It’s no " 8 1/2 " and it doesn’t pack the punch of Marshall’s" Chicago" but I was entertained none the less. It is hard to really care about a director’s writers block interrupted by stagey MTV like music videos, especially when only one song"Be Italian" is memorable. Despite its failure to engage me on the story front it entertained me with its flashy dance numbers and some memorable performances.
Daniel Day Lewis was the glue that holds it all together and he did a fine job as the troubled director. Marion Cotallard is mesmerizing as his cheated on wife. Penelope Cruz has never been more tantalizing as his mistress. Fergie gets the best song and she belts it out with all the gusto she can muster. Judi Dench is great except she can’t sing the pathetic song she has to warble. Nicole Kidman is eye candy but is nobodies idea of a muse. Kate Hudson is fine but her song and reason to be seems to be tacked on." Nine" is an ambitious film that almost had me but its lack of substance and musical mediocrity shadowed its entertaining flashes of brilliance.