Nine! Oscar Winners Galore!

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

So, when I was a young burgeoning lad of fifteen, my favourite event of the year was the Tony Award broadcast. Growing up in Denver, Colorado meant that the theatrical paradise of Broadway with its bright lights and glistening stars were a world away. It’s my parents fault really. They started taking me to musical theatre long before I had memories. Therefore, every year when the Tony’s came around, I was glue to the TV. I sat there rapt in hot anticipation to see that year’s offerings of utterly spectacular performances that the civilised world were going to see. The Best of the Best would showcase the cast, singing and dancing their way through a five-minute segment of their glorious extravaganza. It was an experience second only to the thrice daily wanks. It was this queer lad’s introduction to the world of Annie, Sweeney Todd, Barnum, 42nd Street, A Chorus Line, The Wiz, and of course, Nine.

1982 – Nine. winner of five Tony Awards, is loosely based on Fellini’s 8½. A film director, played by the late Raoul Julia (You’ll remember him as Gomez Addams in the film Addams Family) looks back on his career and all the women in his life. The one moment that was forever emblazoned on my mind was four boys in tee-shirts with tambourines dancing around a rather rotund woman in a corset singing Be Italian.

Fast forward 17 years to Christmas day 2009 in the US (a week earlier for me in the UK). Director Rob Marshall (Chicago – Oscar Nominee: Best Director) presents an ALL-STAR cast of Oscar winners– Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Nichole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard and Oscar nominee Kate Hudson. Daniel as Director Guido and Sofia as Mamma! The word anticipation doesn’t quite fit the bill for what I’m feeling towards this film. Frothing, foaming at the mouth? Champing at the bit, perhaps?

Needless to say, this film has been a long time coming. And if precedent has anything to do with it, I’d place money on this being well placed for the Oscar’s come next year. And no, I’m not talking about the animated film “9″ out now.

I have to say, all the Dames and Divas are lookin’ Hot!

Here’s the Trailer: