The Nines

This movie had two strikes against it at the get go, as far as my wife and I were concerned. As much as I really like Ryan Reynolds, I don't like many of the movies he's in -- good actor, bad agent, as far as I'm concerned. And while some of my favorite movies are extremely artistic ("Pi", for example), it's more often the case that I really don't like the artsy films. It makes sense, when you push the boundaries and do something experimental, it's a gamble that will either pay off big or fail miserably.

This movie pays off big. Ryan Reynolds does exceptionally well playing multiple characters, each with his own mannerisms and idiolects. I don't want to give away the movie too much. But, I will say that it's composed of three vignettes which slowly expose a very interesting science fiction mystery, the likes of which I haven't seen since the Matrix. But, unlike most science fiction movies, this movie is very small in scope. It's not epic, it's personal. It explores the very human conflicts of its characters, even while exploring something deeper, broader and more mystical.

The Nines is right up my alley. It might as well have been written by one of my great heroes, Philip K. Dick. I recommend it highly to anyone with a preference for quirky, alternative science fiction stories -- or anyone who likes a taught, well written, character-motivated story, for that matter.