THE NINES

THE NINES is a drama that follows the lives of three people: a troubled actor, a neurotic TV series creator and a video game designer, all played by Ryan Reynolds, as they find their lives intersecting in mysterious and disturbing ways.

The movie takes place in three acts. In the first act, Ryan Reynolds plays a troubled actor, who has recently suffered a breakup and has accidentally burned down his house. He is then confined to house arrest in an absent stranger’s home after he goes on a drug, drinking and driving binge. While at the house, he begins to hear strange noises and the number nine keeps appearing everywhere.

The second act follows Ryan Reynolds as a TV show creator followed around by a reality television series crew as he tries to get his pilot episode picked up by a major network. In this act, the character questions the god-like aspects of show creators who have the ability to create life and make their created characters seem like puppets on a string.

The third act shows Ryan Reynolds as a wildly popular video game designer whose car has broken down in the Hollywood hills. Stranded, he feels more like someone is pulling his strings. In each act, Reynolds’ characters seem to be fragments of each other existing in time and space.

Throughout this whole movie, the recurring theme is the relationship between creator and creation. However, in THE NINES, the concept of God as Creator is not explored in a satisfying way. Instead, most audience members will feel as though this is another self-indulgent look at the inner-workings of the creative minds in Hollywood who think that they really are gods. The movie is laced with “industry-speak” and therefore will only appeal to a small audience.

Also, the story strains to be an imaginative and mind-bending thriller, but there is never a real sense of danger for any of the three characters. So the resolution neither bends the mind nor thrills. Reynolds gives three distinct performances, and his work should be credited. His fellow cast members each hold their own on-screen, but the movie itself feels like a retread and limp.

Media-wise viewers should also be warned about the mixed pagan worldview, the strong foul language and the sexual content, which includes depicted masturbation, although nothing is shown. THE NINES also has very strong alcohol abuse and some strong drug references.