Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman
Director: Rob Marshall (Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha)
Running Time: 1 hr 58 min
Release Date: Dec. 18, 2009 (Limited Release)
Budget: $80 million
Critics¡¯ Thumbs Up: 40%
“Sophisticated, sexy and stylishly decked out…” Todd McCarthy, Variety
“Let’s not dance around it: Nine – is a dud.” Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York
It boasts an all-star, Oscar-winning cast and is directed by Oscar nominee Rob Marshall of Chicago, but this big-budget, splashy musical is disappointing, blase and even somewhat repelling. Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) stars as Guido Contini, a world-famous film director, who has suddenly lost his touch. As he struggles to regain inspiration, however, he also must deal with the various women in his life including his wife (Cotillard), mistress (Cruz), muse (Kidman) and mother (Sophia Loren). Nine is meant to be a character study, revealing Guido’s innermost intricacies and how each woman uniquely affects him, but the overabundance of seven women renders each of them and their significance useless. In fact, the film feels rushed as it obligatorily gives each actress her token scene and dance number. The wife and mistress are the only two whose feelings the audience slightly understands, but they still feel hastily drawn. Worst of all, we do not connect with Guido. Even Day-Lewis cannot save him from coming off as unlikable, unrelatable and whiny. The story itself is muddled and lacks a discernible plot, but Nine’s biggest flaw as a musical is failing to provide any punchy, memorable songs and performances.
