Nine Lives (2004)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Dean Howell

Writers:

Dean Howell (screenplay)
Michael Kearns (play)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Male Prostitute | Voice Over Narration | Expectant Mother | Hiv Positive | Interlinked Stories

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Steve Callahan	...	Corey
William Christian	...	Ralph
Dennis Christopher	...	Mikey
John Ganun	...	Bo
Dean Howell	...	James
Michael Kearns	...	Ronnie
Nick Salamone	...	Daniel
Eric Dean	...	Carlos (as Eric Turic)
Debra Wilson	...	Lisa
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sean Abley	...	12 Step Member
Nic Arnzen	...	Phil
Todd Andrew Ball	...	12 Step Member
David Bauman	...	Frank
Tracy Berna	...	Quilt Party
John Carrozza	...	Bathhouse Man
Bill Chrisley	...	Father Maloney
David C. Cobb	...	Quilt Party (as David Cobb)
Julie Cohen	...	12 Step Member
Matt Crabtree	...	Allen
Terry Engels	...	Quilt Party
Michael Gartzman	...	Bathhouse Man
Zo Harris	...	Doctor
Rosario Higueros	...	Quilt Party
Terrence Houlihan	...	Boxing Gym Trainer (as Terry Houlihan)
Anne Hulegard	...	Bo's Mother
Tia Kearns	...	Young Lisa
Andy Mackenzie	...	Maxie
Tim Mack	...	Quilt Party
Kevin McCarty	...	Simon
Ethan Mechare	...	Young Ronnie
Tory Mele	...	Bathhouse Man
Euan Moffitt	...	Hospital Receptionist
Rick Parish	...	Quilt Party
Doug Prinzivalli	...	Bathhouse Man
Charlie Rankin	...	12 Step Member
Mark Salzberg	...	Boxing Gym Trainer
Jennifer Sanderson	...	12 Step Member
Amy Seeley	...	12 Step Member
James J. Stevens	...	Bartender (as Jim Stevens)
Josh Weichel	...	Guy Cruising In Park
Renee Williams	...	Jeneane
Tony Zarillo	...	Quilt Party

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Edit This Productions

Movie Connections:

Remake of La ronde (1950)

Bravo

I thought it was very well written, wonderfully acted but the most depressing film I've seen since "Dancer in the Dark." Every character is sick and dying leading selfish, though bleak lives infatuated with the most miserable aspects or times of their lives… AIDS, 9/11 and even JFK's assassination are obsessed over in surreal detail. Nothing cheerful, nothing funny happens... nothing to break the single gloomy tone... and maybe that was the point. Through it all though, I could not help but like and appreciate it and the talent involved. I didn't think the sex was all that more graphic then we've seen in about a hundred straight flicks, though I dare say that because it's guys getting naked instead of women there's going to be an unjust criticism of it (even from gay audiences). Personally, I thought it was refreshing to see some uninhibited male actors for a change. Hollywood and audiences pretty much demand bare breasts and glimpses of female nether-regions, or at the very least are so used to it that its not even a big deal in PG rated fare… take particular note of the gratuitous underwater shot in Steven Spielberg's Jaws at the beginning of the film where the camera practically swims up the actress. It is at the very least a double standard, at most sexism and homophobia offensively entwined. That is an attribute of this film and of all those involved, the brave defiance of convention. There is nothing worse then an independent film that tries too hard to be acceptable to mainstream Hollywood or Middle American pretentiousness. No matter how much an indie panders those two self-important factions, neither will accept the indie anyway. So why bother? This film dares to be its own entity and for that I salute it and all those involved. Bravo!!!