|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
NINE |
 |
|
Sophia Loren is 75 years old and STILL hot! She is from the era when women were women! I have
been a huge fan of Sophia's all my life and it's never going to change. With that I can say, that "Nine" is (with extreme prejudice
because of Sophia) is great! Now that I have shred those prejudices, I can only honestly say it was
very good. | |
|
|
|
|
"Nine" is based on on Frederico Fellini's outstanding
"8 1/2" which won Best Foreign Language Film in 1963 but did not star Sophia Loren. (For
trivia buffs, Sophia was only in Fellini's "Boccaccio '70"). Directed by Rob Marshall (of Chicago
fame) the screenplay was written by the late Anthony Minghella just before he died. Much like "Chicago", "Nine" is a big musical. Moreover,
much like "Chicago" it has serious overtones of Bob Fosse which at first is okay, but later starts
lacking any originality. It is about a director named Guido Contini (Daniel
Day-Lewis), a world famous film director in a classic mid-life crisis with
on every level. His life is complicated by several women - both professionally and personally, including his wife
Luisa(Marion Cotillard), his mistress Carla (Penelope Cruz), his favorite film star Claudia (Nicole Kidman), his confidant
and costume designer Lilli (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist Stephanie (Kate Hudson), the vision of a whore from his
youth Saraghina (Fergie) and the spirit of his late mother (Sophia Loren).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Together, all these women shaped him into the director he
his featuring films about sex and love. It also happens that
together these women are driving him nuts as he succumbs to his weaknesses over and over. He is beginning his latest production which he initially titles Italia
and is being hounded by the producer Dante (Ricky Tognazzi) and all
the business folk associated with the film. Their problem is he has not script. Moreover he continues to lie that it even exists. He is counting on
the input of his muses: the women. Normally this would be fine except his last couple of films were flops, so they are looking at him harder. |
|
|
|
|
|
It is, of course, at this time that the relationships become more complicated.
Luisa - who he actually loves and tries to overlook his philandering ways -
tries to instill some life into their failing marriage. Carla, despite her marriage to someone else wants to spend more time
with him even at the sacrifice of her husband (who knows what's going on). It all blows up into a moderate song and dance. I say moderate song and dance, because the big production, Be Italian is introduced about midway. |
|
|
|
|
| All of the productions are played much like the fantasies of Bob Fosse's character Joe Gideon from "All that Jazz". Indeed, the hole premise
that all his thoughts are presented as a musical production is a direct swipe from "All That Jazz". That includes much of the choreography; but so was "Chicago". The difference is you find yourself looking for something original from Marshall. Nevertheless, "Nine" will sate most musical lovers; it will satisfy lovers of the big musical as well. Judy Dench is, as always, delicious; every time she opens her mouth is worthy of an Oscar nod. Kate Hudson and
Penelope Cruz are very good - I was shock at how well Hudson sang! Marion Cotillard was too far in the background, but shows her mettle surrounded by such talent - this is why she has a statuette at home! Fergie was extremely good in her production, I was very impressed.
Daniel Day-Lewis is good at holding his Italian accent but he is no Marcello Mastroianni (from "8 1/2"). Also, he looks better covered in blood ala "Gangs of New York " and "There Will be Blood". But
her nevertheless shows versatility. Then there is Sophia, we saw far too little of this Italian classic! Nevertheless she was like an angel in every scene... oh yeah... she was playing a spirit! "Nine" is no "Chicago". Nor is it an "8 1/2". But it is a wonderful film... and musical... with a terrific cast that bails out a script that eventually gets tired. --GEOFFREY BURTON |
|
