Like most films on the cutting edge, Baz Luhrmann's 2001 Moulin Rouge is a movie that tends to bring out strong reactions. Most people either hate it, read a scathing review here, or they love it. We fall into the latter camp. We're fans of musicals (if they're done right) and Moulin Rouge is a well made film. The music, the dance, the costumes, the sets, the performances--no detail was overlooked. And above all, the story is solid. A period piece romance drawing upon mythological themes, the characters become archetypes that speak to our inner being. No wonder people have such strong responses to it. The film won 2 Academy Awards and was nominated for 8 including best picture.
So in the finale, the two leads (Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor) publicly exclaim their love for each other--no matter the consequences. Then tragedy strikes and the movie ends on a satisfying, yet somber note.
Image via IMDB
Video posted by bluelagoon83
The end credits don't disappoint. The visuals are consistent with the rest of the film, the flicker of a motion picture projector on a scrolling aged parchment with stylized font. Yet, above all, the choice of music was key: "Bolero", produced and engineered by Steve Sharples, solo violin by Simon Standage.
Video posted by Jossi2009
As the music builds the audience up from the somber ending back to the high point of the finale, the visuals conclude with the four tattooed symbols of the Bohemian Revolution: freedom, beauty, truth and love.
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