The Ninth Gate

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1. ›Film Review: Polanski's 'The Ninth Gate' (1999) Revisited@janenightshade2650d

   

   Johnny Depp gets a little devilish in The Ninth Gate, a hybrid detective story/Satanic thriller by Roman Polanski.

   The Ninth Gate (1999), directed by Roman Polanski; starring Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, and Emanuelle Seigner.

   The Ninth Gate is a difficult film full of symbolism, but it’s not inaccessible if you pay attention. I first viewed it about ten years ago and didn't like it very much (in common with a lot of critics who slammed it when it was first released.) I recently watched it again and have changed my opinion; it's actually a good, but not great, entry into the Polanski canon.

   In this film, we see Polanski returning to the world of devil-worshipping, the same subject that he used to make his name as a director. This film, however, is significantly different in tone and plot from his ground-breaking 60s masterpiece, Rosemary’s Baby (1968). It's got a lot going for it, but there is one glaring flaw that keeps it from being all that it could be (read on).

   Depp plays a sleazeball rare book dealer from New York named Dean Corso. He is hired by a fabulously wealthy book collector named Boris Balkan (played by the always-excellent Frank Langella), who has just purchased a very rare 17th Century book on Satanism, entitled The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows. Only three copies of the book exist in the entire world.

   Balkan wants Corso to examine the other two books to see if there are any discrepancies among the three copies. He offers Corso an enormous sum to complete the task. Corso agrees to the deal and takes possession of Balkan’s copy. He leafs through the book and notes that it has nine mystical-looking engravings depicting various oblique occult scenes, similar to the imagery on tarot cards. He leaves the rare book with his partner Bernie, who has a secure hiding place in his book shop.

   Soon, however, Bernie turns up dead, hanging upside down in the same manner depicted in one of the engravings. Corso grabs the book and returns to his apartment, where he encounters Lianna Tilfer (Lena Olin), the widow of the man who sold the book to Balkan. Lianna tries to get the book back but doesn’t succeed. Corso then travels to Europe in search of the other two books.

   One book is owned by a collector named Fargas in Portugal, and the other one is owned by a Baroness Kessler in Paris. Corso visits both collectors and is allowed to compare both books with Balkan’s copy. He discovers that three of the engravings differ in each book in small ways, i.e. a castle is drawn with three turrets instead of four.

   In Portugal, Corso also consults with two book sellers, the Cineza bothers, who know the Nine Gates book very well. They tell him that the different images were created by Lucifer himself, who signed them “LCF.” Corso later realizes that combining the three LCF-signed images from each book will create a complete, alternate set of the nine engravings.

   He tells Balkan about his discovery. Later, both Fargas and the Baroness are murdered, and their books destroyed, but with the LCF engravings ripped out and stolen. Meanwhile, Corso is stalked and menaced by a mysterious black man with platinum hair. He also meets a strange young woman with no name (Emanuelle Seigner, aka the current Mrs. Polanski) who helps him fend off attacks from the stalker and anyone else who gets in the way, as Corso tries to solve the riddle of the book. Importantly, "The Girl" demonstrates supernatural powers in one brief scene that's easy to miss.

   In the end, after a wild journey involving many murders, devil-worshippers, and occult practioners, Corso does find the missing LCF engravings and combines all nine of them to solve the riddle of the book. Without revealing spoilers, let’s just say that he becomes a different person all together after combining the engravings.

   The Ninth Gate is an intriguing puzzle that combines a film noir detective story with the Satanic thriller genre (much like Alan Parker’s Angel Heart (1987), which it greatly resembles.) It features plenty of the Polanski claustrophobic style: for example there’s a scene in Bernie’s below-street book shop, where his killers’ legs can be seen pacing back and forth through the street-level top window, while Bernie and Corso converse obliviously.

   The score is fantastic; it pays its respects to Jerry Goldsmith’s legendary Omen score without ripping it off. Depp turns in a decent performance as Corso and most of the major supporting performances are excellent, with a special shout-out to Barbara Jefford as the Baroness.

