Relatable Enough?
A fresh thought hit me as I watched this E.T. spot on Rob Marshall's Nine. One look at the Italian-suited, stylishly unshaven Daniel Day Lewis brooding and strolling around all these women and wearing that look of "oh, my...it just hasn't come together yet, has it?" and I said to myself, "I don't know if I care if DDL's character has his vision together or not. I don't know that a guy like this cracking the code and finding creative fulfillment is all that important to me.":
I mean, I love Rome and the look of cavernous sound stages and the beautiful Amalfi coastline, but I don't know that I relate to this world. Life is harder than usual right now. We're dealing with a recession and all. The HPE has managed to get me evicted. And DDL is wearing great looking threads and tooling around in a cool sports car and fielding the attentions of several tantalizing women. What's in this for me?
I'm also not sure if I cared all that much if Marcello Mastroianni's character had his creative ducks in order in Federico Fellini's 8 1/2 (i.e., the 1963 film that Nine is based upon). It was Fellni's special surrealist atmosphere that kept you interested and aroused. I'm basically saying I don't feel all that engaged in the ennui and emotional atmosphere of Nine. I know I'll be seeing it soon but I'm not hungry to see it. Not like I'm hungry to see Invictus or Tree of Life or Zombieland or (sorry) Couples Retreat.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 23, 2009 at 8:03 AM
comment #1
Ulysses
says ...
I have never seen 8 1/2, but I have seen the Woody Allen version (ie: Stardust Memories), and the Bob Fosse version (ie: All That Jazz), and I'll probably see Nine, as well. Should I Netflix 8 1/2 ?
Posted by Ulysses
at September 23, 2009 8:37 AM
comment #2
Breedlove
says ...
I'm very excited to see NINE, although it is sort of too bad Rob Marshall is directing it. Maybe he'll surprise us.
Posted by Breedlove
at September 23, 2009 8:41 AM
comment #3
KC
says ...
Oh Christ almighty Couples Retreat, put up a paypal donation cup so we can hire you an exorcist. Anyway, Rob Marshall aside I expect this to dwarf Julie and Julia as the year's best Oscar bait movie date with Mom, sign me up. I have to admit that for me a nice-looking musical has to be pretty shitty to lose its escapism-value relevance to the broke lifestyle
Posted by KC
at September 23, 2009 8:51 AM
comment #4
BurmaShave
says ...
It's a very eloi attitude that every film has to be relatable. And Ulysses yes you absolutely should. Maybe a top ten films all time kind of thing. Some films are about life, 8 1/2 is life.
Posted by BurmaShave
at September 23, 2009 9:35 AM
comment #5
thebuddha
says ...
Ditto, Wells, on a lack of interest for Nine. Much more interested in the animated 9 than this attempt at film appropriation by Marshall.
And yes, Ulysses, 8 1/2 is required cannon for anyone who considers themselves a film lover. Don't even Netflix it. Buy the Criterion. Now
Posted by thebuddha
at September 23, 2009 9:54 AM
comment #6
Floyd Thursby
says ...
North by Northwest: Can't relate to ad men.
Vertigo: Can't relate to cops with acrophobia
Bringing up Baby: Can't relate to palaeontologist
Rules of the Game: Can't relate to French
Casablanca: Can't relate to expatriates
Citizen Kane: Can't relate to the rich
Godfather: Can't relate to Italian Americans
Pulp Fiction: Can't relate to hit men
Lawrence of Arabia: Can't relate to sadomasochists
Annie Hall: Can't relate to neurotics
Red River: Can't relate to cowboys
Gone with the Wind: Can't relate to girls from Georgia
Wizard of Oz: Can't relate to girls from Kansas
Shoot the Piano Player: Can't play the piano
Posted by Floyd Thursby
at September 23, 2009 9:55 AM
comment #7
Vernon Hardapple
says ...
It doesn't have to relatable, Wells. It's fantasy. It's a musical. It's not about the struggle and the pathos. Those things are secondary.
Posted by Vernon Hardapple
at September 23, 2009 9:58 AM
comment #8
joefilm1
says ...
But you totally related to DDL as a scrappy Texas oil man with a crazy voice and crazier eyes...
Posted by joefilm1
at September 23, 2009 10:05 AM
comment #9
bluefugue
says ...
>Should I Netflix 8 1/2 ?
