Nine (2009)

The new musical “Nine” ought to be Oscar bound. It’s certainly pitched that way. We have “Chicago” director Rob Marshall at the helm, with (deceased) Oscar-winner Anthony Mangella on co-writing duties. Oscar god Harvey Weinstein produces. The cast? Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren and Marion Cotillard. It's too much. Seriously. Day-Lewis is Fellini-inspired Italian film director Guido Contini who is fretting over his wife (Cotillard), smothered by his mistress (Cruz), hot for his star (Kidman), dreamy for his first crush (Fergie from Black-Eyed Peas) and stalked by a reporter (Hudson). His life and ninth film are falling apart ala “A Serious Man.” I loved the frantic professor in that gem of a film, but Guido is a whiny bore in an over-blown film that's also often boring. Many of the lyrics grind with elementary rhymes and word play, and an out-classed DDL only gets two minor songs that are bulldozed by his co-stars (Hudson dazzles). Nine? More like a 5. C+