Movie Review: 'Nine'

3 out of 5 acorns

Beginning 2010 on a Good Note

One day, on a whim, I decided to go see the new movie Nine. Having not seen the original broadway show or paid much attention to the previews, I did not know anything in the slightest about the plot of this movie. All I knew was that it featured high-profile actors such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench and Kate Hudson. I also knew that there were songs somewhere in the movie. So I figured, why not go see it? It sounded good enough to me.

Well, it was definitely good enough. But while it was the big-name actors and idea of musical entertainment that drew me in, it was the story and the magnitude of the musical numbers that kept me there.

Nine, directed by Rob Marshall, takes place in the 1960s and is about a renowned Italian movie-maker, Guido Contini (Lewis), who is struggling with creating a great new script for his next hit while maintaining realism and morality in his unusual lifestyle.

The plot, combined with the fact that Marshall also directed 2002’s smash-hit Chicago, should let you know that Nine is not a fun-loving, up-tempo musical such as Hairspray or Mamma Mia!. That does not mean that it is not good. It just means that it does not contain the cute songs and dances and happy endings that many people expect of a musical.

Nine is rated PG-13 for sexual content and smoking, so technically, it is advised that people under thirteen should not see this movie. Still, I do not even think that a thirteen-year-old would fully enjoy this movie for the simple reason that the non-musical parts do delve into the more complex parts of Cotini’s life, which can be seen as dull to someone not fully appreciative of the situation.

This aspect does, however, touch upon the negative side of this movie. No movie is without its faults and Nine is no exception. Apart from the musical numbers, the beginning does tend to drag. Once the story gets going, the movie finds its rhythm and is more interesting; however, it takes a while for this to happen.

This is a fault of many movies, but it stands out more in Nine for two reasons. The actual story does not have any big, exciting, edge-of-your-seat moments, which can help grab the interest of a viewer. Also, in comparison with the spectacular musical numbers, the story at the beginning of the movie is boring. Thankfully, though, the story did get more interesting and the musical numbers continued to be great.

The musical numbers were, in fact, the highlight of this movie. Each one flowed into and out of the story marvelously and never seemed forced, a problem that often plagues musicals. Each song helps give the movie depth by expanding on its character or moment. Unlike some musicals, none of the numbers are unnecessary. In fact, I would have ended the movie with one last song to leave it with some excitement. But again, that is not the main goal of Nine. I also liked that each piece had its own unique feeling, while keeping the overall mood of the movie.

The actors all did a very good job becoming their characters. I was a little worried about Stacy Ferguson (more commonly known as Fergie of Black-Eyed Peas fame), but I thought she did an excellent job with what she was given. While Hudson does have her own musical number, she has surprisingly smaller screen-time than I would have thought. Her role is not too complex and does not take Oscar-worthy acting skills to portray, but she made the character believable, which is the most important part.

Lewis does an excellent job in his role as Contini. It is undoubtedly one of the most complex roles in the movie and I did not, for one second, believe he was anyone other than Guidi Contini. Marion Cotillard also does an outstanding job portraying his estranged wife, Luisa Contini. These are definitely the two roles to look most forward to in the film.

Lastly, I want to point out the one part of the movie that I never thought I would even notice--the lighting. Throughout the entire movie, plot and musical numbers alike, the use of lighting grabbed my eye. It set the mood and helped tell the story just as well as the script and songs.

Nine, as a whole, may not be the most exciting movie of the new year, but that does not mean it is not worth watching. The story has a good meaning and the actors make the movie enjoyable. However, each musical number, beginning with the Overture Delle Donne and continuing throughout the movie, is enchanting in its own way and is the main star of this movie.