NINE

The ultimate charmer, Guido Contini is an Italian movie director in the 1960's. In the film, he constantly battles with his need to keep up his established public appearance, and a normal life with the wife he deeply loves but cannot devote to.

Guido, a self-proclaimed child, loves women and cannot seem to help himself around them. Drawn to their attraction, and mostly to their attraction to him, he sinks into them time and again.

Nine depicts his struggle with the direction of his latest film to be named Italia, for which there is no script 10 days before the filming is due to begin.

He slowly unravels under the pressure of those around him demanding answers and pushing him to move forward, which only makes his writer's block worse. He falls deeper into the need to escape, literally fleeing to another city altogether...only to be found shortly after, still with nothing accomplished.

However, as he loses control, he leans heavily on all the women in his life: his deceased mother- who he turns to for advice regardless, his mistress- who only leans back on him with more need and desperation, his muse, and his seamstress- who also serves as his confidant. He looks to them all for answers all the while pushing his wife, who longs to help and be needed, away.

All in all not the best musical I've ever seen, but entertaining for sure. There is a lot going on to keep viewers happy - Penelope Cruz almost literally makes love to the camera, which I guess would be great if I was a guy - but there is not much substance.

Bottom line: I wouldn't buy it.