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The Nines (2007)

Director: John August

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From Time Out London

This overreaching, Lynch-lite comic drama is the mediocre directorial debut of screenwriter John August (‘Charlie’s Angels’, ‘Big Fish’) and, if nothing else, demonstrates why some writers should stick to their laptops. While the idea of three loosely linked shorts with the same actors playing multiple roles may have seemed like a good one on paper, it means that Ryan Reynolds – an actor who manages to make a side of beef look expressive – is woefully miscast not once, but three times. Still, you do get the impression that August is trying to pass comment on the numerous ways we’re able to depart from modern life (drugs, videogames, TV), but he’s far too arch and clever just to come out and say it. The radiant Hope Davis lightens up things slightly with a delightful, if entirely superfluous rendition of Peggy Lee’s ‘Is That All There Is?’, but for the most part she delivers her lines with a glazed, distant look in her eyes which would suggest that she’s got about as much idea of what this all means as we do.

Author: David Jenkins

Time Out London Issue 1945: November 27-December 4 2007

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User reviews of this film

Leona Luk said...

Posted on Sep 09 2007 18:35 Ryan Reynolds as God...well sort of like God. As the film indicates, if God is a 10, Ryan Reynolds is a 9. People are 7s, koalas are 8s because they have psychic powers and can control the weather. Right, well ... what can be said after that?
I read an article about writer/director John August where he proudly proclaims that his house was used in this film and was not even redecorated for the film. I'm not so sure I would admit that since there were two giant cheesecake-like paintings of a dog in the bedroom. Otherwise it was a nice house, sure.
Back to the film - it was a bit on the bizarre side, and not always in a good way. It didn't particularly make me think either, so seeing this wasn't really the best use of my time. That's not to say it was a complete waste of time, just that there were better things I could have been doing.

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