And you are nothing to me. Thank you for curing me of my ridiculous obsession with love.”

Big Final Number

Goodbye, Satine

Christian: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

As I said before, the love story is as old as time. Two star-crossed lovers, one baddie who seeks to tear them apart. Betrayal, jealousy, singing, etc. Luhrmann has directed operas in the past and this is all very operatic. Knowing how it all plays out as soon as the movie starts just makes the romance all the more tragic (or cloying, depending on your view). Kidman and McGregor are great together and throw themselves into their relationship with zero hesitation. It’s all passion and ballads and elegant costumes and the color red everywhere.

As I’ve delved into in past Face Off’s with movies like BABY DRIVER and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, I don’t often give the point to movies that use pop music and their main, dominant source of music. Exceptions have been made (GUARDIANS 2), and I always admire when using the music is done right and to thrilling effect. MOULIN ROUGE! is no different, using tons of iconic love songs (mostly from the 70s and 80s) to flesh out the film. Craig Armstrong does what he can to make it his own, using the popular songs to create a rich tapestry that makes the music seem fresh and unique. Sometimes it seems like there’s a lot being thrown at you musically, with some songs layered on top of one another (much the movie itself), but smaller moments, like McGregor’s “Your Song”, is pure musical magic. “Come What May” is also a sweeping ballad, even that is not entirely an original song (it was written and meant to be used in Luhrmann’s other movie, ROMEO AND JULIET, hence why it was not nominated for an Oscar).

If Luhrmann knows how to do anything it’s bring out all the costumes and set pieces and put on a goddamn show. You may not like the pace or editing of the movie but it’s scientifically impossible not to walk away from the movie completely blown away by the period decor and extravagant costumes. There really is nothing else like it out there. It’s like as if Luhrmann and the art and set decorators (Catherine Martin and Brigitte Broch) chugged a case of absinthe and were like, “Yes! All of it! Throw all of it together and make it look beautiful!”

McGregor is perfect as the lovesick writer and Kidman is dynamite as the sensual courtesan. Together they just click, and while Stone and Gosling’s chemistry brings out something deeper in their character’s relationships McGregor and Kidman make up for it with sheer showmanship. They have big vocals that would fit right at home on the Broadway stage, projecting with such heart-stopping passion. Why don’t these two sing more? I want answers!

Oscars:

Won:

Best Art Direction

Best Costume Design

Nominated:

Best Picture

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Nicole Kidman

Best Cinematography

Best Film Editing

Best Makeup

Best Sound

Golden Globes:

Won:

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Nicole Kidman

Best Original Score

Nominated:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical: Ewan McGregor

Best Director – Motion Picture: Baz Luhrmann

Best Original Song: “Come What May”

Golden Schmoes:

Won:

Best Actress of the Year: Nicole Kidman

Best Music in a Movie: Craig Armstrong

Nominated:

Favorite Movie of the Year

Trippiest Movie of the Year

Best Actor of the Year: Ewan McGregor

Favorite Movie Poster of the Year

Best DVD of the Year

Best Line of the Year: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love…”

Praise

Rotten Tomatoes: 76% (Audience Score: 89%)

IMDB: 7.6

Metacritic: 66 (User Score: 8.6)

Money:

$57 million domestic ($179 million global)