To truly enjoy Nine, the Rob Marshall film, you need to refresh your memory of all those Federico Fellini movies from the 1960s. If you’ve never seen a Fellini film, run don’t walk to the nearest Blockbuster and rent 8 ½, whose plot—a successful director makes six films, plus a couple of short episodes, totaling 8 ½, but can’t seem to finish one more—mirrors what happens in Nine. Guido (played by Marcello Mastroianni in Fellini’s film and Daniel Day-Lewis in Marshall’s) is the main protagonist who suffers from writer’s block, while fleshing out his drama-filled life with memories and flashbacks from his childhood. Indeed, there is an element of Fellini’s real life struggle in Guido’s character. Fellini’s filmmaking broke new ground, the first time a director wrote subjectively about his own life using flashbacks of his own memories, fantasies,
and desires.

Nine, a musical version of the 8 ½ story, also includes references to Fellini’s other films, including La Dolce Vita. Daniel Day-Lewis plays a respectable Guido, a self absorbed and tormented movie director. Although his singing is not exceptional, he does an admirable imitation of an Italian director whose masculinity and creative genius are both a gift and a curse.

Much has been made of the star-studded cast, including more Academy Award winners anywhere except perhaps at the actual awards ceremony. We have Penelope Cruz, as his mistress, Carla, the iconic Sophia Loren, as Guido’s mother, and Judi Dench, leaving behind her stern “M” from James Bond films, as Guido’s former mistress who delivers a surprising rendition of “Folies Bergere.”

That’s not all. We also have Marion Cotillard, an Oscar winner for La Vie en Rose, who plays Guido’s long-suffering wife, Luisa. She sings “My Husband Makes Movies,” with heart wrenching sadness, recognizing his talent but lamenting his flagrant sexual transgressions. In the end, Luisa helps orchestrate Guido’s comeback, recover his creativity and discover the theme for his next film—redemption. And, of course, Nicole Kidman, as a Nordic actress, whose looks are intended to conjure up images of Anita Eckberg who starred in La Dolce Vita.

In the story Guido admits to the press and his film crew that his next film, Italia, is a figment of his imagination, heads for a seaside spa with Carla to ponder his destiny. These scenes, beautifully photographed with images fading into black and white, are reminiscent of both 8 ½ and La Dolce Vita. We see Guido keep a harem of women at arm’s length with a whip and are treated to a sensual performance by Cruz singing “Guido.” Fergie, although not an Oscar winner, brings her Black Peas talent to raise the bar for singing in the film. She delivers “Be Italian” as an anthem causing less self-conscious audience members to jump to their feet. This scene has black and white flashbacks of the Italian prostitute La Saraghina (Eddra Gale) in 8 ½ who teaches the boy Guido—nine years of age—about life’s erotic pleasures. She is sensational!

Kate Hudson, steps out in her role as an aggressive Vogue journalist who employs her female wiles to entice Guido to bed. She sings “Cinema Italiano” and the choreography of the dance number is replete with Rockette moves and fantastic energy. Hudson, shows a new side of performing—dance.

Although Nine has been nominated for many awards, critics found it fell short, many preferring the 1982 Broadway musical that starred Raul Julia, revived in 2003 with Antonia Banderas. Still, the film has energy, colors, lots of wonderful references to Fellini, and all those Oscar winners, including, of course, Day-Lewis, who has two. So, go. You don’t have to be Italian to love it.