Monday, August 4, 2008

NINE: The Musical

Author(s): Brian Kress
Location: N/A

Produced by Miramax
Directed by Rob Marshall
Adapted Screenplay by Bill Condon (Kinsey, Chicago)
Cinematography by Dion Beebe (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago, Collateral)
Production Design by John Myhre (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago, Elizabeth)

Principal Cast:

Guido Contini – Antonio Banderas
Luisa Contini – Toni Collette
Claudia Nardi – Catherine Zeta-Jones
Carla – Jane Krakowski
Liliane La Fleur – Stockard Channing
Guido’s Mother – Chita Rivera
Saraghina – Isabella Rossellini
Young Guido – Oliver Davis (Flags of Our Fathers)

Tagline: “With dozens of women in his life… is he who that matters the most?"

Synopsis: Guido Contini (Banderas), a film director in the Fellini mold, has contracted with the pushy Liliane La Fleur (Channing) to write and direct a film, but is unable to come up with a suitable plot. He is also, after recent box office failures, drifting towards a nervous breakdown, from which he is held back only by the support of his wife, Luisa (Collette). As his sanity disintegrates, he drifts into nostalgic reverie, eventually focusing on the formative sexual encounter of his life, which occurred at the age of nine.

He tries to lure the great actress Claudia Nardi (Zeta-Jones) into creating yet another version of the character that had launched her career in one of his earliest works. Meanwhile, his mistress Carla (Krakowski) distracts him from his worries with her sexual prowess.

La Fleur decides that the film should be a musical based on the life of Casanova, but Contini's rush into madness, which accelerates when his wife leaves him, throws the production into chaos. In the final scene, Contini has reverted to the personality he had at the age of nine (Davis).

What the press would say:

The team that brought you CHICAGO has done it again…

NINE is a moving musical drama, one of the best film adaptations of a musical ever. The biggest success of this film, however, is its ability to make you forget you are watching a musical. NINE is more a film with songs and music than a typical, song-and-dance musical. Each song is motivated brilliantly. After seeing this film, it would be hard to imagine NINE without music.

Antonio Banderas repeats his Tony-nominated role as Guido Contini with deft skill, providing one of the best performances of his career. Toni Collette’s performance as his emotionally strained wife, Luisa, wrenches your heart. Her performance is top-notch and her performance of the song “My Husband Makes Movies” is Academy Award-worthy by itself. Catherine Zeta-Jones shines as glamorous film star Claudia. Her scenes with Banderas sparkle. Stockard Channing captures the essence of the French film producer beautifully. Finally, Jane Krakowski returns to her Tony Award-winning performance as Carla, Guido’s mistress. Her performance is one of the best of this year.

Technically, it is the most beautiful movie of the year. Rob Marshall has grown as a film director since CHICAGO, and takes a giant leap forward from MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA. Bill Condon’s adapted screenplay works beautifully. John Myhre continues to astound with his production design.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:
Best Picture
Best Director: Rob Marshall
Best Adapted Screenplay: Bill Condon
Best Actor: Antonio Banderas
Best Actress: Toni Collette
Best Supporting Actress: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Best Supporting Actress: Jane Krakowski

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