Nine parents guide

Nine Parent Guide

Many of the scenes still have the confining feel of the theater and the storyline relies too heavily on the musical numbers rather than on a strong script to move it along.

Overall C

This film adaption of a Broadway musical is about Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis). He may be a world famous film director, but the man isn't directing his private life with quite the same polish. Nor would he like the spotlight to be pointed at the many women who play a role there, such as his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), and his mother (Sophia Loren).

Release date December 25, 2009

Violence B
Sexual Content C
Profanity B
Substance Use C

Why is Nine rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Nine PG-13 PG-13 for sexual content and smoking.

Run Time: 116 minutes

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Parent Movie Review

Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) has experienced his share of success as a film director in the past. However, a movie crew is set to start shooting his new production in ten days and Guido still doesn’t have a script. While he won’t admit that to anyone, the weight of it is hanging heavy on his shoulders.

Along with the immense pressure of penning another hit, Guido’s lifestyle may be contributing to his lack of creative genius. It is hard to concentrate on work when he is busy juggling his time between his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penélope Cruz), and the stunning actress (Nicole Kidman) he wants to woo into working with him again. Then there is the reporter (Kate Hudson) from a high-end fashion magazine who seductively drops her room key into Guido’s coat pocket. So many distractions!

Yet it is almost impossible to feel sorry for the self-possessed director who continually whines about his predicament to his long-suffering costume designer (Judi Dench). He appears to blame his obsession with sex, his self-indulgent behaviors and his depraved sense of morality on an unhappy childhood experience with a religious leader who punished him for misbehavior. (Guido and his preadolescent school friends paid a prostitute, played by Fergie, to perform a striptease act for them.) Though Guido’s beating with a stick appears to have turned him against God, it didn’t change his affection for his mother (Sophia Loren) who stood by while her son was reprimanded.

On the sidelines of his life stand the women who inexplicably love Guido, despite his calloused treatment of them. He unashamedly lies to his wife, trivializes their marriage and leaves her alone in bed while he goes to the side of his mistress. He plunks his mistress in a seedy hotel near the dock, refuses to let her come to the set and toys with her affections. Meanwhile, he tries to convince his favorite actress to dig him out of the mess he has created by helping him come up with some semblance of a screenplay.

While Guido’s sense of privilege is difficult enough to swallow, the adaptation of this stage production to the big screen suffers from some challenges as well. Many of the scenes still have the confining feel of the theater and the storyline relies too heavily on the musical numbers rather than on a strong script to move it along. The period piece contains numerous scenes of women wearing scanty bustier and other revealing clothing while performing erotic dance moves. Excessive cigarette use is also portrayed.

Fortunately a moment of comeuppance arrives that forces the wallowing Guido to face his pandering for hedonism and self-pity. But his lesson proves to be painful for everyone around him as well. Although this film offers little in the way of family entertainment, it does provide an interesting insight into the pitfalls of entitlement and the disregard for responsibility that can come with fame and fortune.

Directed by Rob Marshall. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Rob Marshall. Running time: 116 minutes. Theatrical release December 25, 2009. Updated

Nine
Rating & Content Info

Why is Nine rated PG-13? Nine is rated PG-13 by the MPAA PG-13 for sexual content and smoking.

This Broadway adaptation includes numerous depictions of women wearing skimpy costumes and other revealing clothing. Characters engage in erotic dance moves and some sexually suggestive conversations. Young boys pay a woman to perform a striptease act for them. At least two married couples are involved in adulterous relationships. A woman attempts to entice a man up to her room. Characters smoke frequently, as well as drink in social settings and at home. On one occasion a character misuses pharmaceutical drugs. A religious leader beats a child with a stick as punishment for misbehavior. The script contains infrequent profanities and several terms of Christian Deity.

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Nine Parents' Guide

How does Guido’s personal choices contribute to his physical health and inability to write? Why does Guido appear to rely on others to solve his problems? How does his lack of personal responsibility hinder him from moving forward?

What challenges does a movie director encounter when adapting a stage play? Why is it difficult to translate the spectacle of live theater to film?

What roles do repentance and forgiveness play in this story?

 

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Nine movie is May 4, 2010. Here are some details…

Release Date: 4 May 2010

Nine releases to DVD and Blur-ray with the following extras:

-Commentary with Director Rob Marshall and Producer John DeLuca

-Featurettes:

- The Incomparable Daniel Day Lewis

- The Women of Nine

- Director Rob Marshall

- Behind the Look of Nine

- The Dancers of Nine

- The Choreography of "Be Italian"

- Making of "Cinema Italiano"

- The Choreography of "Cinema Italiano"

-Music Video: Cinema Italiano, Take It All and Unusual Way.

The Blu-ray release of Nine also includes:

-Featurette: Sophia Loren Remembers Cinecitta Studios

-Screen Actor’s Guild Q&A Session

-movieIQ +sync featuring the "NINE" playlist

Related home video titles:

Other stage productions have also be adapted to the silver screen. Meryl Streep stars in Mamma Mia!, a musical that features songs from the performing group ABBA. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera showcases the talents of Emmy Rossum and Gerald Butler. The dream of Camelot comes to life in this telling of the story of King Arthur’s court. Beyonce Knowles portrays one of three girls seeking for a shot at fame as the Dreamgirls.

Nine is based on the Broadway Musical , which was inspired by Federico Fellini’s semi-autobiographical work.