
Cast And Crew
Starring : Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cottilard, Penelope Cruz,
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Judi Dench,
Director: Rob Marshall
Writers (WGA): Michael Tolkin (screenplay) and Anthony Minghella (screenplay)
Genre: Musical | Romance
Release Date: 25 December 2009
Plot Summary Hollywood Movie Nine:
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.'Nine based on the Tony Award Winning Broadway musical and inspired by Fellini's classic film '8 1/2,' stars Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis ('There Will be Blood') as world famous film director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances the numerous women in his life. Contini's wife 'Luisa Contini' is played by Cotillard, his sultry mistress 'Carla' by Cruz, Kidman stars as his film star muse 'Claudia Graham,' Judi Dench plays the role of 'Lily' - his confidant and costume designer, Sophia Loren is his mother or 'Mamma' and Hudson plays 'Stephanie' the young American fashion journalist.

Nine tells the story of Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis), a world famous film director as he confronts an epic mid-life crisis with both creative and personal problems. He must balance the many women of his life, including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Fergie) and his mother (Sophia Loren).
The original 1982 Broadway production of NINE, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, won five Tony Awards including Best Musical.
Rob Marshall's "Chicago" won 6 Academy Awards. This film is Rob's latest foray into the world of Hollywood and perhaps his best to date. Based on the Fellini film 8 1/2 (which describes the number of films Guido has directed to date... he co-directed one for the 1/2)... this version simply is magical as it transforms reality into fantasy. Marshall is incredibly gifted in his wonderful choreography and the musical numbers are magical. Marshall himself said the most difficult part of translating a show into a film is that you have to weave the singing and dancing in seamlessly.
It is breathtaking to watch that achievement in this musical on the screen. Marshall's use of black and white versus color and back are well conceived and executed tastefully. You never ask yourself why they are now singing and dancing. You sit back and watch the dance numbers take shape in what is now bigger than life.

Each and every one of the ladies adds to Guido's enigma... and how to put the pieces back together so he can direct yet another movie is what keeps this movie so enticing. Really brilliant job by Rob Marshall who shares the praise with the late Anthony Minghella, who Marshall said handed him the script just before Minghella entered the hospital. Marshall is effusive in his praise of Minghella's contribution to this movie.
English Film Nine Review :
The film is beautiful, visually stunning, and exciting, and the cast is remarkable, especially Penelope Cruz (no surprise there), Marion Cotillard (her singing is wonderful), and the gal who blows the doors off -- an unrecognizable (to me, anyhow) Fergie! I was watching the credits to see who the hell played Saraghina, and was stunned to learn it was Stacy Ferguson. Go Fergie!Judi Dench is a smash as well. Nicole Kidman doesn't reveal anything we haven't seen before, but she does bring the large dollop of Movie Star shine for which her role calls. EvenKate Hudson pleases; her 60's go-go dance will inevitably bring comparisons to her mother's "Laugh In" heyday.

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