Best Picture of 2001: "Moulin Rouge"

[baldmike]

This was one of the websites I looked at in a "Moulin Rouge" search before constructing my essay site on Friday, Dec. 14. I can't remember the string, it is rather late (or early, as the case may be) Christmas morning, and I just posted my tribute to the great movie "Moulin Rouge" directed by Baz Luhrmann, online only a few hours ago, and am looking for some readers, and hopefully some discussion on a new board I set up on my site. Since it looks like HTML is not permitted on these boards, I will put the code to see if it takes, and if not, I will also add the pertinent info besides the tags, so hopefully interested members of these boards will be able to post the correct combination in their browser window.
The site addy, if this takes, is:
http://www.allthingsmike.com/ElectricMovies/dvds/MoulinRouge/MoulinRouge.html
If that doesn't take, the words without the "slashes" which you would have to type in are:
allthingsmike com ElectricMovies dvds MoulinRouge MoulinRouge
I've left out tags.
You can always email me. I'm interested in comments and impressions of the film. I truly believe it is Best Picture for 2001, and I'm rarely wrong when guessing.
Michael F. Nyiri
poet, philosopher, fool
and sometime movie critic

[kici]

It works for me. While I wouldn't name it the single best film of 2001, it's got a permanent place in my top five films of the year. I loved it. It certainly evoked more feelings in me than that pathetic snooze fest, Fellowship of the Ring. I feltfor Satine. I felt for Christian.

All the clueless critics' kudos and Peter Jackson's visual wizardry couldn't make FOTR a good film because it lacked heart; it was so empty. I was sobbing during the end of Moulin Rouge because I felt Christian's pain. I was yawning at the end of FOTR, thanking God it was finally over.

[dreamsofsea]

I just saw the movie for the first time this weekend. I really had no idea what to expect other than it was a love story of some kind.

I was greatly surprised with the movie. Other than the "Like a Virgin" part of the movie I LOVED it. I loved the way they played word games, and music games; I loved the visuals, I loved the casting choice; The Roxanne sequence was great. I think I could go on and on.

[baldmike]

Your impression of FOTC is rather interesting. Roeper had the same opinion you do and Ebert really got upset, causing another whinefest from Ebert, who's just getting too old. Even though I haven't read the trilogy, nor seen the film, and even though I know well respected directors can make an error in judgement every now and then, I just can't imagine Jackson making a film "so empty", so it will really be interesting to see it now. I gave it one of my five nominations sight unseen. Jackson pitched the project, one of his dream projects for what? five years before it got made. I can hardly wait to see FOTC now, just because I seem to be hearing a lot of your opinion from people who saw the film as well. Any way, Moulin Rouge is one of those films that can be watched time after time and appreciated more and more.What would you name the single best film of 2001? It's been a stranger year than 2000, and I picked a foreign language film for Best Pic then. My BEST FRIEND, a fantasy nut (who probably has hairy feet like a hobbit) claim's he feels sorry for me because I'm so out of it and I'm gonna miss my guess two years in a row. (My essay is pretty long trying to convince folks why ML is a lock, and I wanted to make sure I posted it on the web when there were still lots of skeptics. That's why I called it "The Buzz Starts Here")My friend claims it WON'T even get nominated.


<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by kici:
While I wouldn't name it the single best film of 2001.
All the clueless critics' kudos and Peter Jackson's visual wizardry couldn't make FOTR a good film because it lacked heart; it was so empty. I was yawning at the end of FOTR, thanking God it was finally over. </font>



[This message has been edited by baldmike (edited 12-26-2001).]

[Antonio]

While SEXY BEAST and MEMENTO were my favorites, I definitely consider MOULIN ROUGE the most entertaining film of the year! And that's gotta count for something!

[baldmike]

Interesting, you said "other than the Virgin part"
I'd like to mention that when I saw ML in the theatre when it came out, the audience actually applauded after the Virgin number. I don't think I've ever seen that happen. I thought it was a high point. And when Jim Broadbent first starts the lyrics, I started to groan, but then it just became so slapstick. The number itself is fantastic, with the preening chorus line of waiters and the Duke showing his "music hall" villany?
What didn't you like about that particular number? Must be you don't like Madonna? I won't try guessing. Tell me.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by dreamsofsea:

Other than the "Like a Virgin" part of the movie I LOVED it. </font>

[baldmike]

