Review of Nine (2009) by Daniel K — 21 Jul 2010
1: This is so unnecessary and ill conceived. I would say it sullies the memory of 8 1/2 except that it isn't worthy of comparison. Loving a wonderful classic is fine, but trying to recreate it so literally, and yet in such a radically different manner, is a recipe for disaster.
The shot-for-shot remake of Psycho was interesting because it was just that. Countless other remakes and homage's are also worthy additions or revisitations as well, but this is in a different category.
It isn't helped by the fact that I hate Rob Marshall. It's all cut, cut, cut. It's so overdone. A few of scenes are fine when taken as individual musical numbers or set pieces, but it does not flow into a cohesive whole.
Day-Lewis is wasted here. Cotillard is a great choice to play Anouk Aimee's role (I can't immediately think of anyone better, but someone like Kristin Scott Thomas could also work), but the picture is unworthy of her as well.
It is a pale and frail wisp of a shadow of 8 1/2. It's the kind of picture that sounds interesting conceptually and has a fantastic cast to boot, but one should know better than to imagine it could come even remotely close to living up to one's imagination.
Pretty awful, but a few scenes work. It's possible I could watch it in a different mood and give it a 1.5 or even a 2.
This review of Nine (2009) was written by Daniel K on 21 Jul 2010.
Nine has generally received mixed reviews.
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