Eight years after his first feature screenplay Go played Sundance, John August returns with his directing debut The Nines.
Go is one of the most underrated films of the last 10 years. It had such an original voice, yet August decided to turn his attention to writing screenplay adaptations. In the past I’ve called him the biggest misused resource in Hollywood.
I’ve sat here looking at the curser blink on my laptop screen for over two minutes. I just can’t seem to put the plot of this movie into words. Everything and anything would be giving something away. The Nines not only escapes classification, it escapes explanation. Like last year’s film by Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain), it’s one of those movies that people will either love or hate.
Like the hit television show Lost, it mixes reality with some seemingly unexplainable sci-fi elements. It’s a riddle in the form of a movie. Ryan Reynolds delivers a shockingly great non-comedic performance. Melissa McCarthy displays a versatile, original and unique staging. She’s not the usual casting choice, and it’s refreshing to see her face on the big screen. Elle Fanning in her first appearance since Babel, displays a charisma and cuteness that makes you wonder if she might someday surpass her older sister Dakota.
The Nines challenges your perception and is sure to spark questions and conversation. What is a creators responsibility to his own creations? What is/are the Nines? And why do they appear everywhere? It’s a carefully constructed multi-layed epic played out in three acts. John August has launched himself into a new stratosphere. His dialogue is sharp and clever.
I’d love to say more but I really don’t want to ruin a thing. Go see this movie, and stay away from any spoilers.
/Film Rating: 8.5 out of 10
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:09 am
I second this review! Stay away from any and all spoilers! The intricacy of the three stories is superb! I’m trying to see it again so I can put all the pieces together. A meta-movie for all you lovers of mind-boggling cinematic constructions and seekers of every last minutia to give you clues (Lost).
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:48 am
I’m happy to hear that Ryan Reynolds is more than just a cute face and funny lines. Another to keep on the ‘watch’ list.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:21 am
i watched the nines last night with my wife and after watching it, i agree with the last two commenters. i found it sort of like jacobs ladder, piecing it together like pulp fiction and the end was like, “oh sh@t”, and if you get it, you’ll feel vindicated for all the moments where your like what the hell is going on here. if you don’t get it you’ll feel like you’ve wasted two hours or however long this movie was. but it didn’t suck, and you’ll feel that much smarter for sitting through it when the different plot twists weave in and out the story.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:10 am
i like this hero .the role of this hero is awesom .
March 1st, 2008 at 2:48 am
Finally saw this amazing movie, and well, yes it was amazing. It’s definitley in my top 10 or 20, it just hooked me from the beginning and I highly recommend this to everyone.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I never stop a movie regardless of how bad it is but I was ready to shut this thing off as soon as she started singing. Much to my surprise my wife wanted to see what it all meant so watched this horrible movie all the way to the end. Although I liked the idea of the story and will watch anything with Ryan Reynolds in it, this was executed poorly.
I will agree, it makes great conversation.