Wait!
I’ve heard of director, Rob Marshall‘s (Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha) new musical film, Nine. I knew it starred Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren. I even knew the premise of Day-Lewis starring as a famous italian director who “struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife…mistress…muse…agent…and mother.” (IMDb)
Yet, familiar as all this felt to me, I just never realized that 9 (Nine) is none other than Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 (Otto e Mezzo).
Actually, not quite.
Nine is in fact, the film adaptation of the musical based on Fellini’s 1963 classic film. Yes, its a film adaptation of a musical adaptation of a film.
What’s weird is that I was just watching 8 1/2 recently and thought to myself how much Penelope Cruz can resemble Anouk Aimee who plays Luisa Anselmi in 8 1/2; but Penelope doesn’t play Louisa in Nine, she’s Guido’s mistress, Carla. Marion Cotillard plays Louisa, Day-Lewis/Guido Contini’s wife. I’m curious to see how that works out; also, I’m just as curious in Day-Lewis’ voice (the trailer keeps him mute).
If you’ve never seen 8 1/2, I recommend it. Or not, live your life, right? Nine will hit theatres sometime next month.
