Tags:
Film: The Ninth Gate
Year: 1999
Director: Roman Polanski
Writer: John Brownjohn, Enrique Urbizu and Roman Polanski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella and Lena Olin
Review:
This was a film that I remember watching when it hit the movie channels and I loved it. There was something with this mystery that sucked me in. I love the idea of this book and trying to authentic it as well as the cult that is interested in it as well. My first watch with a critical eye was for the Podcast Under the Stairs’ Summer Challenge Series. I’ve now given it another one to cover with my wife, Jaime, for Depp Dive.
Synopsis: a rare book dealer, while seeking out the last two copies of a demon text, gets drawn into a conspiracy with supernatural overtones.
We start this with a man committing suicide. He writes a letter, before ending his life. We then meet Dean Corso (Johnny Depp). He is looking at a book collection for a family. The father had a stroke and he’s unable to walk or speak. He tells them what it is worth and their eyes get big. There’s a four volume of Don Quixote that Corso purchases before leaving. The numbers he told them are exaggerated for the collection, making it difficult for his competitors.
He then goes to a lecture done by Boris Balkan (Frank Langella). Corso notices a girl, Emmanuelle Seigner, in the audience and she looks at him. Corso dozes off and must be woken up by Balkan. The reason that Corso is there is confirm the copy Balkan recently purchased of this rare book called The Ninth Gate is the real version. There are supposedly three copies in the world. He wants to make sure they all are authenticated and if there’s are any differences. Corso takes Balkan’s copy to reference. He seeks out Bernie (James Russo), a rare book dealer, as well as other contacts. This will take him over to Europe where the other two copies are held in Portugal and France.
The problem is that he is being followed by Liana Telfer (Lena Olin). Her husband was the one who killed himself and he sold the book to Balkan before his death. She wants it back as it wasn’t his to give away. The girl from the lecture is also following him. Corso is unsure of her motives as her responses are cryptic. There is also a strange black man who is after him as well. This all leads him on a dark journey of discovery of the truth about this book and the cult that wants it.
That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the story. Before watching this for the Summer Series, I’d bet that I hadn’t seen this in 20 years. I wasn’t sure if it was going to hold up. I read the book that is the source material for this movie off a recommendation from a podcaster I’m a big fan of, which would be Mr. Watson. It was roughly 20 pages that I realized it. The mystery of this film is something that sucks me in.
Now that I have that out of the way, the book that Corso is looking into I find fascinating. The pictures in it have an eerie feel to it and feel like something from a deck of tarot. It is even cooler that he figures out each of the books have variations to them and that there’s technically one true copy. How this information is discovered piques my interest to see where it leads to.
There’s also a cult we learn about around the middle of the story and that is something else that I’m a fan of. There is something creepy about it and what they’re doing in secret that I am intrigued by. What happens to start off the climax is what I envision a group like this with these types of people in would be. This film does take more of potential supernatural feel than the novel. It also is darker if I’m honest.
That should be enough for the story so let’s go over to the acting performances. I thought it was solid. This is still one of my favorite Depp roles. This is a more subdued role from him. There is a bit of sleaziness in him. Despite that, he’s still a good enough guy. His job was something that intrigued me and would be a career I’d love to do, especially the investigation part. Langella is solid here. He’s a catalyst to start the story and then disappears for a love stretch. Olin is attractive. She’s a baroness and being as rich as she is adding arrogance to the role. Seigner is interesting as she is mysteriously always there. There’s a supernatural element to her. I’m glad that this is downplayed to the point where you aren’t sure if it is real. We do see her topless as well. The rest of the cast rounded out the film for what was needed.
Let’s then finish with filmmaking. I’ll start with the cinematography, which is good. It could be hard to focus on this character checking copies of the book, but they do it in a way where it is interesting. I’d credit how this is shot and the framing. That is something I expect though seeing that this is made by Roman Polanski. This is limited for the effects that we get. There is blood that looked practical. There was CGI with fire, but it is fine for that. They also do something with a character’s eyes. That was a good touch, especially since you aren’t sure what you saw. The setting being in Europe is good. There is that old world feel. I’d also say that the soundtrack was fine for what was used.
In conclusion, this was one that I liked back in the day and it held up for me after multiple viewings. This is a later in the career of Polanski movie, which does make it problematic. Ignoring that, I like the mystery of this book and what Corso finds the deeper he gets. Being that there’s a cult involved as well, you have me on board. I’d say that it is well-made, with credit to the cinematography, framing and setting. This does run over two hours, but it doesn’t feel like it. It is a slow burn that builds at a good pace. I’d recommend this to fans of mysteries that are light on horror elements.
My Rating: 8.5 out of 10