SNAPSHOT- NINE-THE MUSICAL

Boy oh Boy I am salivating to see this one- NINE- It's a 1982 Broadway musical adapted to the big screen by ROB MARSHALL whose made it his USP to make stage to screen adaptations- Remember Chicago (2002) and Cabaret (1998). Anyway I think the fire-power A list ensemble star cast should give at least from the first look of the film his previous works a complex.Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Stacy Ferguson.Really- need I say more!!!

With many of them singing, dancing and speaking Italian it will be interesting to see how linguistically our stars will be tested. In terms of story- DANIEL DAY LEWIS has a field day with a bevy of beauties prancing around him, catering to his every whim and fancy and then not some. On a more serious note- the plot seems quite interesting. The film follows the life of world renowned film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) whose dealing with a mid life crisis as he turns fifty-on the work front his creativity reaches a suffocating stagnation and on the personal front he's juggling a series of complicated relationships including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Fergie) and his mother (Sophia Loren).

I'm not familiar with the music of this one- but with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, NINE won five Tony Awards including Best Musical- so really how bad could it get.

From the first look, NINE seems to be like a CHICAGO meets MOULIN ROUGE- but I'll get back to you on this one when I review the film.

A film that promises style, scale, sensuality, a successful sound track and a starry time at the movies- I hope there's more to this formula than meets the eye.

CHEERS

NEHA

A TOAST TO COF...

We just finished 50 episodes of Chicks on Flicks so celebrations and cheers to the entire wonderful team and to all you folks, our viewers who have been with us each step of the way. Thanks for all your support. CHEERS - neha

miami to minnesota

i dont know whether its been rom com fatigue or just a craving for something fresh but the latest chick flick to hit theatres which has been universally panned it seems, isnt all that bad.

NEW IN TOWN is predictable, formulaic, loses steam in the second half and tends to completely follow and pander to audience expectations... but its still a fun, light hearted, feel good watch. (and hey who doesnt want to feel good finally?)

in the first five minutes, things dont look all that exciting, upbeat music, opening titles, ur typical, formula chick-flick fare, but cut to a dining table of women in MINNESOTA doing arts and crafts and u sit up and say ok, whats this. And when SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN perks up, "HARVE WILL YOU GET THE DOOR", you cant take your eyes off her and think this one has promise. which it does. and which it, personally delivered on.

ZELLWEGER is understated and real, as is CONNICK JR. I felt a natural and real chemistry between them...as actors and an onscreen couple. no melodrama, sentimentality or cheesiness. the humour in their scenes , which could have become vulgar n silly in the hands of other actors, stays shy of that

alot of that has also to do with a GREAT supporting cast be it HOGAN (who is hilarious, even if she is taking of on FRANCIS MCDORMANDS MARGE from FARGO) or JK SIMMONS (unrecognizable from his role as father in JUNO as the drawling factory head who's more concerned with shooting birds, drinking beer, and exclaiming desparingly to his co workers, who called the 'boss lady'?)

the films general themes of good ol fashioned american values of friendship and community, diligence and dignity of labour couldve slipped again into cheesiness but the writing manages to avoid that trap with some local flavour and comic touches in the dialogues- twitterpatted, tapioca, scrapper and patootie.. brush up on some midwest vocab people!

sure things get repetitive in the second half and the story couldve had way more punch, but its NOT as bad as they say... grab some popcorn, sit back, unwind. u might be surprised.

until a REALLY good rom com comes along.... ;)

Ira