'Nine' Review

Daniel Day Lewis & Marion Cotilliard as an estranged married couple. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/nine/29835/main

In 1982 we took my parents to NYC to see the original cast production of Nine starring the late Raul Julia. I've forgotten much about it so we took Mom to see the film version. A few weeks ago, Mom and I watched an Oprah episode promoting the film. With a cast full of several Oscar winners, Nine looked like it would be good.... until I learned who was the director. Rob Marshall also directed Chicago which I thought was overrated and unworthy of 2003's Best Picture Oscar. That film bombarded your eyes with too much crosscutting as every musical number was fractured into tiny takes. I can honestly say that Chicago gave me a headache unlike the Broadway revival I saw about six years ago.
>>Yes there is a difference between seeing a musical number on the screen and on the stage. However the classic movie musicals of the past used long takes that allowed you to savor their choreography unlike what I call today's MTV style of editing aimed for the impatient video generation whose short attention span wants fast paced razzle-dazzle.
>>Nine's preview looked enticing as the film's look is an homage to 8&a Half, La Dolce Vita, and other 60's Italian films but alas Marshall proved to be up to his old tricks. If you don't know anything about the plot. you might get lost. If you blink, you'll lose the story line as Marshall doesn't believe in long or long enough takes to get your bearings. The plot is based on Fellini's 8&a Half (1963) about a film director facing an artistic dry spell while looking back on his past. This version uses this story with more emphasis on the women in his life.
>>Daniel Day Lewis who inhabits each part he plays is very good as the director Guido. He looks the part and is convincing enough to come across as an unstereotypical Italian. He's not a bad singer if that's his real voice. I suspect Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Marion Cotilliard were also dubbed but I could be wrong... The real treat is seeing Sophia Loren as Guido's mother. She's been away from from movies for too long and looks fabulous at 75! She talk/sings her songs as she did years ago in the forgotten film version of Man of La Mancha, another flop adaptation of a hit stage musical. Judy Densch is marvelous as usual as Guido's costume designer who looks after him with a surrogate mother's care. and will surprise you with her showstopping 'Folies Bergere' number. The Blackeyed Peas' Fergie, the only real singer here, does well performing a lusty version of 'Be Italian.'
>> I don't think there is one number that's not marred by choppy editing. It's as if Marshall doesn't trust his instincts and needs to nail your eyelids open so you'll get every point across. or perhaps he's using editing to cover up his cast's lack of singing and dancing abilities. The acting is good enough if you can piece together each actor's role.
>>I seem to recall the stage version ending with a big production number reuniting the cast. Here we get an inkling that ends the film on an abrupt, flat note. But at this point I really didn't care. Nine is a tiring example of style over substance. The reviews have been mixed and its box office is suffering. For a truly negative review which I sorta agree with, read on. You can also find more clips here: http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/movies/18nine.html?ref=movies