# "Moulin Rouge" is a big foetid, stinking, steaming pile of crap **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658 "2004-05-05T16:07:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/41 "2004-05-06T00:18:35Z")
Oh yeah… big smug pile of elderly yak droppings, for sure. Turned it off after the second rendition of “Your Song”… took it back to the video store and asked if I could rent something good instead. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/42 "2004-05-06T00:42:13Z")
> [@pugluvr](#): > > Because I respect **Eve’s** taste in movies, I rented this and watched it. Now, I adore Jim Broadbent, and could watch his opening “Master of Ceremonies” scene over and over again, but I’m afraid the rest of the movie left me cold. About the time Nicole Kidman was writhing around on the bed, we couldn’t take it anymore and turned it off. It just didn’t grab me, although I respect the production quality and the look of the film. If it makes you feel any better, I love the movie but hated that scene. I suspect it’s meant to be a reference to _Being There_, but that doesn’t really make things right. Luhrmann would have done well to reconsider that bit, because I think it’s turned more people off the movie than anything else. _Moulin Rouge!_ isn’t a movie served well by home viewing, because it takes a while for it to become clear what the contract with the audience is – what the game is that’s being played and what the rules are. I’ve heard of many, many people turning it off before things get going properly. My advice to anyone who wants to give the movie a fair chance is to hold out until the “Your Song” sequence, which takes place just after the unfortunate writhing scene. If you like what they do with “Your Song”, then this movie’s probably for you. If you don’t, you may want to go ahead and turn it off after all. ---
**Author:** ![jastu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jastu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jastu)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/43 "2004-05-06T01:39:55Z")
> [@pugluvr](#): > > Because I respect **Eve’s** taste in movies, I rented this and watched it. Now, I adore Jim Broadbent, and could watch his opening “Master of Ceremonies” scene over and over again, but I’m afraid the rest of the movie left me cold. About the time Nicole Kidman was writhing around on the bed, we couldn’t take it anymore and turned it off. It just didn’t grab me, although I respect the production quality and the look of the film. I agree with the others who have said they hated this particular scene but I loved the movie. Also have to agree it needed to be seen on the big screen to be appreciated. Another here for disliking _Pulp Fiction,_ and absolutely detested _Chicago._ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/44 "2004-05-06T02:38:22Z")
The OP is wrong. \*Moulin Rouge \* was a piece of crap. _Chicago_ was a “big, fetid, etc.” No, make that a “HUGE piece, etc.”. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/45 "2004-05-06T02:51:39Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > OK, Nicole Kidman can not do comedy, and she should never be allowed to get anywhere near comedy again. Nicole, I love you dearly, but I agree with **pugluvr** that your “comic” scenes in _Moulin Rouge!_ would have gotten you drummed out of your junior high school drama club. In fairness to Kidman, I don’t know if _anyone_ could have made that scene (or the door-slamming bedrom farce sequence shortly afterwards) funny. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/46 "2004-05-06T04:56:05Z")
Loved _Moulin Rouge_. Loved _Pulp Fiction_. And just to turn the heat up another notch, loved _The Blair Witch Project_. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/47 "2004-05-06T05:18:55Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > I’d like to incorporate **Eve** ’s entire post by reference. This is one of the movies that is on a regular rotation. What he said. And I’ll add that although I’ve seen him in many things, before MR I never realized how insanely hot Ewan McGregor is. That is all. Also – I break out into _Hindi Sad Diamonds_, like **gobear**. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/48 "2004-05-06T05:45:02Z")
Mrs. Evil Captor rented Moulin Rouge at a time when I had injured my back big time and had a lot of trouble just standing up for a week or so (all better now). After about fifteen minutes of watching, I got on my hands and knees and crawled out of the room. “I take it you don’t like the film?” she asked. “Sprinkle some broken glass on the floor in front of me and you’ll see how much I don’t like it,” I said. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/49 "2004-05-06T05:54:15Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > And even then, the style was some kind of Daliesque vomitorium of colors set to Elton _fucking_ John… And just what is your problem with Elton \*one of the greatest and most talented musicians, singers and/or songwriters of the last 50 years \* John? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/50 "2004-05-06T05:55:44Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > In fairness to Kidman, I don’t know if _anyone_ could have made that scene (or the door-slamming bedrom farce sequence shortly afterwards) funny. The Marx Brothers? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/51 "2004-05-06T07:29:08Z")
> [@Michael Ellis](#): > > The Marx Brothers? Well, maybe, but I suspect Chico would have wound up the one wearing the black lace penoir, and I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that image. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/52 "2004-05-06T10:39:37Z")
