Nine

Nine what? Not big stars, there are only 8. Not musical numbers, there are more than 9. It was, after all, a Tony-winning Broadway play before it was a movie. Not complex relationships, there are only 7 or 8. So why the Nine title? I believe it is all about the magic of being a kid - a 9 year old kid.

Throughout the movie the agonizing protagonist has flashbacks to when he was 9. As a carefree, mischievous boy, Guido, was controlled by his faith and his mother. The adult Guido converses with his dead mother who is still a big influence in his life. Daniel Day Lewis plays the torture son, all grown up, and Sophia Loren is a delight as the mother.

This movie is also about the craziness of making movies. The egos involved, the money, the players, and the process. Hype and Hollywood. Nothing is what it seems. Although the story takes place in 1960's Italy, many similarities still exist.

Marion Cotillard plays the long-suffering wife and Penelope Cruz plays the mistress and muse. Judi Dench plays the costume mistress and closest adviser, and Nicole Kidman plays the bombshell star. Kate Hudson plays a feisty American fashion journalist, and Stacy Ferguson (Fergie) plays the sexy boyhood memory.

Bottom line, it is only when Guido discovers the joy of his youth that he can climb back in the directors chair with success. A great lesson for all of us. If we can find childhood joy in our jobs, we'll never "work" another day in our lives. Or something like that.

Watch this movie with someone who loves a good musical - or Italian style - or movies about making movies.

Australia

This is really 2 stories. There is the story of the cattle drive and then the story of the invasion. There are a few subplots going on behind all these as well, but everything is easily followed.

In a way, it is part "City Slickers" and part "Pearl Harbor" both with an accent.

There are a few big name actors here, but the real star is the young Brandon Walters. He was fantastic here. Is the really the central figure of the story too, not the box office names. This is a story about HAVING a story. In the end, all we really own is our story. I like that concept.

Hugh Jackman is the Drover who makes good on his promises and wins the day in the end. No spoilers there, you see it coming miles away. Nicole Kidman is almost the same character she played in "Far And Away" with a few subtle differences. But, she pulls it off well.

The bad guys are pretty bad, but not totally fearsome. David Wenham is the worst of them. Don't you hate it when the good guys can't prove the bad guy really is the villain?

Watch this movie with plenty of popcorn and a few family members around for good measure.