Film:  The Nines

Studio:    Destination Films; DVD distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Director:  John August

Principal Actors:  Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, Melissa McCarthy

Release:  2007; On DVD released January 29, 2008

Film length: 99 minutes

Rating: R for language, some drug content, and sexuality

4 Stars

Reviewer:  Deborah Ground Buckner

The Nines is a story of creation.  It is told in three parts that intersect and overlap, all with Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis and Melissa McCarthy as the principal actors.  Their outstanding performances and the writing and direction of John August create an intricate puzzle that comes together in a way that will provoke thought for some time after viewing this film.

Part One - The Prisoner, sees Reynolds in the role of Gary, a troubled television star whose attempt to burn the possessions of his ex-girlfriend accidentally burns down his house.  He is placed under house arrest-having no house, safely hidden away in the house of a writer who is away for six weeks-and looked after by a trouble-shooting publicist (Melissa McCarthy) who takes no crap from celebrities.  Yet, even as they go to their respective rooms in the evening with the cheerful partings of "Good night, Butt Face," "Good night, you filthy whore," a bond seems to exist between them.  Enter Hope Davis as the attractive next-door neighbor out to tempt Gary away from his prison and his jailer.

In Part Two - Reality TV, Reynolds becomes Gavin, a writer followed by a documentary camera as he attempts to sell a pilot for a drama series.  The show was written for his friend, Melissa (McCarthy), but under the steerage of Susan, a production assistant (Davis), he goes along with pressure to replace Melissa with another actress.  Once again, Davis is cast as the character who "had to get you away from her," she tells Gavin of Melissa.

Part Three - Knowing, casts Reynolds as Gabriel, a video game designer, stranded with his wife (McCarthy) and daughter (Elle Fanning, younger sister of Dakota), in a situation recognizable as the story of Gavin's pilot in Part Two.  Once again, Davis is the third party who enters to place a wedge between Reynolds and McCarthy.

In the end, without giving too much away, it becomes clear that the actor, the writer and the game designer, each creating a world in which they interact with others, represent a greater theme of creation.  Seeing the writing unfold and bring together the intricate pieces is a fascinating experience.

Special features include a commentary by August and Reynolds; commentary by August, McCarthy, and editor Douglas Crise on the technical aspects of the film; "Summing Up the Nines," offering behind-the-scenes stories of the challenges for the actors in presenting three distinct characters; and the short film God that inspired the feature-length version.