Review of The Ninth Gate (1999) by Daniel K — 17 Aug 2009

3: I've always liked this movie and thought it was a bit underrated. I haven't grown tired of it in the least despite having seen it numerous times, which is always the sign of film of quality in my book.

I definitely think men like Polanski and Kubrick have actually been to gatherings like the one depicted in Lena Olin's characters chateau here. Depp is excellent, as is the costume departments work.

This is the film I first noticed Langella in and one of Olin's better pieces, even if it is a fairly minor role. Seigner is superb as well. Very little makeup, clothes that mirror Depp's, yet set her part from him as well, and eyes that range from one end of the spectrum to the other.

I doubt I noticed her lack of a shadow the first time around or the fact that she fails to interact with any other characters in the picture. Part of the genius of the film is certainly that the obvious is really only hinted at, even to the extent that one could still just be picking new details up after multiple viewings.

Polanski never comes out and shows us exactly what she is or what Depp is heading towards. Whatever it is, I'm fairly sure it would have been a disappointment if Polanski had shown us his version of it.

It is much more tantalizing, illuminating, and engaging for the possibilities to be endless and the vision left up to the viewer's imagination. This even starts with the opening credits, which are some of the most watchable in recent memory, apart from most Bond films of course.

I've always been a bit taken with stories that delve into obscure areas of history and also have a dark and sinister element. This is definitely on my best-of list for this particular sub-genre. There aren't enough films about books about satan and the booksellers/collectors that chase them down.

I only wish the Blu-Ray print/transfer were better.