Nine is the film adaptation of the Broadway musicial Nine, which in turn was based on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical film 8½. Daniel Day-Lewis is Guido Contini, a renowned director who's about to start work on his next picture, Italia. However Guido is blocked and hasn’t written a word yet, even though the sets have been built, costumes are ready, and his leading lady Claudia Jenssen (Nicole Kidman) has been cast.
Guido has taken on too much and now must juggle the various women in his life including his wife Luisa (Marion Cotillard) and his mistress Carla Albanese (Penélope Cruz). Luisa suspects that even though Guido has said he’s stopped seeing Carla, it isn’t true (and she’s right). Meanwhile he’s confiding in his costume designer Lilli La Fleur (Judi Dench); being haunted by the spirit of his mother (Sophia Loren); and being chased by a fashion journalist for Vogue named Stephanie (Kate Hudson) who wants a scoop on the film as well as Guido himself.
As the movie progresses we learn Guido has been damaged due to his strict Catholic upbringing; he may have even been beaten in boarding school which leads to a flashback of his time in boarding school where Guido and his friends pay a prostitute (Fergie) to dance for them.
Guido needs to confront the ghosts of his past, get his head on straight, and make his film since many people are counting on him and since his last few films have flopped, so the pressure’s on!
While the plot is a bit weak, the sets, cast, and musical numbers are enjoyable. Daniel Day-Lewis nails his portrayal of the man trying to juggle too much and stay in control. Marion Cotillard portrays the long-suffering wife very believably, Penélope Cruz is great as Guido’s mistress who loves him and wants to go public with their relationship, while Judi Dench is perfect as the voice of reason that calms Guido down and makes him “pull himself together.”
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