4. Moulin Rouge (2001)
Okay, so maybe I lied. There is one movie on this list that was designed to be a big musical. But Baz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge is so cleverly done that it serves it's place on this list. But first, I'm going to talk about Glee. Now Glee is not a show that people who hate musicals would likely watch. And I wouldn't blame them. I still watch it (though its a sort of love hate relationship because it's nowhere near as good as that very funny first season but then there's bits I enjoy so keep on watching). But the one thing I do like about Glee is its 'mash ups'. Blending two very different songs into one musical number. And why am I talking about Glee? Because nowhere have I seen musical mash ups done better, than in Moulin Rouge. Visually the film is stunning, with Baz Luhrman brand of flashy photography, crazy shots and heightened performances that suit the world of the Moulin Rouge very well. But it is in the music that the film come alive, taking modern songs and putting them in turn of the century Paris. Songs that are randomly different and then mixes them together. ' The Sound Of Music' and 'Children of the Revolution'. A sultry version of Sting's 'Roxanne'. The Elephant Love medley which takes lyrics from every great love song and mashes them together (along side a bit of David Bowie's 'Heroes'), a Bollywood take on 'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend' and a version of Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' performed by Jim Broadbent's Harry Ziggler, which is so funny, you will be crying. And the best fusion of different musical styles has to be this introductory number to the Moulin Rouge itself. The French Can Can, mixed with Labelle's 'Lady Marmalade' mixed with...Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'! Sounds insane? Well, yes it kind of is but it also work brilliantly. Take a look for yourself.