--- title: "Nine: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/nine/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/nine" critics_score: 48 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Nine (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 48 from 12 reviews: 2 positive, 5 mixed, 5 negative. The consensus leans towards disappointment, with praise clustering around the cast rather than the musical storytelling. Marion Cotillard draws the most consistent approval: several critics find emotional force in her performance even when the surrounding film leaves them cold. Penelope Cruz also earns praise for poignancy, while some reviews acknowledge the cast’s singing and the visual polish. The recurring complaint is that the songs interrupt the drama without supplying memorable tunes or bringing the characters’ feelings into focus. The spread is wide, however. Variety offers an enthusiastic dissent, finding the musical filmmaking sophisticated and entertaining and Daniel Day-Lewis humorous and engaging. More qualified supporters enjoy individual performances despite the awkward structure. At the other extreme, The Guardian condemns both the acting and the portrayal of women. Comparisons with Fellini’s 8½ generally deepen the reservations, though critics differ over whether the performances compensate for the film’s shortcomings. ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2009. McCarthy finds the film sophisticated, sexy, and entertaining, with its musical filmmaking impressing throughout. He especially praises Daniel Day-Lewis’s humorous, engaging performance and the spirited cast. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/nine-5-1200478003/) ## Empire — Ali Plumb Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 2008. Plumb finds the film enjoyable overall despite its clunky structure and lack of truly catchy tunes. He particularly praises Marion Cotillard, whose performance and musical numbers steal the show. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/nine-review/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint is available to summarize. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/nine-2009) ## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2009. The visible page identifies this as a review but does not reveal the critic’s verdict. The paywall also hides what the critic singled out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/nine/5008833.article) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 3/5. 15 December 2009. Calhoun suggests viewers should set aside expectations from Fellini’s 8½ to enjoy the film. He describes it as an angsty romp, while the 3/5 rating signals a measured verdict. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/nine-1) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 3/5. 22 December 2009. Smith finds the film overly stage-bound and its songs mostly forgettable, though the cast can sing and the film has moments of emotion. He praises Marion Cotillard and Penelope Cruz for bringing poignancy to their roles. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/nine-1-review/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating C. 17 December 2009. Phipps finds the adaptation a joyless, forgettable trudge that pales beside Fellini’s original. He faults the musical numbers for stopping the story, while singling out Fergie’s sequence as the film’s best. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/nine-1798207650) ## Slant Magazine — Ryan Stewart Rating 1.5/4. 16 December 2009. Stewart finds the film passionless and creatively blocked, an uninspired reworking of its source material. He praises Marion Cotillard as faultless but criticizes the musical numbers as shallow and irritating. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/nine-4608/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 2009. Lane finds the musical largely inert and less compelling than its source, Fellini’s 8½. He praises Marion Cotillard’s flashes of simmering wrath, while faulting the songs for stopping the action without leaving memorable tunes. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/12/21/free-and-uneasy) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2009. Honeycutt finds the film a disappointment that fails to draw viewers into Guido’s inner life. He criticizes the musical numbers for interrupting the drama and feeling disconnected from the characters’ emotions. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/nine-film-review-93789/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2009. Bradshaw dismisses the film as shallow, phoney and badly acted. He particularly condemns its condescending portrayal of women and its failure to preserve the subversion of Fellini’s 8½. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/dec/17/nine-review) ## Eye for Film — Chris Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 8 January 2010. The critic pans the film as an expensive, self-indulgent production with little story. They praise the cast’s talent and the film’s visual polish, but say those strengths cannot make up for its lack of substance. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/nine-film-review-by-chris) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/nine.md