30 November 2012

Nine



Nine is a musical set in '60s Italy. It is about Guido Contini, a famous italian director who fights to find inspiration for his next movie as well as balance his personal life. This film is supposed to be an adaptation of Frederico Fellini's oscar-awarded "81/2", but, since I haven't watched the latter, I saw Nine as if it was a movie out of the blue.

This film was directed by Rob Marshall, the director of "Chicago", and starred Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido Contini, Marion Cotillard as his wife (with whom he is estranged due to his cheating), Penelope Cruz as his mistress, Nicole Kidman as his muse/famous french actress, Judi Dench as his coworker, Fergie as Saraghina, Kate Hudson as an american reporter and Sophia Lauren as his mother.

It wasn't a bad movie. As all the musicals I am aware of, most of the songs included in it were not the music I would choose to listen to unless I am watching the movie. Except for "Be Italian", sang by Fergie, and "Take it all", sang by Marion Cotillard, which stayed with me.

Daniel Day-Lewis, as an incredible actor as he is, did not fully convince me as a womanizer. He is famous for being fully in character in every movie he does, and I guess fooling around is not something you do to get in character. I wasn't overwhelmed by Penelope Cruz either. Also, how does Nicole Kidman play a french actress without the smallest hint of french accent, or Judi Dench an italian costume maker with a british accent (although in that case it works). Sophia Lauren, who was, like, the only italian in there, had not much connection with Daniel Day-Lewis.

I enjoyed the movie, and I didn't hate it or anyone playing in it, but it seemed to me it needed more time to mature – even some of the musical parts looked like they needed more.. practice. In addition, I am not sure if the fact that every important character was played by a famous actor helped the movie. Actually, this might have deprived the film of much of the element of surprise. It looks like, "Hey, let's gather some stars and it will work out by itself." Also, maybe if the adaptation was about an american director it would be less forced-exotic. How an american director (Marshall) tries to capture the heart of Italy with a basically non-italian cast?

In short, even though the movie seems that it hasn't reached its whole potential, between "watch" and "don't watch" I would definetely choose "watch".

Is it my idea or Fergie sounds like a pirate? Still, her song is one of the highlights of the movie.



Don't be misled by the slightly boring first minute of the song. Keep on listening.



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