From L: Dench, Cruz, Cotillard, Loren, Ferguson (in front), Kidman, Hudson
I seriously dislike musicals and didn’t like Fellini’s 8 1/2 much, either. But Nine, the musical version of that Italian film coming out this November, is one of the movies I’m most eagerly anticipating this year. Why? First off, Daniel Day-Lewis is in it. That man can do anything and he’ll apparently be singing and dancing here. Can’t wait to see that.
As extra incentive, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Penelope Cruz, Dame Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson and Fergie, er, Stacy Ferguson also show up to display their jazz hands. The title of the movie might as well stand for how many Oscar winners are in the cast.
And they’re all being directed by Rob Marshall, which excites me because I really enjoyed Chicago despite my aforementioned lack of love for the musical. This man turned the usually wooden Richard Gere into a dashing musical performer—imagine what he can do with Day-Lewis—and got Catherine Zeta-Jones an Oscar. Since most cast members this time are already Oscar-winners, how high can they go?
From what I hazily remember about the original, the story is about a director who’s experiencing a creative block while directing his ninth film (8 1/2 because he only co-directed one of the films). Compounding this problem are personal issues he has with the many women in his lives, some in the present and some in the past. And there were a bunch of confusing dream sequences.
Anyway, check out the trailer below and tell me what you think. Fergie’s doing the singing, Kidman’s doing the kissing, Hudson’s doing the booty-shaking and Cruz is doing that really flexible thing with her leg. (UPDATE: See new trailer and hear Kate Hudson & Marion Cotillard sing here.)
20 Comments
Bailey
May 14, 2009 at 9:34 pmPCN: You write, “…one of the movies I’m most eagerly anticipating this year….” Heck, make it THIS DECADE, for me! WOWSA! I’ve been counting the days to see this film since it was announced! Right off the bat, I think the cast needs to book the night of the Golden Globes aside to attend. …what a shoe-in for “Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical”!
yeti9000
May 15, 2009 at 5:02 amOMG…that looks awesome!! And unlike you, I love 8 1/2!! In fact, I just got the Criterion Collection two-disc DVD for my birthday, so, I am gonna have to loan you the movie so you can reevaluate your stance on it…seriously, it is one of Fellini’s best!
popculturenerd
May 15, 2009 at 12:38 pmUm, that’s a really kind offer but I don’t know if I’ll make it through two discs. I saw it back in film class many years ago and was really confused, as I was by Luis Bunuel and Ingmar Bergman films, too. (Well, Bergman mostly bored me.) That’s not to say I don’t like foreign films because I do, very much. I just don’t like the confusing ones where I can’t figure out what’s going on.
Then again, I saw it at 18 and probably couldn’t relate to a middle-aged man having an existential crisis. Maybe I’ve gained more insight about such things since.
ShelleyP
May 15, 2009 at 5:04 amI’m not averse to a seriously good musical, but even if I was, I’d want to see this. What a line up – I’d almost give my left foot to see it!
popculturenerd
May 16, 2009 at 10:15 amFunny, ShelleyP!
le0pard13
May 15, 2009 at 9:14 amI guess this makes me the spoiler, here. I look at this as another movie remake by the studios. Fellini’s 1963 8 1/2, which had a thinly veiled remake by the talented Bob Fosse with his great All That Jazz film in 1979, gave rise to Nine (the stage musical) in the early 80’s. Never saw that play, but heard that Raul Julia was extraordinary in it.
Rob Marshall, except for Chicago, hasn’t really really excited me. When I look at Chicago, I see Bob Fosse’s talent at work, not so much Marshall’s. When he has BF material to work with, he looks good. When he doesn’t, like Memoirs of a Geisha, not quite.
Casting a non-singer/dancer (DDL) for the lead is right out of Fosse’s All That Jazz book (with his great use of the late Roy Scheider), and it may signal Marshall’s tendency to try and re-channel Fosse (again). But, I agree that this cast for Nine is extraordinary. But it seems obvious to me the Weinstein’s are hoping Marshall catches lightning in bottle, once again.
popculturenerd
May 15, 2009 at 12:14 pmYou know way more about musicals than I, le0pard13. I wouldn’t know Fosse choreography from Tommy Tune choreography and never even saw All That Jazz. Your insight is interesting.
