The Man From Another Place

Jun 04

(Source: ameliefilm, via fuuckyeahaudreytautou)

The ninth gate and empty endings.

i just watched roman polanski’s occult thriller The Ninth Gate starring johnny depp.

prior to watching i had heard nothing of this film and i was expecting alot due to the directors fame (not to mention his infamy) and the fact it was starring johnny depp, an actor whom i have always thought of being one of the best living.

I enjoyed the film somewhat, the subject matter is interesting, johnny depp and Emmanuelle Seigner provide an interesting partnership and although being one of Depps worse roles, was well acted.

One problem with the film is that it gives away an important fact about the character known only as “the girl” early in the film, in what i assume was meant to be a subtle hint, this may be overlooked by some by i guessed quickly what the hint signified.

My main problem with the film is that it has what I like to call an “empty ending” where things are not explained in a bid to confuse the audience and leave them asking questions. In some films, this can work spectacularly and is a technique of film which aim to be arty or arthouse, such as Drive, Drives ending was good as it let the audience decide for themselves what happens, whereas in the Ninth Gate, the ending felt added on as i thought the film had already ended 5 minutes before, there is a climax, but then the film continues…only to leave you with an anticlimax and a huge sense of dissapointment.

6/10

if you like this review or have anything to say about it, just let me know how i can improve etc (i know the spellings/grammar isnt perfect but im just not bothered right now, sorry)