Rolling With The Nines (The Nines (DVD))

Member Name: utero

Product:	The Nines (DVD)
Date:	03/09/08 (89 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting Storytelling, Well Acted

Disadvantages: No Extras, May not have any real conclusion - I'm Not Sure

Every once in a while you see a film that can either be construed as a complete mess or a well crafted thriller that doesn't conform to the norm and leaves you with questions rather than answers.

The Nines is one of those films, some will wonder why they've wasted their time, others will delve into various theories after the credits roll.

The film is a three-pronged story. The first part features the star of a successful TV cop show (Ryan Reynolds) who accidentally set's fire to his girlfriends house and is left under house arrest. He spends his days wandering around a house that is not his, the only human interaction he has is with a next-door neighbour and a cutting publicity agent. As things unfold he comes to the conclusion that this life he is leading is not reality and those around him can't be trusted leaving him to find various references to the number nine.

This segways into a second story of a writer (Reynolds) who successfully pitches a mystery show to a TV network and is the main subject of a reality documentary into the making of a TV show. The same actors from the first story take on different roles in the second story and soon things tie into the first part and the pieces start coming together.

But then in the final part we see the characters from the TV show in a story that further plays out the notions of the second story.

Are you confused? Well that's what The Nines is, something that is designed to strangle your mind. I can't really say what the resolution of the film, I just have an idea or theory about what the crux of the story was. You'll probably find several others who have a different idea of what it's all about.

Acting wise Ryan Reynolds portrays three different characters very well and is quite an underated actor. He's ably backed by Hope Davis in a number of mysterious female roles while Melissa McCarthy brings charm to the proceedings.

Director John August handles the film well for his directorial debut, working with a small budget, he manages to hold your attention throughout.

The Nines is a something worth finding out, it'll certainly test you.

- The DVD -

The transfer on this dvd is adequate, it doesn't look fantastic but I would guess that this may have been shot on HD video instead of film. The sound track is also pretty subdued with no real call for surround sound effects.

- Extras -

This was a rental disc, sadly I found no extras just a bunch of trailers before the feature like the old days of VHS rental.

- Finally -
I'd have to watch this again to tell you what it's about. When a film does that then it's worth some attention.

Summary: 3 Is The Magic Number - The Nines is more black magic