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9 is one of those films that’s difficult to put into words. It’s not surprising that most people have never heard about it - it’s a film from writer/director Shane Acker, whose only previous claim to fame was working on visual effects for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, and two short films, including The Astounding Talents of Mr. Grenade, which has a running time of less than two minutes.
That being said, that Acker is a rising talent is indisputable. With the help of Tim Burton as producer, he has turned his short film, 9, into an original and thoughtful feature length film, which I predict will become something of a cult classic in coming years.
The film opens in a post-apocalyptic world. The details of why humanity has become extinct are left in mysterious circumstances, and the only human we see in the intro is a scientist who in some ways parallels a Dr. Frankenstein, bringing his creations to life. When 9, a living rag-doll creation of the scientist, first awakens, he finds himself in a world void of humanity. The un-named location is nothing but a barren and burnt wasteland, with signs of previous life, but nobody there to clean up the mess – like a giant dumping ground. 9 soon discovers there are others like him, numbered 1 to 8. These creatures are all that is left of genuine life on an earth that has become overrun by machines, which seem to have only one goal: destroy.
The plot unfolds in rapid succession, and it’s easy to see that it was adapted from a short film. It can seem somewhat formulaic in places however, each time the dolls come face to face with the overall story, like a snowball gathering size and speed as it rolls down a mountainside. Acker’s experience with digital effects is obvious – the film is visually stunning. But it also has a heart to it which makes the story and characters engaging in a rare way.
With what seems to be an unoriginal concept (Terminator ring any bells?) the film proves that it has a life of its own. Difficult questions are raised: What is life? What is worth fighting for? Do we delve too deeply into technology for our own good? These are the questions the audience should be asking themselves both while watching the film, and afterwards. Without giving away the ending, I will say that 9 somehow manages to answer these questions, and not answer them at the same time.
9 is one of those rare films which brings everything together, with every scene having a purpose, and an ending that satisfies the audience's desire for the culmination of the plot, but also leaves an openness that means they think about the film even after they walk out of the theatre, or turn off the DVD player. This is a film that has not been heavily publicised, but is probably one of the most entertaining, original and intelligent pieces of cinema you will see this year.
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