Reviewed by Alex Ioshpe
DIRECTED BY: Roman Polanski WRITTEN BY: Roman Polanski and John Brownjohn
CAST: Johnny Depp
Frank Langella
Lena Olin
Tony Amony
Emanuelle Seigner
Barbara Jefford
Jose Lopes Roderes
MPAA: Rated R for some violence and sexuality. Runtime: USA:127 / UK:133 / Argentina:133 / Finland:134 / France:132 / Spain:143 Country: France / Spain / USA Language: English / French / Latin Color: Color Certification: USA:R / UK:15 / Belgium:KT / Finland:K-16 / France:U / Germany:16
RATING: 8/10
After 'Chinatown' he disappeared, and to this day everyone were anxiously waiting for his comeback. Now Artisan Pictures presents Roman Polanski's fresh thriller "The Ninth Gate". Polanski was fascinated by the concept of good and evil, their effect and place in our lives. "The Ninth Gate" is no exception. It is a more intelligent and elegant version of 'End of Days'
The Ninth Gate begins ominously – a comfortable-looking study takes on a distinctly uncomfortable atmosphere as middle-aged man hangs himself with a rope that dangles from the chandelier. Then we see Dean Corso (Johnny Depp, 'Sleepy Hollow') at work. He's a rare books expert, of `the lean, hungry, restless type, who would stab friends in the back.' As the wealthy book collector Boris Balkan (Frank Langella, 'Dracula' ) observes, `It is easy to trust a man whose loyalty can be measured in money'. Corso is highly skilled at his work, a position which requires dexterity, cultural expertise, nerves of steel...and few scruples. Known for locating rare books for wealthy collectors, Corso is hired by eminent book-lover and scholar of demonology, Boris Balkan. Corso's mission: to find the last two volumes of the legendary manual of satanic invocation "The Nine Gates of the Shadow Kingdom" - a book surpassingly written by Lucifer himself. Corso has to compare them with Balkan's first volume, supposedly the only one of its kind, and ascertain the authenticity of the series. Corso accepts the challenge. From New York to Toledo, Paris to Cintra, he immerses himself in a labyrinth full of pitfalls and temptations, disturbing encounters, violence and mysterious deaths. Protected by an angelic creature and guided by a force more powerful than himself, the hunter solves one by one the mysteries of the dreaded Book and discovers the real purpose of his mission...
Polanski carefully constructs his script and creates very interesting characters. Among the other sinful types racing with Corso toward their devilish goals are nymphomaniac rich widow Liana Telfer (Lena Olin), and her menacing albino bodyguard (Tony Amoni), the angry-at-God wheelchair-bound Satan aficionado Baroness Kessler (Barbara Jefford) and a mysterious blond backpacker who appears everywhere and may possess supernatural powers (played by Polanski's wife, Emmanuelle Seigner).
The film becomes a crazed journey into darkness. What starts as a quest for money, goes deeper as he dives into his soul. Corso is a professional in his area, nonetheless it looks like he is following his own shadow. The film is greatly woven as Polanski plays with the definitions of good and evil. The pure, real evil is not 'the end of days'. It's not an apocalypse, fire or fury, but the dark side of the human soul and psyche. Satan need not show himself with external signs, but can work entirely within ourselves -- our minds and souls. Evil resorts in us and is as natural as goodness, only easier to live by.
This film is at times funny, at times frightening, shocking and operating on a slighter higher intellectual level than most of its genre. Like in 'The Devil's Advocate' nothing is obvious and nothing is primitive. The Devil doesn't puke blood or blow up buildings. And yet, he shows himself. He is everywhere around us. And by taking the dark path, we're letting Him into our souls. Sometimes he can be seen in a little girl, sometimes in a dog. And little by little, Corso becomes the monster he seeks. As the Devil brilliantly says in the slightly better 'The Devil's Advocate': "..Follow the money..straight to the top..", Dean Corso persuaded the only thing sacred for him. His path went through greed, lust, anger and finally led to the key to the darkest place of his soul. He finally understood his place and meaning..
The movie is one intense visual nightmare, based on the European hit "El Club Dumas" by Spanish writer Arturo Perez Reverte. It is an ironic, tense, literate story in which Lucifer and his minions and worshippers increasingly erupt into everyday reality. 'The Ninth Gate' is a typical European movie, made in the classic style. This means -- no expensive models, no action sequences, no digital special effects. It is full of terrific locations, and Polanski's eye has not faltered. He has a fine photo/design team, a good score by Wojciech Kilar, and his knowledge of Europe puts him way ahead of most American directors who could have been hired. Johnny Depp is a perfect choice for the cynical and intelligent 'book detective' -- the master of every situation. With a develish black beard and dark eyes, he coolly walks the streets, smoking a dozen cigars a day. Depp is spectacular in a role that is difficult and demanding. Perfect is Frank Langella as the mysterious and deadly aristocrat. Interesting is Lena Olin as the deadly beauty and Barbara Jefford as the sinister invalid, hungry for revenge. Worse is Emmanuelle Seigner, who is perfect when the camera zooms into her diabolical green eyes, but she is not much of an actress. She remains the Sofia Copolla of this film.
"The Ninth Gate" is the latest horror movie by a master of the genre. It's not a perfect film. It's not as provoking and energetic as 'The Devil's Advocate' and it's not as genially frightening as 'Rose Mary's Baby'. It is unfortunately a bit dull and boring at times, when Corso is desperately running through the empty streets of European cities. And I wonder if audiences will accept it that way. With "Scream 3" and "Battlefield Earth" around the corner, will today's audiences accept intelligence or embrace the usual blood, gore and technological marvels? I think that the answer is obvious: this will not be a major hit at the box office. But for you all serious movie goers -- this is quality. 'The Ninth Gate' is drained in Polanski's specialties: rich dark humor, mysterious premise and overwhelming atmospheres of doom and dread.
This review is written by Alex Ioshpe (C) 1999
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