Famed Italo film director Federico Fellini is dead – or is he?
The visionary who’s bizarre visual storytelling and opulent sexual imagery inspired his very own adjective – Felliniesque– is back with a new movie – sort of.
It’s the reimagining of Fellini’s autobiographical masterpiece 8 ½ as movie musical. Based on the hit B’way tuner Nine is coming to the screen from the director of Chicago, Rob Marshall.
Ostensibly the story is the same: Nine follows conflicted film director Guido Contini, who’s having a mid-life creative crisis as he struggles to complete his next film. An extreme womanizer he juggles the women in his life – past, present and future – hoping to find meaning in artful debauchery.
Daniel Day Lewis toplines in the role that made Marcello Mastrioianni famous surrounded by a bevy of all star beauties — Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Fergie and More.
The only true Italian is the incomparable Sophia Loren as Guido’s Mamma despite a key somg exhorting one to "Be Italian" (see trailer).
Nine opens Thanksgiving weekend and is destined to be a very heavy Oscar contender for Best Picture.
POP FYI: The original title 8/12 referred to the number of films Fellini had completed to date- not a scorecard of conquests. His cine alter-ego Guido was a far more busy lover than director.
