Review of The Ninth Gate (1999) by F G — 15 Aug 2010
It's no "Da Vinci Code," but as a religiously-toned intellectual puzzle film, this film's quite stylish and engrossing, expecting multiple viewings to ferret out full meaning. However viewers seeking Satanic worship/horror creep-out will be disappointed.
A self-serving rare-book dealer (Depp) investigates the three existing copies of an ancient book for which Lucifer himself supplied certain source material. If properly understood/used, it empowers invocation of an eternal, intimate allegiance with The Devil, by directing passage through each of the Nine Gates it describes.
Anonymous, enigmatic Seigner's increasingly supportive and protective of Depp's quest. Both Langella and occult vixen Olin seek the book's secrets for themselves. But are they actually evil enough to earn ultimate audience with Satan - or simply power-seekers? Will someone else, carefully guided by the WhoreOfBabylon, subtly/slowly reveal to be truly most worthy?
From a well-received 1993 Spanish novel.
Director Polanski tries tapping into his own "Chinatown" to ever-so-slightly drape Depp in noir. But constantly smoking non-filter Luckies does not alone a noir-detective make. Depp's badly miscast here, root-cause of the film's pans; his delivery is too monotone and unemotional to adequately characterize an unethical Joe slowly morphing into Antichrist job applicant.
The cinematography is utterly gorgeous, start to fin, lushly admiring its well-done set pieces and its well-chosen location shoots. The score's equally superlative; the DVD has an isolated track, allowing viewers to savor both it and the visuals together and undiluted.
As with DVC, there's loose draw on historical obscura - the book's author is styled off Giordano Bruno; the book's engravings draw from Tarot and Kabballah; the Devil's Castle is actually Chateau de Puivert, built by the Cathars, Gnostics who philosophized the material world as purely the Devil's domain.
As a puzzle wrapped in satisfying visuals, recommended.
This review of The Ninth Gate (1999) was written by F G on 15 Aug 2010.
The Ninth Gate has generally received positive reviews.
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