It overstays its welcome by 20 minutes or so, just long enough for us to begin to feel a little silly for having so much fun.
The Ninth Gate (1999)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:84
Fresh:35
Rotten:49
Average Rating:4.9/10
Consensus: Even though the film is stylish and atmospheric, critics say The Ninth Gate meanders aimlessly and is often ludicrous. And despite the advertising, there's hardly any chills.
Runtime: 2 hrs 13 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Synopsis: Based on a novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (THE CLUB DUMAS) and coscripted by director Roman Polanski, THE NINTH GATE was Polanski's first feature after a long break following the release of 1995's... Based on a novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (THE CLUB DUMAS) and coscripted by director Roman Polanski, THE NINTH GATE was Polanski's first feature after a long break following the release of 1995's DEATH AND THE MAIDEN--in between, there was an aborted project that faltered when designated star John Travolta opted out. Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) is a cynical rare books dealer hired by Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), a scholar specializing in books on Satanism, to recover the only two remaining copies (in addition to the one owned by Balkan) of THE NINE GATES OF THE KINGDOM OF SHADOWS, a 17th-century text with cryptic illustrations supposedly contributed by Lucifer himself. Corso's investigation takes him to Europe, where he is pursued by a strange girl (Emmanuelle Seigner) who seemes to assume the role of his guardian angel: Bizarre deaths inspired by the book's morbid illustrations befall all those who come into contact with the book--except himself. This occult mystery should satisfy fans of subtly creepy, stylish tales of the supernatural along the lines of Polanski's own ROSEMARY'S BABY. [More]
Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner
Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner, Barbara Jefford, Jose Lopez Rodero, James Russo
Director: Roman Polanski
Director: Roman Polanski
Screenwriter: John Brownjohn, Roman Polanski, Enrique Urbizu
Producer: Roman Polanski
Composer: Wojciech Kilar
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Reviews for The Ninth Gate
The self-immolating and oblivion-bound Ninth Gate is the kind of film that's going to give satanic cults a bad name.
This film essentially paints itself into a corner from which it can't maneuver to deliver a satisfying ending.
Johnny Depp pots yet another great role and takes full advantage of his ever-expanding talent to present us with yet another unique and engaging performance.
You end up feeling duped for taking a two-hour-plus ride that dumps you in the middle of nowhere.
...Polanski light, glimmers of the old genius playing his cards gleefully, then losing his cool at the end.
The worst occult film to star big-name actors in many years, and a startlingly inept and unsatisfying piece of storytelling.
Early on I thought I could almost smell the sharp must of the leather bindings ... but that scent was just the aroma of middle-brow, art-house Euro-rot, a whiff of decay and hauteur.
On a scene-by-scene basis, it sometimes entertains, but never amounts to anything.
This tale may well weave a more compelling spell on the page; onscreen it's simply ponderous.
This supernatural mystery is an uneventful, drawn-out, and colossally disappointing return to the screen for the once-compelling director.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
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