Bad marketing has hurt this movie irreversibly. Yes, 9 Songs is sexually explicit. But the presentation of the sex is not at all pornographic. It's realistic. In fact, this is one of the most realistic depictions of a couple's love life I have ever seen. And, let's face it, this is what guys are nostalgic of when they are somewhere far away from it. True, there is no actual plot line, but the film is mainly built on recollections of images, not in a plot. After all, at your early twenties, your life revolves around sex, music and drugs and there's not really any dramatic element that is movie material.
And yes, the film could do with less sex, but here comes the experimental aspect of it. Winterbottom tries to see if he can get away with it. He does, because of his accomplished direction, which is what keeps 9 Songs marginally on the artsy side. Without it, it's just a porn flick. This is a director's film in every way.
As a side-dish, you get to enjoy good indie rock and brit-pop from top acts (plus Michael Nyman) and also get a scent of beautiful London.
And yes, the film could do with less sex, but here comes the experimental aspect of it. Winterbottom tries to see if he can get away with it. He does, because of his accomplished direction, which is what keeps 9 Songs marginally on the artsy side. Without it, it's just a porn flick. This is a director's film in every way.
As a side-dish, you get to enjoy good indie rock and brit-pop from top acts (plus Michael Nyman) and also get a scent of beautiful London.