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Nine (2009)

Time Out rating

Average user rating

33 reviews

Synopsis

Daniel Day-Lewis sings and dances his way through this Broadway adaptation of Fellini’s ‘8 1/2’, with Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman and Sophia Loren among the many women in his life.

Movie review

From Time Out London

Best wipe ‘8 1/2’ from your mind, or at least delay seeing Fellini’s loopy masterpiece, if you’re going to enjoy this angsty romp through the director’s 1963 film about a fictional Italian filmmaker, Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis), who loses his mojo and might be about to lose his marbles and his marriage.

Surprisingly, though, there’s lots in this musical version, itself an adaptation of a 1980s Broadway show, that relates to the sombre heart of Fellini’s original. We still get Guido’s formative childhood memory of watching a prostitute perform on the beach (although this time it is Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas brilliantly belting out the film’s foot-tapping anthem ‘Be Italian’). We also get the lingering ghost of his mother (Sophia Loren!), the pain of his adultery and the madness of his creative impasse. Also, Fellini’s meshing of dream and reality is oddly suited to the unreal tendencies of a musical, although it’s anybody’s guess what the director would have made of Penélope Cruz throwing herself around in stockings and suspenders and upping the sex factor beyond anything Claudia Cardinale offered in the original.

The biggest difference, though, is that almost 50 years later, director Rob Marshall (‘Chicago’) is able to play the story of ‘8 1/2’ as a nostalgia piece. He fetishises the look and feel of 1960s Italy and especially Rome so that the film’s mood of artistic melancholia is expressed on a canvas that comes dangerously close to looking like an ad for Italian coffee. Marshall and his writers, including the late Anthony Minghella, also stress the humour of Guido’s philandering, often preferring that his inner turmoil goes no further than chain-smoking. To give Day-Lewis his due, the actor grounds the film’s sillier tendencies in a charming performance of mercurial despair. He’s well supported by Marion Cotillard, who conveys the sadness of being Guido’s wife, although both Nicole Kidman as his leading lady and Kate Hudson as an admiring journalist are little more than window-dressing.

Author: Dave Calhoun

Time Out London Issue 2053/2054: 17–30 December, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Hayleigh said...

Posted on Jul 18 2011 13:42 I starred in the musical Nine and thought the storyline was brilliant and when I discovered they were making a movie i thought it would be briliant. However, It wasn't. Aside from the fact they completely missed the point, the talents of the actors was wasted. The film lacked the passion and emotion the play created.

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TrickyDicky said...

Posted on Feb 05 2010 10:36 Neither having seen the original film, nor the musical, I didn’t really know what to expect – other than the cast was a filmmaker’s fantasy of leading ladies (and that’s the crux of the story within the story in any case).
As someone had told me this film hadn’t had great reviews, I deliberately avoided stopping by TimeOut to see what Dave Calhoun had to say about it - I didn’t want to find myself picking holes in a film that had the potential to be great. The cast alone must have costs a few bucks.
I’m not a great fan of musicals, but with the exception of a couple of “numbers”, the songs/music were good. A few of the leading ladies might have been wise to spend a little more time with their singing/music tutor. A few songs were just plain bland, but then you get toe-tapping numbers like “Be Italian”, superbly sung and danced to by Fergie, and you think “Wow”.
The plot and range of emotions portrayed throughout are not overly taxing, so are well within the range of all the leading ladies – and the acting is flawless throughout, including that of DDL.
This is a very visual film – with no great depths of emotion. I couldn’t engage with any of the characters – not even Cotillard, whom I greatly admire. Superb sets, photography, and eye catching costumes. Great to see, but I won’t go back to see it again in the hope of spotting hidden depths – I’m not sure there are any.
I enjoyed the film, having no idea of what it was going to be like. It’s the sort of film the studio behind it won’t be ashamed of, but shouldn’t get their hopes up of making a fortune from when it goes to DVD. Worth 3 stars.

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sonnyboy said...

Posted on Feb 05 2010 09:36 We walk out half way through this rubbish film. Great actors and locations just wasted. Songs a 10 year old would conceive. Do not bother with this one.

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Melanie said...

Posted on Feb 03 2010 16:41 WORST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN!!! PAINFUL TO WATCH!!! GREAT ACTORS WAISTED THERE TIME!!! I GIVE NO STAR!!

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Mollie said...

Posted on Jan 27 2010 18:54 Very very disappointed. I definately had high hopes for this film, espesically because of the cast. It had no story line and nothing made sense.

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MARIEN said...

Posted on Jan 24 2010 10:42 I havent seen such a rubbish film for a long time, my friend booked it.It was a total waste of money, if it shows on TV I dont think people will watch it. It has no story, no event, no progression;, it gives an impression of emptiness, it is slow. There are too many close up on D DL as if he was a grat hero; yes, some of the scenes are beautiful : the ligting, the props the rythm but it stops there, the singing is awful.

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Liz said...

Posted on Jan 23 2010 23:25 Yes stuff grated, yes it seemed facile, but wan't there a metaphor here.? The film derides what grated and is facile. I also think in the grated and facile there was a bit that alot of the woman who watched it would, maybe privately, like to be a bit of. I loved to see Judy Dench playing her role...sexy and sensible. As I left this film with my two girlfriends it generated a surprising amount of discussion. What is real anyway...the lead man was indulging the apparently 'unreal' but was there a bigger metaphor to be appreciated here? Maybe it depends who is viewing.

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Liz said...

Posted on Jan 23 2010 23:13 Yes stuff grated, yes it seemed facile, but wan't there a metaphor here.? The film derides the what grated and is facile. I also think in the grated and facile there was a bit that alot of the woman who watched it wouldmaybe privately, like to be a bit of. I loved to see Judy Dench playing her role...sexy and sensible. As I left this film with my two girlfriends it generated a surprising amount of discussion. What is real anyway...the lead man was indulging the apparently 'unreal' but was there a bigger metaphor to be appreciated here? Maybe it depaends who is viewing.

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Jules said...

Posted on Jan 22 2010 16:32 loved it

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Carmel said...

Posted on Jan 20 2010 19:58 Don't understand all the negative reviews, it's as if some people were at a different movie, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS MOVIE, going to see it again, and plan to buy the DVD, we need more movies like this, simply outstanding

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R said...

Posted on Jan 18 2010 14:36 Now I understand why this was a limited cinema release... What a rubbish film! The plot made no sense & missed out all the good bits from the stage version. What a waste of a good cast, I actually feel sorry for them! On a plus note, I loved Kate Hudson's song & Marillion Cotillard is always brilliant. Still though, don't waste your money.

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Cappybear said...

Posted on Jan 17 2010 13:49 A visual treat which seems better on reflection than it did at the time, but which is let down by really weak songs. Penelope Cruz ought to be in the frame once more for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

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George said...

Posted on Jan 16 2010 18:40 This movie, was ravishing, lovely, well lit in fantastic locations and beautifully shot. Unfortunately however it was self indulgent crap! Just like the movie within the movie, it had almost no script. A huge let down for me. What on earth were actors of this stature and ability doing in such a crap movie? God alone only knows.
Beautiful but utter rubbish in my view. Do not waste your money.

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michael coyle said...

Posted on Jan 16 2010 17:35 i was hoping i get some sort of sexual pleasure during this film, it would be the only reason i would go see it again

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Laura McBride said...

Posted on Jan 16 2010 17:34 im outraged at this movie!! i thought i was going to see a post apocaliptic drama but to my surprise i found a half naked penelope cruz with streaky hair and a fatter version of the fergie i once new, pffttt

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