Nine

One would think a musical starring the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Sophia Loren would be a historical movie event. Directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago), this droning, repetitive project, based loosely on Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2, is nothing of the sort. Day-Lewis plays Guido, a film director going through creative and romantic crises. His wife (Marion Cotillard), mistress (Cruz), star (Kidman), mommy (Loren) and a reporter (Kate Hudson) all show up in poorly staged musical numbers. The great exception is Cruz’s incredibly good dance routine, which comes early in the film and makes you think you might be in store for something good. This is not the case. The numbers become less and less distinctive—terrible songs accompanied by unexciting set pieces and sloppy editing. Day-Lewis is reduced to moping on the sidelines, and while the women all try their best, the material lets them down. Even though it’s getting a bunch of awards nominations, it’s undeserving and one of this year’s biggest disappointments.