Nine (2009)

Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.

Director:

Rob Marshall

Writers:

Michael Tolkin (screenplay), Anthony Minghella (screenplay),

Stars:

Daniel Day-Lewis, Sandro Dori, Marion Cotillard

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 35 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Day-Lewis	...	Guido Contini
Sandro Dori	...	Studio Superintendent
Nicole Kidman	...	Claudia
Marion Cotillard	...	Luisa Contini
Penélope Cruz	...	Carla
Judi Dench	...	Lilli
Sophia Loren	...	Mamma
Kate Hudson	...	Stephanie
Stacy Ferguson	...	Saraghina (as Fergie)
Ricky Tognazzi	...	Dante
Giuseppe Cederna	...	Fausto
Elio Germano	...	Pierpaolo
Roberto Nobile	...	Jaconelli
Andrea Di Stefano	...	Benito
Romina Carancini	...	Production Assistant / Female Dancer

Storyline

Arrogant, self-centered movie director Guido Contini finds himself struggling to find meaning, purpose, and a script for his latest film endeavor. With only a week left before shooting begins, he desperately searches for answers and inspiration from his wife, his mistress, his muse, and his mother. As his chaotic profession steadily destroys his personal life, Guido must find a balance between creating art and succumbing to its obsessive demands.

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Plot Keywords:

mistress | film director | italian | piano | nonlinear timeline | 

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Taglines:

This Holiday Season, Be Italian

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English Italian French

Release Date:

25 December 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Rob Marshall Project

Filming Locations:

Anguillara Sabazia, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£44,443 (UK) (18 December 2009)

Gross:

$19,673,424 (USA) (5 March 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Weinstein Company, The, Relativity Media, Marc Platt Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS Dolby SR SDDS

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Javier Bardem was set to star as Guido Contini, but dropped out due to exhaustion. He decided to take a full year off to recuperate.

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Quotes

Guido Contini: Hold on to me, mama. Don't let me wake from this.

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Connections

Featured in 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Casa Sulitaria"
Written by Roberto Murolo (as R. Murolo) and Nino Oliviero (as N. Oliviero)
Performed by Roberto Murolo
Courtesy of Iris Music
(c) 1952 by Edizioni Leonardi Srl - Milano

User Reviews

Gratitude in lieu of pronouncements

I'd like to express my gratitude to Rob Marshall for finding a way to cinematize at least two classic Broadway musicals. I find myself hoping that the seemingly arbitrary dismissals by some critics and users of both Chicago and Nine (not to mention poor box office returns and perhaps low DVD sales and rentals) will not discourage Marshall from reaching for yet another musical. How about Sondheim's Follies? Please.

What is to dislike about the film Nine? I suppose it depends upon the viewer's expectations--a peculiarity of the dramatic arts, perhaps especially cinema. My expectations were at least 95% fulfilled. I had only a casting problem. As talented and as beautiful as Nicole Kidman may be, she does not evoke the haunting, angelic perfection of the original Claudia: Claudia Cardinale. Her beauty is, if one may say so, tough Australian, rather than ethereal Italian. But Nicole did well, as did everyone else in the film. (Is there any character Daniel Day-Lewis can't play to perfection?)

Nine says essentially the same thing 8 1/2 did: making movies based on personal, biographical visions and mistakes can absorb one artistically at the cost of "real life" relationships. It's something great directors such as Fellini, Bergman, and Scorsese just have to deal with. Thanks to Arthur Kopit, Mario Fratti, and composer-lyricist Maury Yeston, the story, the point, the dialogue expressed the theme absorbingly and intelligently.

But most of all, it was a joy to hear and see the musical numbers so faithfully presented, worked into the story, executed. As with every film adaptation of a Broadway musical, I missed some numbers that were in the show, most notably "Only With You" and "Simple". However, it was nice to hear a few new Maury Yeston songs, especially "Cinema Italiano". So, if you're expecting a musically and dramatically satisfying film version of a hit show, see Nine.