Many years ago, when Bangalore’s boulevard still stood and Plaza still played movies, Sowmya and I walked down the boulevard, attempting to capture the essence of Bangalore in photographs.
That’s when we saw it… Plaza playing Moulin Rouge. Strangely enough, we were not curious about the film. We were concerned about capturing Moulin Rouge shot in sepia on Plaza’s billboards. More than a lot of pictures that I shot in later life, it captured the bohemian old world spirit of Bangalore of the Cantonment.
This week, over 6 years later, I picked up the DVD at Cinema Paradiso. When I was done, I almost regretted not having watched the film that day in 2002. It’s a film that was made to be played on the big screen, and for a theatre such as Plaza.
Moulin Rouge takes you across time over the tradition that is the Hollywood musical. But in doing this, it raises the bar for the genre.
It blends the tradition of the musical (typical shot of two actors singing on a rooftop, umbrella in hand) with a new stylish sophistication.
Moulin Rouge stands out for me because it is a magnificent spectacle – sets, costumes and choreography are taken to a completely new level. And yet, the grandness of the spectacle is not without a sense of humour, even when this is slightly tongue in cheek.
There’s also more to the film that meets the eye. Though set in France, there is a sprinkling of American popular culture across the film. There are also reference points to American musicals and pop renditions that all find their way into the gigantic patchwork quilt that is the modern American musical.
Interesting touches of Bollywood choreography also find their way into the film. The interesting element for me here was that even from the brief moment it appears, you are struck by the distinctive difference of the Bollywood style of choreography. Indians excel at the spectacular, and the Bollywood sequences stand out in the film.
Finally, even if this film had no other merit, I would recommend it simply for Nicole Kidman! Once more she proves why she is a remarkable actress, in a performance where she becomes Satine.
As with Pulp Fiction, it’s easy to take the film at face value and assume that there’s nothing more to it. But, I think that when one scratches beneath the glitzy surface, there are many layered meanings. It is a study of American popular culture, while also being a tribute to the lost art of the Hollywood musical.
In a nutshell – A spectacular visual treat. It will be enjoyed by those who have a love of the Hollywood musical. It’s also of interest to the film critic and keene observers of American popular culture.
6 Comments
June 17, 2008 at 2:07 am
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June 17, 2008 at 2:12 am
I just miss Bangalore, period. I think Im in for a shock when I come for a visit in December with the husband.
June 17, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Well Siri… You’d be shocked at the change.
It would be a meeting with an old friend who has changed tremendously… You can’t take off from where left… It has to be a new beginning (if a friendship has to be made at all).
June 20, 2008 at 5:38 am
Loved this American musical, alrite
It was one reason why I fell in love with Nicole Kidman too! 
December 31, 2008 at 4:18 pm
[...] plenty of them. My movies of the year (if only because I saw them in 2008): Juno, Khuda Ke Liye, Moulin Rouge, The Blue Umbrella, The Dark Knight, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. I also caught two theatre performances [...]
February 17, 2009 at 11:18 am
I love this movie! It’s OTT, colourful and arty.