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The Ninth Gate |
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back to reviews page |
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email me if you like at [email protected] |
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Rating: Fair
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Suspense
Release Date: March 10, 2000
Director: Roman Polanski
Cast: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner, Barbara Jefford. |
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picture above from www.ninthegate.com |
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Plot: A rare book dealer Dean Corso (Depp) is hired by an eccentric demonic book collector in hopes that Depp can verify for him that his book, The Nine Gates of something or other is an original and not a fake by comparing it with the only other two Nine Gates books in the world. The previous owner of the book committed suicide, and the two other book owners were killed during Depp's journeys. To find these rare books Depp delves into a dark world of anger and obsession. He eventually is confronted again and again with the book's main purpose which could be to awaken the Anti-Christ. |
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Critique: This movie begins as a dark mystery with fascinating twists and wicked characters. Our protaganist played by Johnny Depp is no doubt a great actor in almost, if not every work he has performed in. Roman Polanski creates a delightfully creepy mood, and awakens a passion in the audience for staring at old books and mimicking the drueling that all of Depp's coworkers do over them. The atmosphere is so crisp and the story so fast paced that you can't help but enjoy yourself.
However, after the first hour things get a little shady when the story becomes a mix of chance situations and weird, but shallow antaganists. The audience begins to ask itself where this movie is going, and if it could get there any slower. Although Depp's character is taking on a dangerous mission for money we begin to wonder how far greed will take him. His motive changes as the movie nears the end, and our question of our protaganists' reasons are sort of answered. However, we get a very unsatisfactory finish as a whole and the answer is nonsensical and not properly developed. One might wonder if Polanski decided to let his favorite bus boy direct the last half an hour as the movie gets even worse a picture from the film's birth of ugliness at the hour mark. The picture finishes like it has been thrown in a garbage can, and the plot having opened more doorways than closing.
by supernothingman
(E.S.S.)
if you have questions
or remarks email me at
[email protected]
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