The Ninth Gate (1999)

Since it is October, I have been trying to post about one or two horror films a day. Let's discuss The Ninth Gate. I love this film and the original source material. Every European I know likes this film, but almost every American I know thinks it is just okay.

Directed by Roman Polanski

Based on the novel, The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte

Music by Wojciech Kilar

Starring Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner, Jack Taylor, Jose Lopez Rodrigo, James Russo, and DAME BARBARA JEFFORD as The Countess.

It is a very European film. Johnny Depp and Frank Langella are more European than American.

I LOVE Wojciech Kilar's score. He is an underrated composer.

I figured it out long before the end. I believe I even might own this film, but I've only watched it once. I would've preferred someone else in the Depp role. Keanu, perhaps?

R3 Yeah, but it is fun. To me, Depp is overshadowed by Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Barbara Jefford, the musical score, and the otherworldliness of the plot.

Interesting cult classic worth rewatching.

R6 A down on his luck book dealer is hired by an eccentric millionaire to find two other copies of a devilish book. As the dealer starts untangling the thread, he realizes he is in way over his head. The film deals with classic literature, Europe, the occult, and the Devil himself.

The climax with Frank Langella is spectacular.

Anyone ever watch “The Sentinel?” 1977

A good film, with a 1960s mood to it that works quite well. Depp, though, is it's shortcoming. Though his only tolerable performance that I have seen, he's only tolerable.

Compare him to Mickey Rourke is the film Angel Heart, featuring a private detective rather than a rare book dealer in over his head in matters of the occult, in which Rourke shines as a poor detective. Depp never rises to the attributes of a rare book dealer, even a not very good one, and plays his role a studied void. He's just a figure around which things happen, with no connection other than chance.

As with good horror films, it starts well plot-wise, and unlike many it ends on a strong note, but the middle part is like a series 9f second scenes from Bond films, wherein Bond drives along the hairpin curves of a precipitous coastal Road en route to a posh casino, a horse race, an art auction, a bull fight at a hacienda...

I like the film more than I should, yet wish I could like it much more. American Depp is a big weak link.

R9 Yes. Angel Heart is another good book and movie

"Since it is October, I have been trying to post about one or two horror films a day."

Fell a bit short of your goal, OP.

R11 This post was made in October

Great film. I don't understand the criticism of Depp's performance though? It's one of his better films alongside Ed Wood, Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas, Black Mass, Donnie Brasco, The Libertine, Edward Scissorhands and Minamata. He maybe a drunken slob now, but Depp was pretty good back then, imo.

I always liked it but felt like it was missing more plot or at least had more of a story to tell and should have been longer. It just feels like it's missing something....

I really enjoyed this movie. I can't decide if it's weird or cute that Polanski cast his own much-younger wife as the Devil.

I felt it stayed out well enough but lost its way and became ridiculous toward the end.

I couldn't get into it. I just don't like Polanski's films, they don't have great suspense to me.