9½ Weeks

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9½ Weeks
File:Nineweeksposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Adrian Lyne
Produced by Mark Damon
Sidney Kimmel
Zalman King
Antony Rufus-Isaacs
Screenplay by Sarah Kernochan
Zalman King
Patricia Louisanna Knop
Based on 9½ Weeks
by Elizabeth McNeill
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Music by Jack Nitzsche
Cinematography Peter Biziou
Edited by Caroline Biggerstaff
Ed Hansen
Tom Rolf
Mark Winitsky
Production
company
Distributed by MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Release dates
February 20, 1986 (1986-02-20)
Running time
112 minutes (Theatrical cut)
117 minutes (Video)
Country United States
France
Language English
Budget $17 million
Box office $106,734,844

9½ Weeks is an 1986 erotic romantic drama film directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke. It is based on the memoir of the same name by Elizabeth McNeill, about a New York City art gallery employee who has a brief yet intense affair with a mysterious Wall Street broker. The film was completed in 1984 but not released until February 1986.

The film was a box office disappointment in the United States, grossing only less than $7 million at the box office on a $17 million budget. It also received mixed reviews at the time of its release. However the film was a huge success internationally, particularly in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom making $100 million worldwide.[1] It has also acquired a large fanbase on video and DVD and has developed a cult following.[2]

The film spawned a direct-to-video sequel, Another 9½ Weeks (1997) and a direct-to-video prequel The First 9½ Weeks (1998).

Plot

The title of the film refers to the duration of a relationship between Wall Street arbitrageur John Gray (Mickey Rourke) and divorced SoHo art gallery employee Elizabeth McGraw (Kim Basinger). John initiates and controls the various experimental sexual practices of this volatile relationship to push Elizabeth's boundaries. In doing so, Elizabeth experiences a gradual downward spiral toward emotional breakdown.

Elizabeth first sees John in New York City where she grocery shops and again at a street market where she decides against buying an expensive scarf. John wins her heart when he eventually produces that scarf. They start dating, and Elizabeth is increasingly subjected to John's behavioral peculiarities; he blindfolds Elizabeth, who is at first reluctant to comply with his sexual fantasy demands. Yet she sees him as loving and playful. He gives her an expensive gold watch, and instructs her to use it to think about him at noon. She takes this imperative even further by masturbating at her workplace at the designated time. However, he ultimately confuses Elizabeth by his reluctance to meet her friends despite the intimacy of their sexual relations.

Elizabeth's confusion about John increases when he leaves her alone at his apartment. She examines his closet until she discovers a photograph of him with another woman. John asks her if she went through his stuff, declaring that he will punish her. Their ensuing altercation escalates into sexual assault until she blissfully concedes to his struggle to overpower her. Their sexual intensity grows as they start having sex in public places.

Elizabeth's heightened need for psychosexual stimulation drives her to stalk John to his office and to obey his injunction to cross-dress herself for a rendezvous. On leaving the establishment, two men hurl a homophobic slur when they mistake John and Elizabeth for a gay couple. A fight ensues. Elizabeth picks up a knife from one of the attackers and stabs one of them in the buttocks and both attackers flee. After the fight, Elizabeth reveals a wet tank-top and has sex onsite with John with intensely visceral passion. Following this encounter, John's sexual games acquire sadomasochistic elements.

Rather than satisfying or empowering Elizabeth, such experiences intensify her emotional vulnerability. While meeting at a hotel room, John blindfolds her. A prostitute starts caressing Elizabeth as John observes them. The prostitute removes Elizabeth's blindfold and starts working on John. Elizabeth violently intervenes, and flees the hotel, John pursuing her. They run until they find themselves in an adult entertainment venue. Moments later, John and Elizabeth gravitate towards each other, finding themselves interlocked in each other's seemingly inescapable embrace.

The following morning, John senses that he will never see her again. He attempts to share with her details about his life. Elizabeth tells him that it is too late as she leaves the apartment. John begins his mental countdown to 50, hoping she will come back by the time he is finished.

Cast

Reception

In a preview screening of the film for 1,000 people, all but 40 walked out. Of the 40 who filled out cards, 35 said they hated it.[1] 9½ Weeks has a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews.[3]

The film was championed by some critics. Roger Ebert praised the film, giving it three and a half stars out of four, stating: "A lot of the success of 9½ Weeks is because Rourke and Basinger make the characters and their relationship convincing." He further elaborated by saying that their relationship was believable, and unlike many other characters in other erotic films at that time, the characters in this movie are much more real and human.[4]

The film was nominated for three categories at the 1986 Golden Raspberry Awards, Worst Actress (Kim Basinger, who lost to Madonna for Shanghai Surprise), Worst Original Song ("I Do What I Do" by Jonathan Elias, John Taylor, Michael Des Barres, which lost to "Love or Money" from Under the Cherry Moon), and Worst Screenplay (Patricia Louisianna Knop, Zalman King, Sarah Kernochan, which lost to Howard the Duck). The film gained a huge following on home video, and regardless of its reception, both Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke became huge stars.

Over time, some critics have warmed to the film and audiences gave it somewhat of a legacy thanks to its success in the rental market. It performed very well in Europe, particularly in Italy, France and also in Latin America. Its success in France was so strong that it played for five years at a Paris cinema, earning approximately $100 million.[5]

Soundtrack and score

The main single released from the 9½ Weeks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was "I Do What I Do", performed by Duran Duran bassist John Taylor, giving his first solo singing performance during a hiatus in Duran Duran's career. The song reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #42 on the UK Singles Chart. Music for the score was composed by Taylor and Jonathan Elias. Original music for the movie was also written by Jack Nitzsche, but his compositions are not included on the soundtrack.

The soundtrack also included tracks from Luba, Bryan Ferry, Dalbello, Corey Hart, Joe Cocker, Devo, Eurythmics and Stewart Copeland. Winston Grennan's reggae "Savior" as well as Jean Michel Jarre's "Arpegiator", played during the sex scene on the stairs in the rain, were not included on the record.

Home Entertainment Releases

In 1998, Warner Bros. released an "uncut, uncensored version" on DVD that was 117 minutes.[6] The film was released on the Blu-ray format in the United States on March 6, 2012.

Derivative works

Sequel and prequel

In 1997, a sequel appeared direct-to-video called Another 9½ Weeks, starring Mickey Rourke and Angie Everhart and directed by Anne Goursaud. In 1998, a straight-to-video prequel was made called The First 9½ Weeks that did not include either original lead actor.

Parody

A parody to the original film, 9 ½ Ninjas!, was released in 1991.[7]

See also

Further reading

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References

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  3. 9½ Weeks at Rotten TomatoesTemplate:Accessdate
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External links