Haven't seen SEXY BEAST. MEMENTO is on my list and was my first pick this year, and it certainly is the most original of my picks. But I think because it's a little too original and it came out so long ago it won't win. It'll be nominated, though, I believe. When I exited the theater, one patron exclaimed to her partner. "Why didn't they tell the story in order. That was so confusing." I think too many people didn't understand the particularly ironic theme of the "twist beginning". Have you watched the DVD backwards (forwards). Each cut is perfect. It's a magnificent work of art.
Sight unseen, I'd say Kingsley has a lock on a nom, possibly a win, however. MR won't get any acting awards. If Kidman is nominated it will be for THE OTHERS.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Antonio:
[B]While SEXY BEAST and MEMENTO were my favorites B]</font>

[inglourious basterd]

Ive grown to love MR. However, my favorite for the year was Ghost World (with this following close behind). I hope both of them get their due recognition. I feel that this was the best year for movies since 1994 (when shawshank redemption, pulp fiction, and forrest gump were nominated).

[baldmike]

Apt mention of '94. Was it THAT long ago. I had Pulp Fiction that year, and purposefully stayed away from Gump until the last minute, since it was popular it stayed in theaters forever that year,but I thought it just had too much hype, but finally I caught it sometime late summer and changed my mind and went with Gump. (I've gone 180 on Hanks too. I really hated his first stuff. He alwaysd played an asshole.) First movie to "integrate" the CGI instead of touting them as "effects" although they had those familiar "look at me, I'm digitally composited" b&w segments. Haven't seen Ghost World. There's a big beef I have about release patterns. I used to think nothing of driving from the South Bay (SoCal) to Hollywood or Westwood (50mi) to see the films when they first came out. But they have competing 20 and 30 screen theaters everywhere, all playing the flick du jour which was decided by a bunch of drunk exhibitors eight months ago at ShoWest. I don't want to drive any more than I have to, and thank the Lord of Hollywood and the IFC for the fact that I can later catch these little gems. But best picture? No Buzz. Think not.
It's early though, and there are always surprises.
MR will win.
It has to.
Ghost world? No nomination, although perhaps it will be considered. I do want to see it. I posted a rather lengthy ramble on your interpretation of the ending on your other post. I'll have to go reread it and see if I've made sense. Did you read my essay on ElectricMovies yet?

[dreamsofsea]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by baldmike:
Interesting, you said "other than the Virgin part" What didn't you like about that particular number? Must be you don't like Madonna? I won't try guessing. Tell me.

</font>

I truly enjoy almost everything Madonna has ever done. I really could not figure out why I did not like that part; it just bugged me. But when I read your response I made myself figure it out. That song is my absolute least favorite she has ever done. (I adore Shrek, and even hated the brief portion that they showed in it!). So, I guess I was just being very transparent. I will have to try viewing that part again with your review in mind.

[baldmike]

I just got back from two days at Disneyland, more fodder my website. Upon returning to my house, which was fumigated, hence the migration, the directv antenna had been knocked off the path of the satellite, and, as it was one of those rare rainy days in SoCal, I really didn't want to fiddle with it. I'd just bought a bunch of new Disney DVD's with the credit card I wish I hadn't taken into the park, but my roommate didn't want to watch Disney, and shocked me by suggesting we put on MR.
I'll get right to the bottom line. He appreciated it, and his chief complaint was that it was too long and he couldn't stand watching the intense color scheme, and claimed he'd actually had to close his eyes at times. I'm delighted personally that he sat through the complete movie and it at least captivated him enough to stop him from loudly and rudely "commenting" as he usually does.
He does however want to bet me $50.00 that it won't win the Oscar. This guy doesn't care about movies. When he says he's seen a movie that means he's passed by it more than twice while navigating around the program grid, and couldn't tell you the names or impressions of films once their names cease appearing on the BO charts.
We'll see.

[bob]

I never saw Moulin Rouge, and I never will. I can't stand musicals, so all the positive things posted about this flick in the world wouldn't make me rent it. However, the best films of 2001(IMHO):
1.The Royal Tenenbaums
2.Ocean's 11
3.Memento
4.Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
I can't think of any other noteworthy ones.

[Eelco]

I have just one thing to say: I HATED MOULIN ROUGE!!!!!!

[ColinM]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Eelco:
I have just one thing to say: I HATED MOULIN ROUGE!!!!!!</font>

Could you expand on that, perhaps?

[FlickJunkie]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ColinM:
Could you expand on that, perhaps?</font>

Really...lol