9 Songs	Image courtesy of Revolution Films
Whoever calls the film 9 SONGS an erotically sensual rock & roll movie is out of their minds. First of all, just because the movie is full of gratuitous sex doesn’t make it sensual or erotic. Second, even though the film includes footage from rock concerts doesn’t make it a “rock & roll film.” The music fails to connect with the sex, and the sex fails to connect the story.  Maybe I just had higher expectations because his previous film Wonderland was great; but, writer and director Michael Winterbottom completely misses the mark with this venture into the sex arena. In his latest film, 9 SONGS, he subjects us to the story of Matt and Lisa’s boring sex life; and apparently, sex is all these two characters ever had. Unfortunately, what Winterbottom forgets is that in any relationship, sex is only half of the story; and, the sex half of Matt and Lisa’s story in 9 SONGS has a plot worse than most 70’s porn. The basic premise of 9 SONGS has the main character Matt (Kieran O’Brien) reminiscing about the relationship he had with former girlfriend Lisa (Margo Stilley) told through a series of flashbacks; and, from the first time Matt opens his mouth, you can tell that he misses the sex more than he misses Lisa. Every one of Matt’s memories consists of cunnilingus, fellatio, boob shots, cum shots, and just plain, old-fashioned screwing. Of course, the graphic sexual depiction of Matt and Lisa completely overshadows the rest of the film; and, Winterbottom fails to fill in the rest of the gaps.  His inability to create a plausible story around these characters makes the events surrounding Matt and Lisa’s sex life seem absurd and obsolete. Any dialogue between these two characters is ridiculous, any action outside the bedroom is pointless, and the remaining pieces of their story are in disarray. At times, Matt’s flashbacks are made out of so much Swiss cheese that you have to wonder if his memories are still under the influence of all the drugs he and Lisa did when they were together. When Matt is not having flashbacks, he is comparing his relationship with Lisa to the icebergs he studies in Antarctica. Even though most of his analogies do not make any sense, Matt eventually hits the nail on the head...just not in the way Winterbottom intended. Ironically, Matt’s analogy about “claustrophobia and agoraphobia [being] in one place – like two people in bed,” refers more to the movie than it refers to Matt and Lisa. On one hand, you are so overwhelmed with close up images of the couple having sex that you start to feel claustrophobic. Yet, at the same time, you also seem to develop a sudden case of agoraphobia from all of the gaping holes Winterbottom leaves in the film’s narrative. Also, because Winterbottom allows sex, and sex alone, to become the central focus of the movie, the graphic images of Matt and Lisa in bed are going to be the only part of this film anyone is ever going to remember.  I have to give Winterbottom credit for showing the unglamorous side of sex; but sadly, by doing so, he removes all of the emotion, eroticism, and sensuality of Matt and Lisa’s love affair. The one redeeming quality of 9 SONGS is the music. Concert footage of such groups as the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, the Dandy Warhols, Franz Ferdinand, Primal Scream, Michael Nyman, Super Furry Animals, Elbow, and the Von Bondies are what save this film from being a complete waste of time.  Unfortunately, I was really disappointed to see Winterbottom downplay such a great soundtrack.  This this amazing concert footage is ruined because it sounds like someone accidentally pushed the “mono” button on the remote – we see it in stereo, but we don’t hear it in stereo. These 9 songs are supposed to lay the foundation of Matt and Lisa’s emotional journey; but, somehow Winterbottom’s muted indie rock is unable to convey anything other than a desire to crank up the volume. 9 SONGS is not a film for everyone. Few will be able to stand back, look at the film as a whole, and see where Michael Winterbottom is trying to go with his sexual exploration of relationships. Others, however, will only see 9 SONGS as a porno because of its graphic sexual images.
Strangely enough, the latter of the two should not completely discourage Winterbottom; because, the last time I checked, indie rock + lots of graphic sex = every teenage boy’s fantasy.  © Kelly Bartley 2005		Image courtesy of Revolution Films