DVD: The Nines
Submitted by The Evil Dr San... on Sun, 2008-11-02 05:36.
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DVD Reviewed by The Evil Dr Sanchez, Esq.
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis
Screenwriter John August (The Corpse Bride, Go, Big Fish) makes his directorial debut in The Nines, a tryptic of short films starring Ryan Reynolds (yes, he of Van Wilder fame) as three different but interconnected characters.
The first instalment in The Nines begins with actor Gary (Reynolds) going on a post-relationship bender and ending up on house arrest in unfamiliar surroundings. Gary is haunted literally by himself, the number nine and two women (Gilmore Girls’s Melissa McCarthy and The Weather Man’s Hope Davis, also in recurring roles) who may both be out to get him. Of course nothing is as it seems and the fun is piecing the clues together to figure out if Gary and his subsequent ‘incarnations’ – a scriptwriter and a video game creator – actually exist or if they are just different levels of his consciousness. And yes, you will find out at the end.
As well as presenting an intriguing mystery The Nines also maintains a level of suspense throughout whilst managing to poke fun at itself, the television industry and Hollywood in general. Reynolds is actually pretty good in this more serious role but still manages to give a few trademark cheeky smiles while Melissa McCarthy manages to break free of the perky ‘Sookie’ character that made her famous. Hope Davis is suitably creepy and believably psychotic (and I mean that in a nice way). Guest appearances include Elle Fanning (Dakota’s sister) and David Denman (the US version of The Office).
In terms of extras there is an alternate ending, the usual commentary and deleted scenes plus an hilarious short film called God starring McCarthy as God’s BFF.
The Nines is an interesting head trip, not as complex as most but compelling none the less.
If you like it you might also be into Hal Hartley’s The Book of Life.
