9
Eccentrically created, Shane Acker’s ext to the pint size Academy winning docu is an attractive cool toon
by Vishal Verma

India release by PVR of a Focus Features release (worldwide) presented in association with Relativity Media of a Jim Lemley / Tim Burton / Timur Bekmambetov production.

Produced by : Lemley, Burton, Bekmambetov, Dana Ginsburg
Co-producers : Jinko Gotoh, Marci Levine
Directed by : Shane Acker
Screenplay : Pamela Pettler
Story : Acker
Genre : Animation
Target Audience : General

Voices:
No. 9 - Elijah Wood
No. 5 - John C. Reilly
No. 7 - Jennifer Connelly
No. 1 - Christopher Plummer
No. 6 - Crispin Glover
No. 2 - Martin Landau
No. 8, Radio Announcer - Fred Tatasciore
Scientist - Alan Oppenheimer
Dictator - Tom Kane
Newscaster - Helen Wilson

Technical Analysis

Director Shane Acker’s striking feature directorial debut, the animated fantasy-adventure "9," is the feature-length expansion of his 2004 Oscar-nominated 11-minute short of the same name, produced by Tim Burton and Russian helmer Timur Bekmambetov (the actioner "Wanted" with Angelina Jolie).

Still short (about 79 minutes) by standards of most movies, "9" is nonetheless a quirky animation, boasting impressive visuals and big-name voice talent Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover & Martin Landau. Set in the too-near future, this apocalyptic tale is based on an interesting premise. Powered and enabled by the invention known as the Great Machine, Design aspects are arresting which confirms Shane’s brilliant abilities.

However, his story of pint-sized humanoids charged with perpetuating "life" on the planet remains trivial as compared to the general setting which is a piece of art on its own.

Unlike before, the numbered colleagues can now talk, and talk they do as they congregate and strategize over how best to cope with the monster, The conflicted but resilient tribe already includes #1 (Christopher Plummer), a domineering war veteran and the group’s longtime leader; #2 (Martin Landau), a kindly but frail inventor; #3 and #4, scholarly twins who communicate nonverbally and mostly with each other; #5 (John C. Reilly), a stalwart and nurturing engineer; #6 (Crispin Glover), an erratic artist beset by visions; #7 (Jennifer Connelly), a brave and self-sufficient warrior; and #8 (Fred Tatasciore), the none-too-bright muscle and enforcer for #1.

The film provides creepy, even haunting moments, especially the sight of the beast's penetrating red eye emerging out of a dusty cloud, and while it's probably too serious and intense for smaller children. Making its impact mostly from its design and assured execution, where visuals are drenched in dusky amber, Acker's work seems poised on the edge between commercial considerations and genuinely eccentric creativity.

The movie gets 3.5 out of 5

One for the eccentric creation

One for the setting, execution

One for the maintaining a proper balance between the push & pull between creative urge & commercial heed.

The rest for the voice over.

The movie losses on being too slender for a story.

The Story

When 9 (The Lord of the Ring’s Elijah Wood) first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must take the offensive if they are to survive, and they must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. As they'll soon come to learn, the very future of civilization may depend on them.

Business Analysis

Eccentrically created, Shane Acker’s ext to the pint size Academy winning docu is an attractive cool toon that is likely to sing its song at the Indian theatres.

Other Credits

Camera (color), Kevin R. Adams; editor, Nick Kenway; music themes, Danny Elfman; score, Deborah Lurie; production designers, Robert J. St. Pierre, Fred Warter; art directors, Christophe Vacher, Adams; art coordinator, Michael T. Verano; set designers, David Chow, Luis G. Hoyos, Franck Louis-Marie; animation director, Joe Ksander; character designer, James Feeley; visual effects supervisor, Jeff Bell; visual effects, Starz Animation; supervising sound editor/sound designer (Dolby Digital/DTS), William Files; re-recording mixers, Gary A. Rizzo, Files; associate producers, Graham Moloy, Lilian Eche, Pierre Urbain; casting, Mindy Marin. Reviewed at Famous Studios, Mumbai on September 07, 2009. Running time: 79 MIN.

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