EireGo
May 15, 2009 at 9:44 amUm……uh……going for a smoke now….
ScriptPimp
May 15, 2009 at 10:16 amLOL! I agree, EireGo! Probably one of the sexiest trailers I’ve seen in a while.
And DD-L’s acting is impressive even though he doesn’t utter a single word during the trailer. Always amazing!
Poncho
May 15, 2009 at 11:33 amOMG I’ve been waiting for the trailer to come up ever since I found out about the movie, and the wait doesn’t disappoint!
And EireGo… I just went for a smoke too!
Can’t wait ’til the movie airs
popculturenerd
May 15, 2009 at 12:30 pmI hope there won’t be a delay in premiering the movie in Mexico the way Wolverine and Star Trek were delayed. I heard Wolverine won’t open until May 26 now. Hang in there, Poncho!
BizMan5
May 15, 2009 at 3:30 pmWhat a great looking trailer! Sexy with a big SSSSS! Didn’t see this covered in any of those upcoming movies to see lists. What’s up with that?
popculturenerd
May 16, 2009 at 10:25 amThis doesn’t come out until November so it’ll be included in fall movie previews. I think you’re talking about summer movie previews?
DonnaB
May 15, 2009 at 5:32 pmFantastic! Can’t wait to see it! The lineup of stars, the music, storyline? It all has captured my attention. So good to know something different is coming out of Hollywood.
INeedUnguent
May 16, 2009 at 7:29 amDidn’t Antonio Banderas win a Tony for this on Broadway? Much as I like DDL, I wish they had cast Banderas. I agree Marshall’s style does seem to be heavily influenced by Bob Fosse–both in Chicago and this trailer.
popculturenerd
May 16, 2009 at 10:22 amBanderas was nominated but Harvey Fierstein won that year for Hairspray.
Javier Bardem had originally been cast in the movie and I think he would’ve been amazing as well. When he fell out due to scheduling conflicts, I was kinda bummed. But when I heard DD-L was replacing him, I cheered because I’ve been a huge fan of his for 20 years.
Julien
May 26, 2009 at 3:28 pmWaow, what a cast (including our talented French actress Marion Cotillard)!!!
I will definitely see that one!
And juste like you PCN, I remember having much enjoyed “Chicago” (I’m not a musical fan but not a musical hater either!)
popculturenerd
May 27, 2009 at 10:04 amI love Marion Cotillard! When I saw Big Fish, I said, “Who is that beautiful French woman playing Billy Crudup’s wife?” Then when I saw La Vie en Rose, I said, “If she doesn’t win the Oscar, I’m going to be very angry!”
Before Nine, we get to see her in Public Enemies with Johnny Depp.
Julien
May 27, 2009 at 5:26 pmThanks for this nice tribute to Marion Cotillard!
I agree with you: she definitely deserved her Oscar! (although I’ve never understood why a French actress in a French movie can get a nomination for a US award… We have that kind of strange exceptions here sometimes too!)
If you like Marion, try to watch her in “A very long engagment” (directed by Amélie’s Jean-Pierre Jeunet)! She won a César as best supporting actress in 2004 for this.
She was also amazing in “Les jolies choses” aka “Pretty Things” (she plays two twin sisters, one of them is a singer, and Marion sings some beautiful songs in it with an amazing pure voice). But I think this movie is harder to find… And I think she got a César for this too (surely as best promising actress, but I’d have to check this out).
We’ll have “Public enemies” in July here!
Thanks again for all your exciting posts, PCN!
I just realized you need to be thanked more often for your great work here!!!
I award you the César for best writer in a movie blog!
🙂 😉 🙂
(I’m really tired and have the probably right feeling that my English is kind of loose these days… Sorry for the possible mistakes or miswritings. I’m going to bed now!)
popculturenerd
May 27, 2009 at 6:53 pmI’ve seen A Very Long Engagement and liked her in there, too. I’ve not seen Pretty Things so will have to look for it. It sounds interesting!
Thanks so much for giving me the Cesar. I’ve always wanted one!
(Your English is excellent, even when you’re tired. My French couldn’t possibly be that good, even while I’m wide awake!)