'Nine' loses points for thin story, lyrics
Rob Marshall's "Nine" is the kind of movie musical to be appreciated for its showstopper production numbers, its impressive roster of stars who can almost sing and dance superbly, and its racy and raw sexuality barely constrained by a PG-13 rating.
But its inaccessible main character, uninsightful lyrics and thin story?
Closer to a "Five."
Even with Fergie's heaving chest undulating to the beat of "Be Italian," "Nine" has a tough time spinning a gripping story around something as nebulous as writer's block.
Granted, this writer is Italy's supreme filmmaker, Guido Contini, played by British actor Daniel Day-Lewis. After two massive flops during the 1960s, he's about to shoot his next, eagerly anticipated motion picture.
But he has no script. No ideas, either.
The international press hounds him with stupid questions.
His producer freaks out as the clock ticks down to the start of shooting.
So, the chain-smoking Guido sits down in the darkness of the huge soundstage at Rome's Cinecitta Film Studios and unbridles his imagination, and like Marshall's Oscar-winning best picture musical "Chicago," his memories come to life in music and spectacle, featuring the women in his life.
His mistress Carla (Penelope Cruz) follows Guido around, putting him in awkward social situations and shamelessly offering herself up to him 24/7. Her saucy number, performed with ropes and racy attire, contains more gyrations than the Milky Way constellation.
His adorable wife Luisa (Marion Cotillard), tired of being ignored by her self-centered husband, sings "My Husband Makes Movies," all about how her husband ignores her to make movies. Didn't we already know this?
The classy Sophia Loren (an actual Italian star) plays Guido's singing mother. Perhaps the biggest surprise is Kate Hudson as a spunky journalist who sets fire to the screen with a glitzy, high-energy number "Cinema Italiano."
Judi Dench also displays her musical chops as Guido's singing costume designer. Nicole Kidman, who already proved her musical abilities in "Moulin Rouge," plays Guido's favorite leading lady, an actress mesmerized by the director enough to sing about her obvious feelings in "Unusual Way."
"Nine" comes from the popular Broadway show (originally launched in 1982, and reprised in 2003), which was previously adapted from Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini's 1963 international classic "8½."
As the screen incarnation of Fellini, Day-Lewis is challenged to keep the egocentric Guido engaging, especially during bouts of flailing ego in his musical tirade, "I Can't Make This Movie!"
Marshall did make this movie. And no amount of flashy editing, star power and vixeny women slithering all over the stage can give "Nine" the impact and joy that his previous movie offered.
It's just not the "Chicago" way.
"Nine"
Rating: ★ ★ ½
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Other: A Weinstein Company release. Rated PG-13 for sexual situations, smoking. 110 minutes