Film Review- Nine

As the reviews continue to pour in saying how atrocious the flop musical Nine, starring Daniel Day Lewis and Marion Cotillard among others, I knew I had to see what the fuss was about. And I'm glad I did, as Nine is actually quite good. Yes, the songs aren't especially memorable, but the acting and directing certainly is. The tale of Italian film director Guido Contini, who must relive his life to find a way forward as he fails to progress with his new film, is utterly engaging and Guido is played broadly by the annoyingly good Daniel Day Lewis. The real meat of the story comes from the relationship between Guido and wife Luisa, who is played so excellently by Marion Cotillard. It's realistic and believable, whilst breaking your heart at the same time. Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz all get their chances to shine as some of the women in Guido's life, whereas Kate Hudson and Fergie are unlucky to recieve little screentime (in fact, Fergie doesn't have one line at all except for the film's signature song, Be Italian.) The music is rather lacklustre and forgettable, but Fergie impresses, and Hudson's Cinema Italian is incredibly catchy. The direction from Rob Marshall is picture postcard perfect, with lots of gorgeous shots of 1965 Italy. The script that has been rehashed since the late Anthony Minghella's death is risible at times, but excellent at others. The key scenes work worst, as the language sounds innapropriate to the message that is being brought across (mainly about a man trying to win back the affections of his long suffering wife.) The best thing about Nine is how it draws you in. You learn about Guido, you understand (if not appreciate) his pain, you're their with him when everything goes wrong. Nine isn't a failure as everyone keeps saying. It's not a 9/10, but it comes close.
OVERALL GRADE: 7/10