The Film
In the 1970s someone had the bright idea to turn The Beatles classic album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band into a movie. They did so without any insight from the actual Beatles as it was adapted from the off-Broadway play. This is worth mentioning because there might finally be a musical that is worse! This would be Rob Marshal's Nine, based on the Broadway play that first ran in the 1980s that was based on Federico Fellini film 8 1/2. The film is almost as confusing, as it tells the story of an Italian film director who is having problems with his latest film.
Maybe this is self mockery, as Nine is bogged down by slow pacing and Marshal's desire to capture the Italian cinema styles of directors such as Fellini, with the film switching from color to black and white, and from handheld shots to crane shots. The only thing missing is the "advanced" techniques that were used in 1980s musical videos. Nine is so terribly dated that it has the makings of a faux musical you'd expect to see on The Simpsons as a gag.
For another sounding on Nine, check out Karen Dahlstrom's review.
The Picture
The story may be tedious and hard to follow -- and the film techniques don't help -- but despite this, the image itself looks surprisingly good at times. The 2.40:1 1080p presentation is sharp and clear, but the shift from color to B/W is a distraction. The blacks are deep and rich, but the colors are a bit muted and washed out - possibly like the director that Daniel Day Lewis plays in Nine.
The Sound
No doubt Rob Marshal was hoping for comparisons to Chicago when he made Nine, and in one regard this one actually outshines his past effort. That would be the sound. This one is fully in tune thanks to the 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The dialog comes through loud and clear, while the musical numbers are very rich, even if the songs aren't entirely memorable.
The Extras
The extras also go to 11 in this one. There are several notable featurettes including one on Daniel Day-Lewis, another on the rehearsals, plus looks at the dancers and even the director. There is also an audio commentary, as well as music videos and even a few theatrical trailers. The Blu-ray offers a bonus Sophia Loren-narrated feature on Cincitta Studios -- a Blu-ray exclusive. Throw in the movieIQ and the fact that the disc offers BD-Live and you've got the whole nine yards. They don't make the film any better, but they can add insight into the film-making process, which is always appreciated.
Final Thoughts
Musicals are hit or miss, especially when taking a big production stage play and turning it into a movie. Consider that for every Chicago there is going to be a Phantom of the Opera, a film that falls a little flat. In the case of Nine, it wasn't so beloved in the first place, and with its gimmicky tricks, casting stunts and bad song book, the whole thing is sadly out of tune.
Product Details
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