Nine: movie review
The hit 1982 Broadway musical 鈥�Nine鈥� was based on the classic 1963 Fellini movie 鈥�8-1/2鈥� and, now, many revivals later, it鈥檚 been turned into a movie musical by some of the folks who gave you 鈥�Chicago.鈥� Like that film, also directed by Rob Marshall, it鈥檚 heavy on pizazz and eye candy. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Guido, the Italian genius movie director who is caught up in a maelstrom of his own making 鈥� he鈥檚 set to direct a movie for which he hasn鈥檛 even written the script, and his mistress (played by Pen茅lope Cruz) is vying with his wife (Marion Cotillard). Hounded by paparazzi, hangers-on, agents, managers, and assorted other predatory zoological specimens of showbiz, Guido becomes his own best protagonist.
The script that Michael Tolkin and the late Anthony Minghella fashioned from the musical 鈥� with a book by Arthur Kopit and music and lyrics by Maury Yeston 鈥� is deft and fast-moving, but shouldn鈥檛 a musical have at least a few songs you can hum on your way home? Call me old-fashioned, but I can remember when musicals were about the music. No longer. (The biggest Tony Award-winning musical in history was 鈥�The Producers.鈥� Can you name me one song from it besides 鈥淪pringtime for Hitler鈥�?) It鈥檚 still worth seeing 鈥淣ine鈥� for Day-Lewis鈥檚 bemused intensity and for the showstopping appearances by Sophia Loren (still looking great), Kate Hudson, Dame Judi Dench (yes, she sings), and Cruz. But a lot more talent and energy is expended on this show than it warrants. Grade: B- (Rated PG-13 for sexual content and smoking.)