As it's one of the most astounding things ever committed to celluloid, I'd vote yes. Unless you can find a screening of it somewhere.
Posted by bluefugue
at September 23, 2009 10:11 AM
comment #10
KC
says ...
The animated 9 was pretty much a POS. Felt like a feature-length comeuppance for comparing Avatar to an Xbox cut scene
Posted by KC
at September 23, 2009 10:18 AM
comment #11
actionman
says ...
8 1/2 is a true mind-blower...one of the movies that really got me interested in cinema
Nine looks visually snazzy (Dion Beebe is the d.o.p.) and that's the main hook for me. oh, and cruz looks hotter than hot so that can't hurt.
Posted by actionman
at September 23, 2009 10:27 AM
comment #12
Ryansi51
says ...
Ulysses- if you have Netflix, right now it's one of the films you can watch instantly on your computer.
Posted by Ryansi51
at September 23, 2009 10:44 AM
comment #13
Mark
says ...
the board is being a bit unfair. i think Wells would agree that many great films have unrelatable protaganists. In the Nine clips shown to date, however, the undercurrent does seem to be DDL's internal struggle. Sure, the musical numbers are the fireworks, but they could just turn to noise if Marshall's focus to ground the piece w/ DDL doesn't resonate.
E.g., Soderberg didn't focus on Whitacre's internal struggle for a reason. But it's evident that Marshall will try to make us care about DDL.
Posted by Mark
at September 23, 2009 10:54 AM
comment #14
LexG
says ...
I actually saw this play, on Broadway. Banderas was the lead. It's not "relatable" in the same way as everything from "Californication" on up, depicting some rakish squackhound genius having a bevy of women throw themselves at him like he's James Bond in 1965.
It's basically what you expect: that old 8 1/2, Stardust Memories, All that Jazz narrative with some lusty, rich, lucky bastard reflecting on "the many beautiful and varied women" in the different eras of his life.
Anyone else find that narrative as fantastical in its own way as, say, "Entourage"? Who are these guys who go from one long-term, tempestuous live-in love/hate relationship, like 70 of them in their lifetime? Scheider/Fosse, Woody, and DDL going through some chronologically convenient chain of out-of-their league, vivacious, bawdy, and outspoken women like other people change socks.
Cusack in "High Fidelity" has to be the worst offender here, pulling what must be a 45-woman Rainbow Coalition of Squack within about a ten-year period. How does he even reconfigure his apartment lease with so many hot chicks moving in and out as his girlfriend?
They should make less of that, and more movies about the grim reality for most guys: A couple awkward relationships early on, maybe one or two big ones... then a nice 45-year period where they don't even MEET new women because they're at work and the only females they even speak to are the cashier at BevMo at 10:14pm.
Posted by LexG
at September 23, 2009 11:12 AM
comment #15
Ryansi51
says ...
Lex why don't you meet yourself a nice fat black girl that likes balding misogynists on eHominy?
Posted by Ryansi51
at September 23, 2009 11:29 AM
comment #16
SnarfTheFierce
says ...
Oh, come the fuck on. Winding up Jeff is all well and good, but to up the dander for what is essentially a statement of mood? Jesus. He's not even passing judgment or pre-judgment on the film--he's just stating that he may not be feeling its vibe, or emotion, or intent just now. Are we always in the right place to watch any movie there is? Everything has a time, and that time is rarely always.
As someone who's (briefly) parried with Jeff, I clearly relish the back-and-forth that often populates these comment sections. But this time? Preposterous. "I'm not sure I'm the right audience for this movie." SHRIEK!!!
Posted by SnarfTheFierce
at September 23, 2009 11:31 AM
comment #17
The Winchester
says ...
I'm in agreement with Wells about the lack of want to see this film. I would even elect to see Couples Retreat over Nine. I find Rob Marshall a very bland director, and this movie reeks of "I WANT AN OSCAR" even more than The Soloist. It also reeks of "Harvey Needs the Noms So The Company Doesn't Go Under." and that makes me not want to see it even more.
My loathing of Nicole Kidman might have something to do with it, too, even though this movie could promise a Tom Cruise's Exes' Catfight!
Posted by The Winchester
at September 23, 2009 11:44 AM
comment #18
Ryansi51
says ...
The only catfight in that regard will be over who he paid more to be his beard.