> [@pugluvr](#): > > About the time Nicole Kidman was writhing around on the bed, we couldn’t take it anymore and turned it off. Aw, that scene is hilarious! There’s a HUGE misunderstanding going on there. Christian thinks he’s supposed to try and convince Satine of his poetic/songwriting skills so she’ll talk Zigler into letting his write the play. Satine thinks Christian is The Duke, who might back the play financially, and that The Duke is gearing up to have sex with her. She’s a prostitute, and wants The Duke to think he turns her on. She didn’t understand what Christian was trying to do, and so was being over-the-top “sexy.” Christian is as confused as you obviously were and can’t figure out what the hell she’s doing writhing and panting. They’re on different planets, until he starts singing, which surprises the hell out of Satine. All of a sudden, Satine quits being a prostitute/actress and looks at him as a human being. When he realizes the effect his song is having on her, he starts to write it **FOR** her, and sing it **TO** her. That’s when they start falling in love. Ah, it’s not for everybody, obviously. There’s too much going on to catch in ten viewings, let alone one. I’ve watched it countless times and I see/realize new things with every viewing. I love my husband so much. He adores **Moulin Rouge** as much as I do. We’re in total sync when we watch it. It’s a wonderful feeling. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/53 "2004-05-06T11:14:26Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I agree with you completely, except that it’s the best musical in the last 20 years and one of the most delightful films ever made, with the best cinematography and . . . oh, wait, I _don’t_ agree with you! > > That is all. Better than _Chicago_? ---
**Author:** ![mailman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@mailman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mailman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/54 "2004-05-06T11:49:14Z")
Scout1222 was the first unfortunate soul to email and claim her ‘prize.’ I will mail her the fsspoc today, since it certainly wasn’t doing any good nestling up against the likes of Das Boot, Kundun, American Beauty, and The Life of Brian et. al. Thanks Scout! ---
**Author:** ![laserkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@laserkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laserkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/55 "2004-05-06T12:57:26Z")
I would have to agree…although when I saw it I was both depressed and drunk, so that may have impaired my ability to give it a fair judgement. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/56 "2004-05-06T13:02:02Z")
I couldn’t be bothered to watch this when it came out but my girlfriend owns it and loves it and after reading a thread here that absolutely sung it’s praises I decided to watch it. I found that the music really grated on me and that it seemed a bit to ‘flouncy’ but I didn’t _hate_ it. Colour me indifferent. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/57 "2004-05-06T13:04:25Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Aw, that scene is hilarious! There’s a HUGE misunderstanding going on there . . . She didn’t understand what Christian was trying to do, and so was being over-the-top “sexy.” But she was doing it very. badly. And remember, I love the movie and I love Nicole, but—I mean, picture how much better, say Claudette Colbert or Carole Lombard would have handled that scene. **leander** , as noted in one of the other 175 threads on this topic, I hated _Chicago_ for many reasons. Another lovely thing about _Moulin Rouge!_ is the delicious display of The Three Ages of Man: Ewan MacGregor, Jacek Koman and Jim Broadbent—each yummy in his own way. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/58 "2004-05-06T13:41:07Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Aw, that scene is hilarious! There’s a HUGE misunderstanding going on there. And there’s nothing interesting, funny, believable, or original about this misunderstanding. > [@Eve](#): > > But, Jesus, can you believe the cinematography? Those computerized tracking shots of Paris? The choreography and editing on the Roxanne number? The costumes, the sheer over-the-top operatic bouyancy of the film? As **Loopydude** said, style over substance. I hated the cliched (not even warmed over) plot. I myself am a romantic, but I just don’t want to see this particular fictional romantic cliche once again. The dialogue and acting seemed to be complete afterthoughts … indeed, mere MacGuffins for the ongoing, nonsensical spectacle. I hated how it took good actors like Broadbent, MacGregor, and Leguizamo and forced them to mouth idiotic dialogue and give unconvincing performances. (Kidman is, of course, already one of the consistently worst actors on screen, so no big surprise there.) And, hey, choreography? I can do without choreography in a movie. Nothing bores me more. The only time I’ve ever been anything but bored by choreography in a movie is the dance sequence in “Boogie Nights.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/59 "2004-05-06T13:49:34Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Loved _Moulin Rouge_. Loved _Pulp Fiction_. And just to turn the heat up another notch, loved _The Blair Witch Project_. Are you channelling me? :eek: I enjoyed TBWP as well and couldn’t understand why people would dump so much vitriol on what is nothing more than a student film that had a novel (at the time) marketing campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658/60 "2004-05-06T14:13:11Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > And, hey, choreography? I can do without choreography in a movie. Nothing bores me more. Ummm, then I suggest you not go to _musicals?_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-is-a-big-foetid-stinking-steaming-pile-of-crap/243658.md?page=4)