CheekyChicago

Style over substance is the simplest way to describe the new film Nine, a glamorous but superficial montage of song, dance, and sex set in 1960’s Italy. While there’s a visually stunning parade of beautiful women, exquisite costumes, and gorgeously shot scenery, even the most energetic musical interludes can’t compensate for a lackluster storyline.

Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a famous movie producer and magnet for female attention. He’s a man who loves the opposite sex, even as they slowly drive him mad. And while he adores women on a superficial level, he struggles with true intimacy…and monogamy. As Guido attempts to make a new, grandiose film about his native country, he’s plagued by writer’s block and the mounting pressure of his past successes. The public is anxiously awaiting his newest picture, the press is already reporting on the progress, the cast and crew are assembled, and Guido – at the epicenter of a storm he created – is missing one critical component. The script.

Daniel Day-Lewis briefly earns the audience’s empathy for his anguish and stress, but his creative drought can’t sustain nearly two full hours. The film drags as he does everything possible to avoid actually writing, while maintaining the illusion of a movie on the verge of filming. On the upside, the A-list actresses provide more action. The luminous Sophia Loren plays Guido’s late mother who is fully alive in her son’s vivid imagination to both chastise and comfort him. As Guido’s lonely wife, Luisa, Marion Cotillard struggles with love and regret, realizing she’s not the only leading lady in her husband’s off-screen love story. While her role is slightly tragic, her performance is one of the film’s best. Penelope Cruz, the sultry mistress Carla, fights for Guido’s affections with an arsenal of sex appeal. On the heels of her Oscar-nominated role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Cruz proves once again she’s a great beauty and an equally great actress, with a gift for on-screen seduction. (Guys – the best reason for you to see this movie is her song and dance number in lingerie).

Rounding out the menagerie of women is Nicole Kidman as Claudia, the perfect blonde muse, Fergie as the forbidden lust object of Guido’s youth, Kate Hudson as a fashion reporter with a not-so-hidden agenda and Dame Judi Dench as the no-nonsense rock Guido leans on for advice, support, and a dose of realism.

Each character gets her time to shine in the spotlight and in Guido’s eyes. But for all the dazzling displays of choreography and sheer star power, Nine does a disservice to its talented female leads. It pretends to be a musical with meaning, but in the end, it’s simply a beautiful illusion.