- Joined
- Nov 12, 2012
Rewatched the movie Moulin Rouge just now and damn -- I have an even greater appreciation of what remarkable performers Scott and Tessa are. They really managed to embody the essence of the two characters to the point where during parts of the movie if you squint, you can easily substitute Kidman and McGregor with Tessa and Scott. Certain facial expressions and body movements were eerily spot on (it helps that Tessa has a passing resemblance to Kidman, and they gave Scott McGregor's haircut). What's crazier is that there were moments where I went: "huh. Tessa and Scott did that better."
Kudos to the two of them for picking this program, sticking to their guns, and trusting their own instincts.
The rewatch also reminded me that although I really liked the original downbeat ending to the program, the new upbeat ending actually matched the movie much better. Satine's death wasn't quiet, it was instead at the moment of triumph while an audience is on their feet applauding.
I think that what drawn so many people with that program, way they performed it was this genuine, authentic affection visible/radiating from them, their stance, expression about the idea/music, choreography alone, not even getting into how affectionate they are to each other while performing. They lived up the story told by movie, but made it accommodating their own personalities, feelings they have for each other and towards performing, skating together - they used things that got criticized at the beginning, after they announced their choice to transform the program, perception of it into something striking, head-turning, individual, show-stopping: physicality, dramatism, boldness, chemistry, vividness. And it was very important in my opinion that they accentuated 'Moulin Rouge' choice being their own idea - it may have caused doubts/critique at the beginning, but somehow it allowed them to shape that program, the visual into something more customized emotionally to their own level of engagement/affection; all changes, alterations made throughout the season, cumulating at Nationals/Olympics showed to me the sheer value of their belief, confidence vested in that decision, idea, being in it together equally strongly, consummated; they were committed to stay in their lane and push it deeper, listening to feedback and gauge reactions at the same time.
They articulated from the very beginning that they have confidence in their material and that they visualized it performed that way they did it at Olympics - it was a journey which conclusion/finale really caught up so many people; it was for me a combination of that quality in execution, confidence/sureness in carriage, ease/closeness of partnering, impact created by mixing used material/music chosen with their approach to it.
And yeah about ending change introduced during the season - it had cinematic, grandiose quality to it, giving out same level of intensity as 'Tango el Roxanne' by 'Come What May'/lyrical part of the soundtrack and gave more strength to their feeling/bond, even leaving 'death' pose.
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