Federico Fellini is either very pleased that his film 8 ½ is still considered relevant in 2009, or is rolling over in his grave at the razzle dazzle treatment it was given in Nine. The bigger question is who decided 8 ½ needed a remake? Fellinis’ work was that of a master, so why the need to re-create what has already been done so well.
Many audience members saw only the previews and walked in expecting a film along the lines of Moulin Rouge, what they got was Fellinis’ film within a film concept merging with Moulin Rouge spectacle.
While the musical numbers kept me entertained and awake at points, the rest of the film left me wondering why I didn’t just stay home and watch the original. It is after all the version done by an Italian master. Such a master in fact, the scenes at the beach with Saraghina, played by Fergie, looked as though they had simply been cut out of the original and implanted in this version. At least when they decided to remake Psycho shot for shot, they kept the title.
As for the performances, Daniel Day-Louis had the hard task of stepping into the role of Guido, formerly portrayed by Italian actor, Marcello Mastroianni. His method acting style did him a great service in this; however he still was not an Italian man, in an Italian film, about Italy. Marion Cotillard however, was brilliant as Guido’s tortured wife Louisa, a minimal woman in Guidos’ fantasy life, and a force in his reality. In the end however 8 ½ was a great classic that did not need a Hollywood revival.
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