The Ninth Gate
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Movie Reviews of The Ninth Gate
Movie Review: Much better than Rosemary's Baby
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not in general particularly fond of Roman Polanski as a directer.
In The Ninth Gate, however, he accomplishes something rather special--a
genuinely unnerving and haunting intellectual thriller, and one of the
very few films that treats the occult with intelligence and respect.
Inevitably, the comparison to Rosemary's Baby has to be made. Let's
start with the source material. Ira Levin's novel is a well-made
pot-boiler; Arturo Perez-Reverte's The Club Dumas, on which The Ninth
Gate is based (the novel is quite different in certain respects) is a
first-rate intellectual thriller, and, frankly, a much superior novel.
Rosemary's Baby is more a nightmare of a really, really bad pregnancy
than a supernatural film. In addition, it stars two of the most
annoying fingernails-on-the-blackboard actresses imaginable--Ruth
Gordon and Mia Farrow. It's a chick flick with pretensions.
The Ninth Gate is superior in every way. Superficially, it's a
detective story with occult content and a Faustian subplot. But how
many films deal with the world of rare books-accurately? This film does
not insult the viewer's intelligence.
The script is well written and literate. Boris Balkan, a book collector
obsessed with rare books about the devil, commissions rare book dealer
Gregory Corso with an unusual task. Balkan has just obtained one of
three copies extant of "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows"--a
book printed in 1666 and purportedly based on an actual text by the
devil himself. (The author was burned at the stake for heresy). Balkan
wants to verify the authenticity of his copy by comparing it with the
other two. This quest becomes more and more perilous as it becomes
evident that some sort of singular significance attachs to variations
between the three copies in the nine engravings. Balkan attempts to use
the nine engravings to summon Lucifer--and fails. But there is
something about the ninth engraving.....
The casting is just about perfect--the only actor who somewhat falls
below the mark is Emmanuelle Seigner as The Girl--manifestly Satan's
minion in this demonic Pilgrim's Progress. A former model, Ms. Seigner
is beautiful--but boring. Apparently Polanski directed her to play the
role flat--but except for the occasional special effect with her eyes,
we really do not feel a demonic presence. Fail of direction, or
actress? Probably a bit of both. Johnny Depp does a notable job as
Gregory Corso, a book dealer without a conscience; Lena Olin does
another turn on her standard over-sexed villain persona as Liana
Telfer; Frank Langella is appropriately menacing as Boris Balkan, an
arrogant book collector who longs for union with Satan.
What makes this film work so well is that overused term atmosphere.
There are few films indeed where atmosphere plays so important a
role--a just comparison is to another notable supernatural film, one of
the very few really frightening ghost stories on film--Robert Wise's
The Haunting. In The Ninth Gate, as in The Haunting, the surrounding
are critical characters. Corso, Balkan, and other inhabit spaces that
are frequently strangely empty of other living beings. The barriers
between the world we know and a numinous world of seductive promise and
evil threaten to dissolve at any moment. This is a genuinely beautiful
film--beautiful to look at and to listen to (the score is also first
rate)--beautiful, seductive, and menacing.
Many commentators has disliked the ending--and yet it is the only
possible one. Corso, having obtained (or has he?) the secret of The
Ninth Gate, enters the castle shown in the final engraving, which then
dissolves into yellow light. Apotheosis? Transcendence? Damnation?
Impossible to say. Anything more definite would be a disappointment.
The ending is chilling--in the best way.
This is not a film for the literal-minded. There are few comparable
films--The Devil Rides Out, for one, and perhaps Dead of Night. I doubt
if Polanski has ever done anything better--and the The Ninth Gate is
one of the very few films about the supernatural that does not insult
the intelligence. A singular and worthwhile experience indeed.
Movie Review: Devil in a Red Dress
Summary: 5 Stars
[This is the last review in my 31 Days of Halloween 2008 series. It's been fun going down Tombstone Lane & I want to thank you for taking the time to read these humble & horrific offerings. I hope you've had some fun too. I'm already looking forward to next year. More tales of terror & darkness to explore!]
Jumpin' J Lucifer, it looks like every Magus & Magatrix on the planet have reveiwed THE NINTH GATE--and some of the naughty kids actually gave the whole plot away.
