When a movie includes a cast of five Academy Award winners, one nominee, a Tony Award Winner, is based on a Broadway hit, and has Rob Marshall holding the strings, what’s not to love?
Let’s begin with scene one. Guido Contini (Daniel Day Lewis) is an aptly named famous Italian filmmaker with a bad case of creative blockage. As he stares, frustrated, at his unfinished set, who should appear out of the shadows but Nicole Kidman, sashaying across the room to plant one on our scruffy hero. But that’s not all! Penelope Cruz! Kate Hudson! Judi Dench! And there’s more. Marion Cotillard! Fergie! Sophia Loren! Draping themselves languidly over pieces of faux Italian architecture all for Guido’s profligate pleasure. You’d think that such a convergence of acting talent would deserve an introduction that was a little less, well, kitschy.
Like Roxie in Rob Marshall’s 2003 film, “Chicago”, Guido’s imagination is the setting for all the musical numbers. But while Roxie was fame-hungry and star-struck, Guido has had his fill and regards the ladies of Italian cinema with an air of unimpressed gaudiness. Of course, that doesn’t stop them from dominating his fantasies. With “Chicago”, Marshall enhanced public opinion of musicals with an infusion of sex appeal. But where “Chicago” was spiked, “Nine” is drenched.
At one point in the film, a dusky prostitute named Saraghina (Fergie) performs a number about what it means to be Italian or, more specifically, an Italian man. Maybe it’s just me, but perhaps the celebration of a culture should avoid fostering stereotypes of happy-go-lucky sleaziness. Most of the choreography in the movie consists of voluptuous women in lingerie flinging sand and glitter about and crawling on hands and knees towards the camera. Judi Dench appears to be one of the few who stands (literally) above all this. But she compensates with an equally palpable and horrendous vocal performance of a song about the Follies Bergere. Or as she pronounces it, Berge-GRUH.
The best three minutes of the movie come when Kate Hudson, who plays an American Journalist, bursts into song in the jazzy and ultra-chic number, Cinema Italiano. The Latin beat and rapid lyrics united with Hudson’s surprisingly throaty and belting voice generates the spirit of the movie that “Nine” wishes it was. It is more of a music video than a musical interlude, but it’s the ideal Italian indulgence that will have you up and dancing before you can say “Uomo Romano”.
In a nutshell, “Nine” is about Guido’s many lovely ladies and how they are so much more than the superficially idyllic bombshells of his fantasies. It is about his realization that by fostering this ideal he is becoming detached from reality, from where he came from, and from who he is. This reaches its peak in Daniel Day Lewis’s emblematic vulnerability-grasping-fall-on-his-knees-screaming-in-agony scene which, despite its affluence, is not what makes him a great actor. Guido had become corrupted with the glitzy pizazz of the film industry and forgotten his true aptitude along the way. It’s movies like “Nine” that make today’s filmmakers and actors do the same.
I want to see this so badddd
ReplyDeleteHmm, I'm sort of surprised that Daniel Day Lewis would take a role like this.
ReplyDeleteYeah, just what I want to see. Exposed boobage, while women crawl around. : )
R, Whatever floats your boat :)
ReplyDeleteT, I was surprised that ANYBODY in this would consider taking on these roles.
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ReplyDeleteI had high hopes when I first read about the script and a few of the cast members, but when I heard that %^#$*&! Fergie (aka She Who Cannot Act Her Way Out of A Wet Paper Bag), I knew it would be BLEH. Because dammit, when you're getting paid big bucks to be in a big film, you at least take some lessons with a dialogue coach (or a French teacher) to learn the correct way to say Folies Bergere.
ReplyDelete[deep sigh]
I was pleasantly surprised with Fergie's vocal performance. Even though it was a pretty crappy role with little or no real purpose other than to have FERGIE! in the credits, her singing was better than it was with any of her pop music.
ReplyDeleteBut then again, that's not saying much.
Miss Kitty, I start with the deep sigh you ended with.
ReplyDeleteI was sooooo excited for Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Freaking Loren and DANIEL DAY LEWIS, but alas, this looks like pure cheesecake and your review sounds thorough.
although the beginning was hard to stay up for, the movie came alive with marion cotillard- thanks for a great review- i agree totally!
ReplyDeleteL. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Although, in my opinion, it was the reversal of that old saying, "There are no small parts, only small actors."
ReplyDeletewho doesn't enjoy exposed "boobage" while women crawl around?!
ReplyDeleteR, I guess it's a matter of context. Part of the reason we all know and love, say, Penelope Cruz as an actress is because, physically blessed as she is, I would never think of her as someone who would stoop so low that she would be, well, crawling on the floor. Part of her appeal is that, though she is drop dead gorgeous, I respect her first and foremost as a brilliant actress with much more to offer than the little that her scantily clad part is capable of giving in "Nine".
ReplyDeleteNow, Fergie is an entirely different story.
I see it as, I'm never going to get with penelope cruz, so I might as well throw respecting her as an actress out the window and appreciate her crawling on the floor ;D
ReplyDelete