Nine

Rating: ***

Based on Frederico Fellini’s 8 1/2,Nine has had a long history. The first Broadway production was staged in 1982 and the latest in 2003,sweeping up several Tony awards along the way. It made sense then to bring Nine to the big screen,helmed by the man who made musicals workable again with the excellent Chicago.

However,Rob Marshall’s Nine falls disappointingly short,despite an ensemble cast led by the very choosy Daniel Day Lewis,who plays the acclaimed director Guido Contini who is having a personal and professional breakdown ahead of his latest film. Cruz as his ardent mistress gives a no-holds-barred performance,letting everything hang,while Dench as Guido’s trusted costume designer is the only one who keeps it level and grounded.

Kidman,the superstar muse,is only required to look mysteriously dazzling,while Hudson is the flouncy American reporter. Cotillard is Guido’s long-suffering wife who gives and gives till she snaps with a song,blaring out Take it all. However,if anything,a musical requires of its cast vigorous passion,and Cotillard as Louisa is too quiet and gentle.

And that could be the problem with Nine. It lacks enough passion and ironically even engaging music to lift you,with the high notes of the songs striking a jarring contrast. As he juggles his wife whom he loves,his mistress whom he lusts for,his muse whom he hangs on to,his work that he realises is different from his fame,his guilt about his faith that has outlasted his disbelief,and the dreams that he once held dear as a nine-year-old,we feel sorry for Guido — but just about.

“Directing a movie is a highly over-rated job,” Dench’s Lilli tells Guido at one point. “All you have to do is say yes or no. What else?” While she says it only in jest,unfortunately for Guido,it bears repetition in Nine.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com