The movie is divided into three short stories where the main characters of these stories are played by the same actor and actresses. In all three, the male lead is played by Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder), his female companion (be her his wife, best friend or PR manager) is played by Melissa McCarthy from the Gilmore Girls TV series, and the woman who seems to be driving a wedge between the two is Hope Davis (Arlington Roads). Also featured prominently in two of the three stories and making a brief but profound appearance in the first one is Elle Fanning. At first appearance, these stories are not connected by anything other than the fact that they have the same actors, but it isn't long into the second film that you realize they are connected on a very strange level.
In the first film, "The Prisoner," Reynolds is a big-shot Hollywood TV star for the show Crime Lab (basically CSI), but after a night on cocaine, he is put under house arrest. Oddly enough, the actor's house recently burned down so his public relations firm is going to house him in another client's place. This particular client is actually out of town for six weeks shooting a new reality TV series. Soon McCarthy (his PR manager) has to stay with him to make sure he stays inside, and the next door neighbor, Davis, seems to have developed a crush on Reynolds.
But all isn't as it seems because McCarthy's character and Davis' seem to know each other, or at least know something about Reynolds that he doesn't. Is there some part of his past that he can't remember? Are McCarthy and Davis more to him than just associates? And why does the number nine keep showing up everywhere Reynolds looks?
Unfortunately, many of these questions aren't answered by the time the first film ends, and while you have a better understanding of what exactly is going on by the time The Nines is over, not everything will be revealed, and you can expect a good bit of discussion to crop up during the ending credits.
The second story is "Reality Television" and follows Reynolds as a television writer trying to get his latest project off the ground and on the air. This segment is done like a behind-the-curtain reality TV show with a camera man following Reynolds and his friends around. McCarthy, oddly enough, plays herself, Melissa McCarthy, who is quitting her role on Gilmore Girls to be in the new series. Even her real-world husband Ben Falcone shows up in this segment. Finally there is Davis as the TV executive who is working with Reynolds to get his show through. Also in this episode is little Elle Fanning as an actress on the new show. One of the first connections viewers will see between this short and the previous one is that Reynolds is now playing the very character whose house the previous story takes place in, but by no means do the connections stop there. Once again, something else seems to be happening in Reynolds' world than what comes through on the surface and once again, he is left wondering exactly who he can trust, and once again, the number nine seems to be cropping up.
The final short, "Knowing," seems to be the show that the characters in the previous story were filming. Events that you saw filmed in the last segment appear as if they are actually happening here and this time, you get to see many of the details that aren't revealed (apparently not even to the show's creator). Here Reynolds plays a video game designer (they all but say the game is The Sims), McCarthy is his wife and Fanning is their mute daughter Noelle. After a day of hiking, the trio return to their car to find that its batteries are dead and Reynolds must trek up to the main road in hopes of getting a cell-phone signal. Upon reaching the street, he comes across a hitchhiker (Davis), who eventually decides to help him. This is where many of the show's mysteries start to be revealed and by the end of this segment, while you won't know everything, a lot of the details will become clear.
The special features for The Nines include a behind the scenes featurette called "Summing up The Nines" which gives just a little more insight into exactly what was going on and what it took to make the movie. It is definitely worth watching. Also of interest is a short film by Writer/Director John August called "God" which tells the tale of a woman whose best friend is God. In fact, they talk all the time over the phone. But you see what happens when their relationship gets taken for granted, and exactly why you shouldn't make God mad. Quite frankly, you will either love or be insulted by this short, so you might want to be wary about watching it.
When it comes down to it, I believe The Nines is one of those movies that you have to see at least once, but you will want to see it again immediately afterwards in order to get the full effect. All of the actors show a wide range of characters and Reynolds, whom I had always considered a comedic actor, really pulls out all the stops and shows he can do more. If it isn't considered a mainstream hit, then it will easily develop a cult following. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie if you are in the mood for a good intellectual mind-bender.