I'll try to be both brief & discreet.
The teaming up of Roman Polanski & Johnny Depp was surely a pact made in hell--and I mean that in a GOOD way. Polanski's near obsession with the Diobolical Side often translate into memorable images on film. There are some obvious Satanic images in THE NINTH GATE, and others not so obvious.
Johnny Depp deftly plays the role of rare book investigator. It's nice to watch him play a more or less normal human being for a change. There's a very short sequence in the film I really enjoyed: Johnny Depp is waiting in a line (for something, I forgot what--short term memory loss, please bear with me.) Anyway, a little girl is standing next to him, giving him the evil eye. Depp looks down at her and does a very funny Johny Depp sort of double take. It was really cute--and I mean that in a nice way too.
Other cast members were excellent as well.
On one level the theme of the film is how to conjure up The Living Devil a la ROSEMARY'S BABY. There is another, perhaps more subtle interpretation, i.e. performance of The Great Work. The Great Work is alchemical rather than Satanic. The Great Work is based on positive spiritual concepts like the Gnostic sacrament of The Sacred Marriage; the Hindu Kundalini Yoga, Bhakti Yoga--and, in particular, Tantra Yoga, the Union of Shiva & Shakti.
And that's all of the plot I'm going to reveal.
The wonderful woodcut images on the pages of the much coveted book in the film are great. I like the way they look & play into the action.
[See MERCURIUS The Marriage of Heaven & Earth in the links list below.]
Another thing I liked about the movie is how Polanski makes fun of the wealthy Satanists' ridiculous pretentions. To miss that point is to miss the whole thing--and yet the viewer is still left (as in Left-Hand Path) with a reaffirmation that the Key to this Theory of Everything is Lucifer. To many people (who aren't necessarily Satanists), Lucifer represents, the Bringer of Light, a Promethian figure who is actually on the side of humanity in the Struggle for Existence. I can rate with the mythology of being kicked on the butt out of Heaven.
I'll end here with a warning: Watch out for any edited versions of the film. I've seen one on the tube that not only cut out the cute sequence with the little girl, but butchered the sexual images at the conclusion--a desecration that completely demolished the whole point of the movie's theme.
Well, that's it.
HAVE A HAPPY & HORROR-FILLED HALLOWEEN!
Regards,
JEFarrow
Mercurius: The Marriage of Heaven and Earth
Carnival Of Lost Souls
Rosemary's Baby
The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me but Your Teeth Are in My Neck
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Special Collector's Edition)
Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead
Daimonic Reality: A Field Guide to the Otherworld
Luciferian Witchcraft
Movie Review: Some books are dangerous...
Summary: 5 Stars
"Some books are dangerous, Mr. Corso..."
Meet Dean Corso, a short and thin type with greasy hair, goatee, trenchcoat, and a Lucky Strike dangling from his lips. His business is books, antique books, and visits estates to appraise rare volumes... Seems simple enough, his knowledge on the subject is encyclopedic, but in a way that seems to be the extent of it. He comes off as a man who can rattle off the catalogue number, how many copies exist, and of course, their value. But he comes off as the kind of man who probably hasn't actually read anything for quite some time. It's a business, and Corso is a scoundrel, eagerly waiting to rip off anyone who employs him...
Enter Boris Balkan, an aging scholar who has dedicated his life's work to the Devil. Well, Balkan was lucky enough to acquire a very valuable volume just before the previous owner hangs himself. That is the way of things, Balkan has just completed his vast demonic library with the forbidden volume The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a book whose author was burned alive for protecting this ancient grimoire. An author who was rumored to collaborate with Lucifer himself, so you can imagine that Balkan is giddy to have such a treasure. But he enlists the aid of Corso to authenticate the book, trsuting a man who can be bought by cold hard cash. Corso is sent to Europe to compare The Nine Gates with the two remaining copies... But not without the previous owner's wife trying to snag the book for herself, and Corso's best friend ends up dead...
Sex and Sects and Satan!
