His Movie Reviews

Having never traveled to Rome, or Italy, or anywhere in Europe for that matter, we take to the movies to escape into the cinematic Italy with the movie Nine. And if all the women dressed like those in Nine, I would be on the first plane to Italy.  But alas, they do not, and apparently people don’t randomly break out into song as well in Italy.  But me being American, I might have better luck in Paris for that sort of thing…. Anyways, filled with big stars and musical numbers, the story of Nine follows the erratic life of the most celebrated Italian movie director, Guido Contini.  Played by Daniel Day Lewis, Guido is a lost soul striving to create his next masterpiece all while his life falls apart around him.  Each piece of his crumbling life is shown through the relation and interaction of seven different women.  That is the basis I was able to glean from the film, after that I have no idea what is actually happening.  I wanted to really like this film and performances in the film stand out as wonderful.  Fergie, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, and Daniel Day Lewis all have outstanding performances. But the film itself never really melds to one complete story.  It just seems like you as an audience are sort of passed on to the next woman so they can sing their bit. And throughout, you hope for resolution and redemption yet it seems to never come.  The growth of Daniel Day Lewis’s character is minor and makes the first two hours of the film seem pointless.

But the main point of a musical is it’s songs, and again I have to say they aren’t that great.  I mean how many times can you put the name Guido in a song?  I think there is one where that’s the only words.  I should write a song with just my name, grab a bunch of big named actresses to run around in lingerie and sing it…Hello Broadway! I do say however, The actual voices (those big named actresses) are amazing and the choreography is good.  Fergie’s ‘Be Italian’ is one of the main highlights of the film and is probably the big reasons to watch.  But again, the story and words just don’t live up to expectations.  If you are a fan of musicals (or perhaps a bit of scantily clad women), I would say rent this and don’t expect too much.

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