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Nine (2009)
Nine (2009)
dir. Rob Marshall
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman
118 mins
USA Italy
I was stood outside the Camden Odeon, a galaxy of stars floated by on the side of a bus, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Daniel Day-Lewis to name but a few. It was this wet dream of a cast list that initially drew me to the cinema with the excuse of a female companion. Going into the film I had a few expectations, unfortunately negative ones as I am an avid hater of musicals, however ‘Nine’ proved a different experience in more ways than one.
The film, set in Milan, follows Guido Contini (Day-Lewis) a successful but rapidly tiring film director who is struggling to find inspiration for his new, big film. The stress is piled on Guido as his production schedule approaches, whilst his professional and personal lives collide. The main bulk of the films sees Contini, masterfully acted by Day-Lewis, as a man on the edge of physical and mental collapse continually seeking guidance from the various women in his past and present life. It is in this form that the film takes place.
We follow Guido’s search for a script and inspiration through a number of encounters with his favoured actress and muse (Kidman), his costume designer and confidante (Dench), his neglected wife (Cotillard), his mistress (Cruz), a feisty American reporter (Hudson) and the gypsy whore from his past, appropriately played by Fergie. Each one of these meetings leads to a musical number dressed in heavily stylised, lavish sets and even more flamboyant costumes: yes, you are still watching a musical.
Stylistically, the film is dazzling, as one might expect to see on a stage, however it might be said that ‘Nine’ is a lazy film for just that reason: why film something that is already done on stage? That being said, the big names, of which there are plenty, deliver in a big way in this film, proving that they can sing, dance and act to a high standard. This is particularly true of Kate Hudson, whose upbeat song and fast-paced dancing is relatively mesmerising. Something I feel must be addressed, and which has been so far omitted, is the cameo appearance of the legendary actress Sophia Loren. Her role as Guido’s strict mother is so arbitrary that it feels as if Loren glided into director Rob Marshall’s office and demanded to star in the film. Don’t get me wrong, it is lovely to see such a natural starlet on screen after such a long time away, but it seemed a lot like she was there for the sake of being there.
Overall, ‘Nine’ is a fun film, visually spectacular and a must-see for musical lovers, however the plot is relatively linear, the character development is thin and the ending leaves a feeling of dissatisfaction. That being said, I would go through it all again just to see Penelope Cruz’s scantily clad burlesque routine. Mmmm.
"gypsy whore from his past, appropriately played by Fergie"
hahahaha
By Anonymous on 10.2.2010
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