December 4, 2005
Philip Larkin once said that sex is not unlike asking someone to blow your nose for you. And in 9 Songs Michael Winterbottom has effectively filmed the quote. 9 Songs, says Winterbottom, is about two people ‘making love’, interspersed with the duo going to a series of rock concerts. Pity they don’t go to a Tina Turner gig, as What’s Love Got to Do with It? is a worthy theme tune.
Soulless, empty and drab, 9 Songs is filmed in queasy close up, actor and actress doing it for real – which explains why no established thesps would sign up. But while this nauseating and pretentious film purports to be a serious study of the physical side of a relationship, it falters big-time. First, there’s no relationship to care about. Second, it’s quite simply devoid of love, soul, spirit or anything else that would make any of this bearable.
Winterbottom has busted a taboo – getting extremely explicit scenes passed by the BBFC. A sad little movie and sad state of affairs that’s led to its release. But here it is. As appetizing as last night’s takeaway, this is a movie likely to put you off sex, and the thought of it, for a good long while. Ironically it makes you see why some people say the best place for sex is within marriage. Any Fred and Ginger film was sexier than this. 9 Songs says nothing about relationships, parting, or the nature of attraction.
Winterbottom has done no one a service with this film. 9 Songs is a complete turn-off. Seriously, if you value the humanity, if not the spirituality, of sex and are tempted to give this film a go – do yourself a huge favour, try a little abstinence and just say no.
Soulless, empty and drab, 9 Songs is filmed in queasy close up, actor and actress doing it for real – which explains why no established thesps would sign up. But while this nauseating and pretentious film purports to be a serious study of the physical side of a relationship, it falters big-time. First, there’s no relationship to care about. Second, it’s quite simply devoid of love, soul, spirit or anything else that would make any of this bearable.
Winterbottom has busted a taboo – getting extremely explicit scenes passed by the BBFC. A sad little movie and sad state of affairs that’s led to its release. But here it is. As appetizing as last night’s takeaway, this is a movie likely to put you off sex, and the thought of it, for a good long while. Ironically it makes you see why some people say the best place for sex is within marriage. Any Fred and Ginger film was sexier than this. 9 Songs says nothing about relationships, parting, or the nature of attraction.
Winterbottom has done no one a service with this film. 9 Songs is a complete turn-off. Seriously, if you value the humanity, if not the spirituality, of sex and are tempted to give this film a go – do yourself a huge favour, try a little abstinence and just say no.