When I first heard about the movie "Nine", I eagerly placed it atop the list of films I most wanted to see in 2009. And why shouldn't I? Directed by Rob Marshall, who struck Oscar gold with "Chicago". An A-list cast including 6 Oscar winners - Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, and the always accountable Daniel Day-Lewis (whose turn in "There Will Be Blood" is my personal favorite performance in all of film). This movie has all of the parts to be a winner. A big winner. But after walking out of the theater I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed.
The plot centers on Italian director Guido Contini (Day-Lewis), who is experiencing a mid-life crisis as he prepares to start shooting his next film. His past few films have been flops and he has no script; better yet, he has no inspriation to start one. To make matters worse, Gudio has to juggle the many women in his life - his wife (Cotillard), his muse movie star (Kidman), his mistress (Cruz), an American reporter (Kate Hudson), and his deceased mother (Loren). Dealing with all of this at once, Guido is forced to discover what he truly wants and what he must do to get it.
My first problem with "Nine" has to do with most of the Oscar-winning cast. This is not to say that this is a poorly acted film; far from it, I felt that there were very few faults to be found with any of the performers. However, when you are given the actresses that Marshall has in this film it would be a crime to underuse them. Unfortunately that is what happens. The women in Guido's life come and go, with their impact seeming to fade upon their exits. It is true that dividing screen time among this many actresses is difficult, but the end result leaves something to be desired.
As I stated previously, the acting in this film is excellent. The film centers on Day-Lewis, and once again he is able to carry it. Guido is a man of charm but this charm is used to get him what he wants: an actress for a film, a mistress to sleep with, some more time while he works (or rather doesn't work) on his script. He is not a very likable character; in fact, he's pretty repulsive. Day-Lewis is able to show not only the ugly underbelly of the character but also the charm through which Guido seems to so many to be a brilliant man. It doesn't hurt that he can sing, too. Cotillard is the female standout. Her charcter is given the most emotion and what a job she does with it. Luisa is a woman who never sees her husband. He is always working or off with another woman and she's been hurt to the point of being fed up. As with every other actor in the film Cotillard sings quite well. Dench, Kidman, Hudson, and especially Cruz were all wonderful, but their lack of screen time was upsetting given their talents.
Another disappointing feature of "Nine" is its lack of emotional attachment to the audience and musical numbers that, while good, were not as memorable as some might wish for. I am a fan of Marshall's "Chicago", a movie that I found deserving of its Best Picture win in 2002 despite great competition. That film was filled great songs, but more importantly it had a story that fit well with these songs and ultimately rewarded the audience. "Nine" can't say that. The movie left me strangely emotionless, which, given the emotions that are running amok in Guido's life, is not a good sign. I was hoping for something that would last but instead was given a hectic look at the life of a man losing everything. Who's to blame? Not the cast, I would say. Maybe Marshall for direction that I found less than great. Maybe the screenwriters for a script that was lacking at times. Regardless, "Nine" is an ambitious film that, while good, comes up short of being what it should have been: great.
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