Nine (2009)

Director:

Rob Marshall

Writers (WGA):

Michael Tolkin (screenplay) and
Anthony Minghella (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Romance

Tagline:

This Holiday Season, Be Italian

Plot:

Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Based On Film | Italian | Dancer | Dancing

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Daniel Day-Lewis	...	Guido Contini
Marion Cotillard	...	Luisa Contini
Penélope Cruz	...	Carla
Nicole Kidman	...	Claudia
Judi Dench	...	Lilli
Kate Hudson	...	Stephanie
Sophia Loren	...	Mamma
Stacy Ferguson	...	Saraghina (as Fergie)
Ricky Tognazzi	...	Dante
Giuseppe Cederna	...	Fausto
Elio Germano	...	Pierpaolo
Andrea Di Stefano	...	Benito
Roberto Nobile	...	Jaconelli
Romina Carancini	...	Production Assistant
Alessandro Denipotti	...	Production Assistant

Also Known As:

Untitled Rob Marshall Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and smoking.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | Dolby SR | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45660) | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Camber Sands, Camber, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Weinstein Company, The

Trivia:

The number Nine refers to Fellini's 8 1/2, which was his ninth movie (he directed 7 on his own and co-directed one other). Also, the number 9 refers to the age young Guido is in the flashback.

Quotes:

Liliane La Fleur: [adjusting the collar of Guido's suit] You're a world class liar, darling. Go out there and lie for Italy. Lie for Italia.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Angela and Friends: (#1.29)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Quando Quando Quando

Nine is not your everyday musical

What do I know about musicals? From my limited experience of musicals, ("Singing in the Rain," "Guys and Dolls," "The Blues Brothers" {yes, it is considered a musical comedy} and "Legally Blonde the Musical") here is the basic linear format as I see they are written in — opening dialogue, singing, more dialogue, more singing, even more dialogue and then a grand finale. Then for a week after that, you have the songs stuck in your head. Director Rob Marshall chose not to follow the old standby format through to the end. His actions placed "Nine" in a different category from the standard musical.

The movie focuses on Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) as a famous movie director in Italy in 1965. He is having troubles developing his next movie. More so, he hasn't written a script. Even more so, he is having trouble even coming up with an idea for his movie. He had successful movies in the years past but now we are watching him struggle after a few major flops.

In his journey to make his next movie, he is having marital problems along with mistress problems. Add in Freudian issues with his deceased mother and his working relationship with his costume designer and his muse. Don't forget to include yet another potential affair outside of the one he is having with his mistress, plus there's the memory of an erotic lady on a beach from his youth (that's seven women total for those of you who are keeping score at home).

You know what is going to make this movie stand out from the crowd? It is the realistic singing by the actors. They are actors first and singers second (except for maybe Fergie who plays the erotic lady from Guido's youth but she didn't say much in the film, come to think of it I think she only sang). Since I don't know much about musicals and even less about how to sing properly, I could grasp the singing. The tunes they sang aren't the kind you are going to be singing on the way home because a lot of the songs were simply narrated lines being sung. When a character wanted to express his or her thoughts, they would sing their lines. Maybe that's what they do in all musicals — like I said my experience here is limited.

The women. Oh, the women. They all performed wonderfully, and I don't just mean the singing. The female cast includes his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his costume designer (Judi Dench), the woman from his childhood (Fergie), an American fashion designer (Kate Hudson), his muse (Nicole Kidman) and his mother (Sophia Loren). They brought emotion and life to the story through their singing and their lustful yet sensual moves. I would also like to note, as a guy, the women were the reason why I kept my attention focused for almost 2 hours. I don't even watch a football game this intensely.

Should you see this movie? Yes. But, don't go in expecting a musical you can sing along with or a movie that will leave you feeling giddy with love. It dealt with some very real issues about infidelity. I will say this, though, after seeing this movie I do know a little more about musicals. And, that's a good thing.