Release date: December 18, 2009
The cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren.
The pitch: Seeking inspiration for his newest film, famed Italian director Guido Contini (Day-Lewis) revisits the great loves of his life. Or: 8 ½ The Musical.
The strapline: None. But does it need one? Surely the cast list speaks for itself…
The buzz: Former Broadway choreographer Rob Marshall secured himself a place on the A-list with Chicago, the smash hit 2002 adaptation of Kander and Ebb’s ’70s musical. Although similarly based on a successful Broadway hit, Marshall’s latest is a trickier prospect than that earlier film.
Based on Federico Fellini’s masterpiece 8 ½, Nine is less well-known and boasts fewer cast-iron hit tunes than its predecessor. Despite that, Marshall managed to assemble a roster of the most popular mainstream actresses in the world to act opposite Day-Lewis, himself still hot Hollywood property following his fire-breathing turn in There Will Be Blood. Early set reports of off-key singing and reshoots have been mostly forgotten in the wake of highly complimentary reviews by favoured bloggers given an early look. NB: This is the second and most recent trailer.
Reasons this could be good: Just look at that cast. Even if you’re immune to the charms of Kidman and Hudson, you can bask in Cruz and Cotillard, two of the most talented mainstream European actresses in the world at the height of their powers. Dench never gives a bad performance, and Day-Lewis is simply, well, Day-Lewis. Marshall’s production team seems to have pulled out all the stops, painting the film in a 1960s Italian aesthetic drawn from the films of Fellini, Antonioni, and Visconti. At first look, it seems like a more mature approach than Chicago, which can only be good news. Also a plus is the presence of the late Anthony Minghella and Michael Tolkin, author of The Player, as scriptwriters.
Reasons this could be bad: It’s not our job to criticise music, but is this the best song they could think of to accompany the trailer? It features Kate Hudson, probably the least accomplished member of the cast, and if it’s the most memorable tune in the film we’re in trouble. On the evidence of this segment, it seems that Marshall is making the same mistake he made in Chicago, showing the choreography in rapidly-edited bursts rather than letting the dancing speak for itself. Maybe it’s just to service the demands of the promo, but this seems more like a Beyoncé video than a trailer.
We think: If this weren’t a mega-wattage Hollywood blockbuster and, say, an independent Italian film we’d probably be really excited about this. On paper, a dark 1960s Fellini-inspired musical starring Day-Lewis, Cruz and Cotillard sounds fascinating. It’s just a shame this trailer makes it seem so Broadway, conjuring up visions of smiley faces and jazz hands. Have a look at the first trailer though, slightly darker and with a better-rounded view of the awesome cast. On balance, this has the potential to be a winner.
Music: ‘Cinema Italiano’, one of the most famous songs from the musical, as performed – rather well, you’d have to say – by Kate Hudson.
Did you spot?: That buxom vixen at 0:52 and various points thereafter? Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas. Make of that what you will.
Odds of you seeing it: Simply on the evidence of this trailer? Not good. But if you’re a sucker for choreographed dance moves, or even a fan of Cabaret or West Side Story, it looks like this could be your Boxing Day treat.
