Biggest Miscasts

[esteban²]

Originally Posted by dissention

I think it's easily one of her greatest performances (and surely not over the top, especially in the company of Leguizamo and Broadbent); she absolutely embraces that film and hurls out a performance that's as heartbreaking as it is unconcerned with looking like a fool. She barks, she purrs, she sings, she cries, she loves, she dies. It's a role that doesn't just have the kitchen sink thrown into it, it has the entire kitchen & she runs with it at a time where she hadn't yet shown herself to have so much range.

It's one giant, gaudy, intentional mess of a film, but she's the emotional center to all of the glitz & grotesqueries. I wish you'd give it another look and focus on just her performance.

Actually, Moulin Rouge is one of those rare movies I gave several chances. One of the reasons being exactly that, trying to find out why I had this growing feeling of dislike towards this extravaganza. Never had that before on that level. Nicole Kidman is an actress I respect for many great performances. And the stamp Baz Luhrmann puts on his movies, that's something to admire. No doubt.

Very well aware of the mess being intentional, I tried to embrace it. But the fact that it's intentional doesn't mean it works. At least not for me. This is Baz Luhrmann out of control, drowning in his own madness. And not in the good way. I have no problem recognizing his talent is noticable in this, there's some great stuff. All of it suppressed by the dullness that simply went too far. Even within this concept. After a while everything started working on my nerves, time after time. From the music to the performances and the camera-work, it just crossed a line.

There's no doubt Nicole Kidman went through a lot of emotions, throwing herself in this role with great devotion. Two big thumbs up for doing that. But it's the same story, that doesn't mean it works. For someone else this Kidman on the top of her game, for me she went flat on her face. I don't believe it for one second. And I really wanted to like it, I sure did. This film is not able to move me on any (positive) level. In the end, it ended up as a two star movie. Because of the things I did liked. I'm honest that way. (every way ;°) ) And still, the aversion is there at the same time.

Willing and capable to watch the musical more than once from different angels, I think it's only fair I don't have to reconsider my view on Moulin Rouge.