   The Fatal Flaw

   There is one glaring fly in the ointment, however, and that is Mrs. Polanski in her role as the mysterious “Girl.” She’s just awful. To put it bluntly, the orca who plays the title role in Free Willy has better acting chops than Emanuelle Seigner. She’s supposed to be playing a smoldering, seductive temptress and she ends up just looking like a bored dilettante with a case of heartburn. Her delivery is so flat it could be a cornfield in Kansas. Seigner's filmography in the IMDb confirms that almost all of her “acting” credits are in films directed by...get ready for it...Roman Polanski. I guess love truly is blind.

   Seigner's performance isn’t a total dealbreaker for this film, but it does make the difference between a good film and a great one. Polanski could have cast a sexy, beautiful actress who actually can act — like Theresa Russell or Uma Thurman — and The Ninth Gate would have been close to a home run.

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2. ›The Occult, Video 115: The Occult Symbolism of Polanski's Ninth Gate@styxhexenhammer3025d

   

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   "Ninth Gate" by Polanski has its share of symbolism.

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3. ›📽 THE NINTH GATE [Roman Polanski, 1999] - film review by Mandibil@mandibil3561d

   

   Polanski obviously has a taste for the "grey zone" between the natural and the so called super-natural and most clearly explored in Rosemary´s Baby. The director has himself stated that he does not believe in the occult or supernatural, but still he likes to work with that theme. This is an interesting angle for me personally, since i am sort of on the same wavelength there. My interest lies in the effect that the actions of those who do believe in occultism and mysticism, has on their surroundings. This film is a loose adaptation of a book called "Le Club Dumas".

   

   A vintage book dealer Corso (Johnny Depp) is offered a large amount of money by a dedicated collector to go to Europe to locate and investigate the genuineness of two additional copies of a rare book he has recently acquired, that can possibly invoke the devil. While researching the books he finds out that they are not identical, but the nine engravings inside are slightly different from each other.

   

   As he delves deeper and deeper into the mysteries of the books he finds himself being watched and former owners of the two additional books die as soon as he has researched their copy. A beautiful girl who follows him suddenly helps him when he is in danger and she seems to have supernatural powers.

   

   He finally realizes that all three books are necessary to understand how to use them for their evil purpose. He finds out that the collector that offered him the job is not exactly innocent in the happenings and that the wife of a deceased owner of one of the books is also involved in a cult that intend to use the power of the books.

   

   After the final showdown Corso realizes that the real truth about the books has yet to be discovered and the girl that follows him around has a special influence on him and the fate of the books.

   

   I like old books and the mystique and history that surrounds them. They are sources of both great good and great evil. People are seduced by words and can easily be deceived if the are prone to it. The movie starts out with some great tracking shots and has a light film noir feel to it that is carried through. I would have loved an even darker and grittier feel but it will do. Depp does a fine but unimpressive job. I would have liked a deeper and more involved character and loved to see him get emotionally drawn into the story. He basically stays the same person and acts like a detective, not a book dealer.

   

   The plot is rather banal and transparent. It runs along the same lines as tons of other movies in the same genre. The tricks the director uses feel too much old school and safe instead of daring or inventive. It is beautifully shot and flows well, but it seems too tame to really get you involved.

   

   The side story with the girl is perhaps the most noteworthy part. She is likely the key to unraveling how to understand the underlying plot. She seems to be everywhere Corso needs her, but still she does not reveal her true identity ... until the last scene i suppose. Then we know where the real potential devil is and how it works among us. Evil will always try to cloak itself as an innocent sheep and suck the lifeblood out of you before you realize what is going on.

   

   This film is ok entertainment for a late night flick when your in the mood for some light entertainment. It does not really affect you emotionally and the characters do not develop in any real sense. So overall it is hardly a recommendable film to watch.

   

   Rating: 5/10

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