Not to be confused with writer-director Rodrigo Garcia’s 2006 film of the same name, or the 2004 horror flick co-starring Paris Hilton, or even John August’s The Nines, starring Ryan Reynolds, from just earlier this fall, The Nines is a provocative film debut from writer-director Dean Howell
and pioneer activist Michael Kearns (Intimacies,
T-Cells & Sympathy). Based on
play Complications, it’s a film about
love, loss and the hopes and fears we all share, focusing, as the title would
suggest, on nine individuals whose lives intersect emotionally, sexually and
dangerously over the course of a single day.
An ensemble piece with heartfelt performances from a talented
cast, The Nines begins with Ronnie (
an over-the-top and just about over-the-hill, HIV-positive man recalling his
love affairs, both past and present. Next is Mikey (Chariots of Fire’s Dennis Christopher), an introspective drug
dealer who has a casual infatuation with sexy hustler Bo (John Ganun), while
at the same time trying to provide for his mentally challenged younger brother. A threesome
between television producer Daniel (Nick Salamone), his hunky boyfriend
Corey (Steve Callahan) and their pool boy Carlos (Eric Turic) threatens their
relationship. And then there’s Lisa (Mad
TV’s Debra Wilson) and her perpetually late husband, Ralph (William
Christian), who fret as they prepare for their first child.
Shocking for its graphic sexuality, but tender in its
execution, Nine Lives is a
thought-provoking and candid look into the lives of these characters and how
they are all interconnected. It teaches a universal message of hope — no matter
how difficult life may be, we are never alone. DVD special features on the
widescreen presentation include a group audio commentary track with director Howell,
Kearns, Callahan, Christopher and Wilson, among
others, as well as a collection of deleted scenes and outtakes. To view the movie’s trailer, click here; to purchase the film via Amazon, click here.