The Ninth Gate. (1999) Directed by Roman Polanski. From the novel "El Club Dumas" by Arturo Perez-Reverte.

"Even Hell has its heroes, señor." Pablo Cenezia.

Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) is a bookman. He searches out and acquires rare books for anyone rich enough to afford him. Given the obsessive nature of bibliophiles (and here I speak from personal experience) his services are in high demand, and he is held in low regard.

Antiquing of any kind is a little like being a raven, you scratch around, but you really are just waiting for someone to die. That is when things are most likely to shake loose from their owners, as the heirs are grief stricken and do not fully realize what they have.

Corso is hired by Boris Balkan (Frank Langella) to authenticate a very rare tome; The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, written in 1666. The author allegedly wrote it after inspecting the Devil's Bible, written by the Prince of Darkness himself. It is an instruction manual for summoning Lucifer himself. Only three copies exist, and Balkan wants his copy compared to the other two. He is convinced there is only one genuine copy. ("What, your copy doesn't work?" Corso)

He travels to Portugal. Victor Fargas (Jack Taylor) is a nobleman rich in heritage and gentility, poor in coin and furniture. He graciously allows Corso to examine the book, and the detective makes a discovery. The engravings are not identical. In one a monk holds two keys in his left hand, in the other copy, they are in his right. Each book has three engravings of nine that differ. Each of the "different" ones has a signature LCF.

Three books, three different engravings, a total of nine; could this be the clue Corso has been looking for? Perhaps. Someone is definitely interested in the engravings; interested enough to kill the old man, rip out the engravings from his book, and try to burn the rest of it. And who is this mysterious girl (Emmanuel Seigner) who saves him from muggers and seems to have a very good grasp of where he is going next?

The last book is in Paris. The Baroness Kessler (Barbara Jefford) is the last owner, and like Balkan, she is a devout believer in the devil.

Baroness Kessler: My latest work: "The Devil: History and Myth" - a kind of biography. It will be published next year.
Dean Corso: Why the devil?
Baroness Kessler: I saw him one day. I was fifteen years old, and I saw him as plain as I see you now. Very elegant, very handsome. It was love at first sight.
Dean Corso: 300 years ago, that would get you burned at the stake.
Baroness Kessler: 300 years ago I wouldn't have said it!

At first, she refuses him, because she figures out who his employer must be. But later, after several cat and mouse games with Leiana Telfer (Lena Olin) the widow of Balkan's copies first owner, she relents, and allows Corso to examine the tome. You know this is not going to bode well for her health in the long run.

This is Polanski's first project in five years, and it is a classic Polanski effort. It is identifiable both by its strengths; strong theatrical elements, rich storylines, a visceral emotional response and steadily building suspense, and by its weaknesses, a plot that seems to wander, plot elements that seem unsupported, and ultimately, unresolved mysteries. It screams "Polanski's back!" Now the question is, is this the good news?

I rather liked the film. I find I have a patience for certain directors to unfold the story at their own pace. Polanski is one, Ang Lee is another. Most criticism of this movie seems to focus on the slow pace. I wonder if the fault is with the director or with his American audiences ever shortening attention spans, their voracious appetite for fast twitch nerve satiating action.

Something I am less forgiving of is the way this movie leaves several questions totally unanswered; who killed Fargas, Bernie, and the Baroness? Is the girl a mortal agent? Something else? Who does she work for?

And the movie has an ambiguous ending. I can forgive that, it is a cool sort of ambiguity. But questions are like jalapenos in chili; a few add spice, too many, and you get burned.

The acting is brilliant; Depp of course is incredible. Langella and Jefford make suitably sinister Satanists; they share a weird elation when discussing the Enemy. My only complaints at all are Lena Olin as Telfer; she was a bit plastic in her neurosis, and Emmanuelle Seigner. Well, she is married to Polanski, so I guess that one was destined to happen. I think she tried a little too hard to be enigmatic; and what was with her shoes and socks? Do demons not know how to match? Also, the movie lacks a hero per se. Corso is the closest thing, and he is far from a paladin. If he is the purest soul in the movie, it is a very dark film indeed.

Anyway, while there are a few rough spots this is all together a great brooding little mystery. Satanic cults have been done to death in movies, but this, this was something new and different, and well worth watching.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age