90
Washington Post by Desson Thomson
It's a wonderful postmodern hug of a movie, and never once do you not know you're watching a movie.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
90
New Times (L.A.) by Gregory Weinkauf
This thing moves brilliantly, sparkling like nothing we've seen domestically since "The Wiz" or "Xanadu."
50
The film musical is at the moment an even more devitalized art form than the Broadway musical. But Moulin Rouge doesn't revive it. It only rearranges the bones.
70
Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan
You can go with it or resist it, be exhilarated or worn out. But forgetting the experience is not one of your options.
50
Baltimore Sun by Michael Sragow
It wants to be like no other movie you've ever seen. It's more like every movie you've ever seen.
60
Consistently runs the danger of substituting cool but ultra-hyper, modern special effects for boring old human sentiment.
75
Miami Herald by Rene Rodriguez
It's impossible to watch this beautifully chaotic, excessive movie impassively. You'll either embrace what Luhrmann has done here or run out of the theater, holding your head.
80
The film dances; the heart sings.
88
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
The movie is all color and music, sound and motion, kinetic energy, broad strokes, operatic excess.
75
Philadelphia Inquirer by Steven Rea
You get faux feelings -- but faux of the highest, giddiest order.
It's the movie that spurred a music mash-up phenomenon (yes show choirs, I'm looking at you). The film is filled with excess and chaos but in a way that makes it impossible to look away. Most viewers will leave wondering what in the world they just watched, but will still be thankful for the ride.