What a wonderful thing, to watch something that combines two of my favorite passions: old books and the cinema. Based on the novel The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte, this film weaves a fantastic mystery. The first-person style of the film allows the viewer to only discovers the clues when Corso does, which means we are in the dark as much as he is. The film does not give anything away and remains ambiguous throughout, which is a rare treat because mysteries these days tend to reveal who the killer is in advance, instead this plays like an old nickel and dime trash detective novel or classic noir. In fact, this is the kind of story I could see being told with fedoras and five o' clock shadow, luscious women on the knee while pounding a glass of scotch. Well, scratch the fedoras, everything else is here. This truly is a modern-day film noir, our protagonist is sleazy, he likes money and femme fatales. The entire story revolves around him, there is not a scene he is not involved in. Johnny Depp does a great job in portraying this half-wit bibliophile. Other treats include dark brunettes, mysterious blondes, tales of orgy cults, and the devil!
I've never listened to it, but I don't need an audio commentary to tell you that the color scheme is brilliant. If this movie were filmed in Smell-O-Vision, it would constantly reek of wormy parchment and decaying and musty leather and wood. Everything has an earthy and organic glow to it, lots of burgandy and browns, the atmosphere it creates is almost physically palpable. The music varies from quirky to sinister, playing both with and against the atmosphere. The idea of sinister books played out in a rich milieau of money, women, and murder. This is perhaps one of the most underrated films, especially in Polanski's catalogue.
- M.
Movie Review: A perfect balance between the occult and psychological thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is vintage Polanski: there is little moral certitude, even if you are dealing with Satan, ruthless and evil acolytes, and a con man, expertly acted by Depp. Instead, you find a coherent and frightening journey of discovery and ambiguity. Depp is charged with examining the authenticity of some rare books, which is his profession, though he is also an unscrupulous and sleazy near-thief. As with all great actors, his every gesture exudes his personal confusion, ambition, and cynical humor - a complete personality and even an entire environment.
After witnessing a number of alarming crimes, he single-mindedly pursues his task (for which he is handsomely paid) and blithely ignores the destruction and murderous detritus as if walking though an obstacle course. Along the way, he keeps running into a mysterious and very beautiful woman, who seems to be protecting him, yet also playfully mocking him before disappearing only to reappear in dangerous moments. Looking not quite human yet vulnerable to injury, she seems to enjoy the evolution of Depp's character in a violent, unpredictable direction. There is a frightening scene where she annoints him with her blood. And the book: the more he discovers, the deeper he gets in becoming almost a direct participant in the antique illustrations in the book, which he scrutinizes as more manuscripts come to light. Depp's character emerges as something more than he appeared to be, though entirely lacking in simple definition. It is truly masterful.
The most beautiful aspect of the film is the sense - the feeling - of ominous mystery that pervades it. In other words, there are many clues that must be interpreted, and the viewer never reaches the point of saying, "oh, I get it", which in lesser films is followed by "that's it?" I found this delightfully fascinating and evocative, particularly as much of it takes place in a region similar to the one I currently live in in France. Typical of Polanski, this elevates the film to a higher art than other occult films, much as Rosemary's Baby did. The mood of the film is completely consistent and demands (and deserves) the viewer's full attention.
Warmly recommended. It is one of the best films I have seen in some time.
Movie Review: Just awesome...
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't understand why some people don't like this film, but I guess we all like different things--some can't do without the "fast pace" and special effects, but I am a bit older and this film worked for me--I had no problem with the "pace", it was what I'd call normal, every-day pace--why does everything have to be like a computer game anymore? Sheesh. I loved the atmosphere, all the European settings added to the enjoyment for me. I also am a true bibliophile, so I love anything having to do with books, esp rare ones. I thought the story was very interesting, and kept me guessing. Quite a good mystery. I also think that ALL of the actors did a great job. The film had an interesting "message"--and I hope this doesn't give anything away--that you cannot "summon" Satan--rather, "he" summons "you" (ceremonial magicians, take note!). Some say there were unanswered questions, but I found everything to be answered--it just takes some scrutiny. For instance, who is "Green Eyes"? Well, we know she has supernatural abilities-- she can be seen gliding down stairs and also from a balcony. And why did she "mark" Johnny Depp's forehead with blood? And why is she the one who provides the vital information? I think the answer is clear, but you have to understand something most don't know about "Lucifer." I have always enjoyed the films of Roman Polanski, and this film is certainly no exception.