Film review: Nine

GOING NOWHERE: Despite a great director and cast, Nine is tedious and dispiriting.

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Nine is based on an award-winning musical, which was itself inspired by Federico Fellini's wondrous film 8½, and the last musical entry on director Rob Marshall's CV is Chicago, which got a very positive rant from me in 2002.

With that sort of heritage and Daniel Day-Lewis heading up a fairly astonishing cast, you could be forgiven for expecting Nine to at least offer some diverting escapism.

But Nine, for all its talent and promise, falls apart the moment it hits the screen. Day-Lewis plays Guido Contini, an Italian film director, based loosely and lightly on Marcello Mastroianni's character in 8½.

Contini is stricken by an insurmountable writer's block, not helped by the fact he is juggling a marriage, at least one mistress, an out-of-patience producer, and an entire film crew, all of whom expect him to deliver on his promises.

Occasionally ameliorating the maestro's angst are his wardrobe mistress, played by Judi Dench, and Contini's memories of his departed mother, played by Sophia Loren, in a sentimental but impractical piece of casting.

All of this adds up to a fine excuse for a series of expertly staged and photographed musical numbers, but little else.

Nine is inspired by a film about a film-maker who doesn't have a plot or a script, but who nonetheless makes a masterpiece. Rob Marshall's great conceit seems to be a belief that he could pull off the same trick.

The sets, choreography and photography are spectacular, but the story, the characters, and songs, simply fail to register.

Day-Lewis seems a little constipated. Only in a few scenes featuring Marion Cotillard, as Contini's wife, does Nine grab the heart.

Without drama, context, or plot, even the sight of Penelope Cruz wiggling on top of a grand piano in her best undies can become tedious and dispiriting. Who knew?

Nine
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren
Time: 118 minutes
Rated: MTrailer: Flicks.co.nz

* What did you think of Nine? Post your comments below.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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