Nine

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Directed by: Rob Marshall; Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion

Cottilard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren. Rating: 7/10

FAMOUS film director Guido Contini (Day-Lewis) struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife (Cottilard), his mistress (Cruz), his muse (Kidman), his agent and his mother (Loren).

Take a moment to read back the names of those women and tell me this isn't a role any red-blooded man would kill for!

Day-Lewis has shone in a dazzling variety of roles in his distinguished film career to date (There Will be Blood; My Left Foot; The Gangs of New York) and is well within his comfort zone for delivering a hugely enjoyable performance here.

As his chaotic profession steadily destroys his personal life, Guido must find a balance between creating art and succumbing to its obsessive demands.

With a huge nod to the stylish work of lauded directors such as Fellini, this ambitious musical cracks along at a fair old pace with the vast majority of the songs being toe-tapping spectaculars.

With the enormous star power the film boasts (several Oscars already notched up by this cast), it's Cruz and Cottilard who get the plum roles amongst the bevvy of beauties represented and Kidman in little more than a cameo (albeit one involving some very nice costumes).

You'll see Cruz as you've never seen her before, not least in one sizzling scene which she carries off with aplomb - all by herself.

Nine is, when all is said and done, stylish, watchable and a lot of fun.

Nine is showing at Eden Court until January 21. Call the box office on 01463 234234 for details or see listings online at

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