Let me preface this by saying that I am a lover of musicals. I am probably more fond of the more “modern” musical such as Cabaret and the rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” but nonetheless a musical fan I am. Now, did the original musical Nine have a solid story line? No, it did not. Did it win awards? Yes it did. Itl won five Tony Awards, including best musical, and has enjoyed a number of revivals. But it was never touted as a strong storyline. It is based on Federico Fellini’s autobiographical (aren’t they all?) film 8 1/2.
That said, did I enjoy the film Nine? Yes I did. Did I think the acting was good? Yes I did. Do I think Rob Marshall is THE musical director? Yes I do. He knows his musicals. He knows what to get out of his actors. It was his tribute to Fellini. Actually, no. It was his tribute to Anthony Minghella’s tribute to Fellini. Do I think Minghella is in Director heaven heaving heavy sighs? Perhaps..but not entirely. All in all it was entertaining, though it felt like a string of mini videos, somewhat like what you would get when typing in a search word in YouTube and then you get all the related videos to the original. Daniel Day Lewis does a good job as the ever suffering Guido Contini, but aside from his repeating “I am sick (I yam seeeck)” or “Give me a cigarette (Geeve mee a seeegarettte),” I really didn’t empathize with him. He grew on me a little. Not much. Not as much as I wanted him to. On the other hand, I never found Marcello Mastroianni to be endearing in 8 1/2, so perhaps, we were meant to not empathize with him too much.
I liked Nicole Kidman’s song, but thought her appearance was iconic and really reminded me (almost too much) of Anita Ekberg. Did I get a little verklempt at the end of her song? Yes. I liked her singing in low tones.
Penelope Cruz was fabulous. That opening scene was probably one of the most compelling of the film. But I also didn’t empathize with her. And not because she was the mistress. I didn’t feel like she was too into her character. I don’t think she liked her character very much. And it was a little reminiscent of her character in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The girl can do a spread eagle, though. I’ll hand her that.
I had high expectations for Kate Hudson and would have liked to have seen more of her. More more more!! Also, in the bar scene she looked uncannily like her mother. A little frightening.
Marion Cotillard was ever the class. She is luminous and endearing and gosh, imagine if there had been a more solid plot?
Sofia….Sofia…blending statue. I just shake my head…felt like she had been placed on rollers and was wheeled in and wheeled out. Too glamorous to be mamma. I kind of expected her to look to the camera and sell me sunglasses (she used to do ads for sunglasses in Italy in the 80s).
I loved the choreography for the Fergie scene…but that was the most video looking scene. It felt out of place…I know, I know…picky picky Ro Ro. But honestly, it almost belonged in the DVD extras as the “Featuring Fergie’s Video ‘Be Italian’!” Know what I mean?
Dame Judy Dench does a mean French Folie Berger, but I was a bit fearful she might start stripping. And really, wasn’t she sort of like M?
Major props go to Giuseppe Cederna and Ricky Tognazzi cause, mah boys done good!