The First 9 1/2 Weeks (1998)

Popularity:

Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Alex Wright

Writer:

Alex Wright (writer)

Release Date:

20 April 2001 (Turkey)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

An investment banker (Paul Mercurio) travels to Louisiana to snag the account of an eccentric millionaire...

Plot Keywords:

Business Plan | Hands Tied Behind One's Back | Arms Tied Overhead | Bare Chested Male Bondage | Husband Wife Relationship

Cast

Paul Mercurio	...	Matt Wade
Clara Bellar	...	Emily Dubois
Malcolm McDowell	...	Francois Dubois
Frederic Forrest	...	David Millman
Anna Jacyszyn	...	Robin Millman
William Keane	...	Joey Handler
Richard Durden	...	Laurence Garner
Dennis Burkley	...	Sheriff Marlon Tolette
James Black	...	Maurice Boudreau
Victoria Mahoney	...	Chantal
Colin McFarlane	...	Remy
Mitch Lackie	...	Mr. Whitaker
Alexi Kaye Campbell	...	Harlan (as Alexei Kaye Campbell)
Alex Teligadis	...	Cajun Guard
Glenn Wrage	...	Deputy Earl
Robert L. Hall	...	Chasing Guard
Paul Courtenay Hyu	...	Harry Long
Fabienne De Marco	...	Aphrodite
Rafael Springer	...	Thor
Maxine Restall	...	Nymph
Veena Bidasha	...	Isabel
Neena Bidasha	...	Lucia

Directed by
Alex Wright

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alex Wright		writer

Produced by
Ernie Barbarash	....	co-producer
Barry Barnholtz	....	producer
John Dunning	....	producer
Tom Reeve	....	producer

Original Music by
Norman Orenstein
Gast Waltzing

Cinematography by
John P. Tarver

Film Editing by
Mark Sanders

Production Management
Laurent Dumas	....	production manager
Philip Stilman	....	post-production supervisor
Meinir Stoutt	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Greg Babcock	....	first assistant director
Ralph Eisenmann	....	assistant director
Graham Johnston	....	third assistant director
Tessy Martin	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Manuel Demoulling	....	set dresser
Edouard Pallardy	....	head painter
Olivier Printz	....	assistant set dresser
Tiffany Rodenfels	....	swing gang

Sound Department
Geoff Raffan	....	assistant sound editor
Virginia Storey	....	foley artist
Seppe van Groeningen	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Etienne Braun	....	still photographer
José Alberto Pinto de Jesus	....	electrician
Carlo Thiel	....	focus puller
Frank Van Hekken	....	gaffer
Laurent Wallerang	....	grip
Wolfgang Wesemann	....	clapper loader

Casting Department
Jean-Luc Simon	....	extras casting assistant

Editorial Department
Mitch Lackie	....	first assistant editor

Other crew
Lydia Gonzalez	....	production secretary/coordinator
Michael Hogh	....	location assistant
Michael Hogh	....	production assistant
Rozenn Le Pape	....	production coordinator
Claude Ludovicy	....	location manager
Sheila McNaught	....	script supervisor
Laurence Parker	....	accountant
Anne 'Annie' Taylor	....	voice-over

Production Companies

• Carousel Picture Company, The
• Lions Gate Films
• Barnholtz Entertainment (in association with)

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films (1998) (worldwide) (all media)
• Ascot Video
• Egmont Entertainment (1998) (Finland) (VHS)
• Planet Media Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sterling Home Entertainment
• Taki Corporation (1999) (Japan) (VHS)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for some language

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Carousel Picture Company, The

Movie Connections:

Follows Another Nine & a Half Weeks (1997)

I had hoped this would be the last 9 1/2 weeks.

The First Nine and a Half Weeks Rated: R Runtime: 94mins Release Date: 1998

For hotshot stockbroker Matt Wade, a shot at a five hundred million dollar contract would be the chance of a lifetime. But in hot and steamy New Orleans he'll learn a lesson worth much more than that.

The first Nine and a Half Weeks tells the story of Matt Wade (one hit wonder Paul Mercurio), a stuffy big city stock broker in a big time brokerage, and on the verge of obtaining his biggest deal, a five hundred million dollar New Orleans estate run by a crippled and hateful old man named Francois Dubois (played by an unfortunately ludicrous Malcolm McDowell who is usually a treat to watch). But once down there he is introduced to Francois' beautiful, and of course young and vibrant, wife Emily (gorgeous Clara Bellar). What transpires in usual New Orleans fashion, is an erotic sexual journey where lessons are learned and the line between pleasure and pain is not so easy to determine.

First off, I'm not sure why this movie was "The First" 9 1/2 Weeks, or why it was even made in "the first" place. The New Orleans setting is not only uninspired, but it's getting downright boring, which I guess is fitting because it follows with the flow of the movie. The acting is completely second rate, except maybe for Bellar who may actually be it's only redeeming quality, because at least she seems to try, which is more then I can say for anyone else involved. It is supposed to be brimming with eroticism when it doesn't actually even begin to boil with it. The characters are unappealing right from the first scene where Wade's gold digging ex-girlfriend, who now happens to be married to the boss, leaves a party she's throwing so she can pay Matthew a "visit". And believe you me they just keep getting worse as the awful story progresses.

Writer/Director Alex Wright proves not only can he write with the worst of them, but also that a movie can actually be directed without any direction whatsoever. It seems, especially in the Mardi Gras scenes, that he just says action and then the actors and everyone else involved just go ahead and do whatever they want. I could say that a lot of this movie's absurdity can't be blamed on him because of the low budget, however I'd be lying, because this type of movie doesn't require a high budget. I'd give a little credit to the end, it was a little unpredictable, but then I'll have to take the credit back because it was so ridiculous.

In short the third installment of this series is bar none the worst. It tries to be a psychological and erotic thriller. It not only falls short of the two elements, these elements aren't even apparent. The theory of there being no pain without pleasure is so poorly demonstrated that I can see why they have to spell it out for you, because Wright had honestly no idea how to throw it in subtly. I'm going to put this as nice as I possibly can, Nine and a Half Weeks should have never been made in to a series but since it was, I can honestly say that the series is dead and I'm glad this Nine and a Half Weeks only lasted for an hour and a half.

Overall Rating: 2 out of 10