Posted by Ryansi51
at September 23, 2009 11:52 AM
comment #19
LexG
says ...
CRUISE POWER. CRUISE IS YOUR JESUS, RYANS. BOW.
Also, I cannot get physically aroused by any chick who isn't model-hot or famous.
Posted by LexG
at September 23, 2009 12:03 PM
comment #20
actionman
says ...
Couples Retreat? REALLY?! Looks horrendous to me...I can't believe that ANYONE reading HE would want to see this lame-looking pg-13 crapfest. All of those talented actors and a solid comedic premise killed by a restrictive rating and some of the worst-looking (based on what I've seen from the trailer) blue-screen work this side of Taken. Again...I say it...Couples Retreat?!?! Really?!
Posted by actionman
at September 23, 2009 12:04 PM
comment #21
actionman
says ...
Lex -- go rent Good Dick. An offbeat romance that you'd likely find fascinating. And I don't mean this as an insult, amigo. I really think you'd like it.
Posted by actionman
at September 23, 2009 12:06 PM
comment #22
LexG
says ...
Couples Retreat = Bell and Akerman all bikini'd out and barefoot in tiny outfits set against a lush blue ocean and filmed in that creamy "Universal Comedy" pastel sheen = GIANT BONER.
Posted by LexG
at September 23, 2009 12:08 PM
comment #23
Pynchon8
says ...
I think that it is somewhat fantastic is a good thing in tough times. I wouldn't mind seeing DDL do disheveled cool, and hot women (less counting that she-ape Fergie) cavort.
Should they shelve it until all is right in the world?
Posted by Pynchon8
at September 23, 2009 1:12 PM
comment #24
KC
says ...
Every night before bed I pray 15 rosaries in the hopes that Vince Vaughn falls in a trash compactor and pulls Favreau along with him
Posted by KC
at September 23, 2009 1:50 PM
comment #25
The Winchester
says ...
I didn't say I wanted to see Couple's Retreat. I said I wanted to see it more than I want to see Nine.
Posted by The Winchester
at September 23, 2009 3:10 PM
comment #26
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
North by Northwest: can definitely relate to ad men.
Vertigo: ditto cops with acrophobia
Bringing up Baby: ditto palaeontologist
Rules of the Game: can relate to expatriates
Citizen Kane: ditto the rich
Godfather: Can relate to Italian Americans
Pulp Fiction: Can definitely relate to hit men
Lawrence of Arabia: Can relate to sadomasochists
Annie Hall: Can relate to neurotics
Red River: Can relate to cowboys
Gone with the Wind: Can definitely relate to girls from Georgia
Wizard of Oz: Can relate to girl from Kansas
Shoot the Piano Player: Love playing the piano!
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at September 23, 2009 3:11 PM
comment #27
jimtheindiefilmmaker
says ...
I'm a little surprised by all the flack about Marshall directing a musical - I mean, that's what he should be directing, not faux Japanese Geisha melodramas or Pirates of the Carrabian sequels. He's not an auteur, but a truly talened choreographer/director of musicals - just what is needed to revitalize the form. I have no idea if "Nine" will work, but for those of us who love musical films, it's going to be worth seeing to find out. Now, if only we could get Marshall to film
a Sondheim musical like "Follies" or "Company" - or even Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Blvd."... that could be something.
Posted by jimtheindiefilmmaker
at September 23, 2009 3:21 PM
comment #28
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
"Gone with the Wind: Can definitely relate to girls from Georgia"
Howzat?
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at September 23, 2009 4:00 PM
comment #29
Vernon Hardapple
says ...
Kudos, Jim. Well said.
Posted by Vernon Hardapple
at September 23, 2009 5:20 PM
comment #30
plastiqueelephant
says ...
An American Tail: Can most certainly relate to talking immigrant mouse.
Psycho: ditto motel owner who kits up in his mother's wig and dress and knifes all his guests.
Best response ever Jeff.
Posted by plastiqueelephant
at September 23, 2009 5:24 PM
comment #31
Yuval
says ...
I love Daniel Day Lewis, love 81/2, but not only am I not thrilled to see this movie, I actually find it hard to sit through the trailer. This looks like Showgirls, but less funny.
Posted by Yuval
at September 23, 2009 5:49 PM
comment #32
Natali Watson
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at June 24, 2011 7:26 AM