The Ninth Gate (5 Stars)

Is this Johnny Depp's best film? I say it is, however many others may disagree with me. It was a box office failure, as you can see from its negative success rate. "The Ninth Gate" has been criticised for its slow pacing, but that's deliberate. What else do you expect from a supernatural thriller? The unexpected bursts of action remind of a snake in the grass, quietly waiting for its prey, suddenly striking, then returning to its position as if nothing has happened.

Johnny Depp plays Dean Corso, the meek, politely spoken book dealer. He may be polite on the outside, but he's unscrupulous. There's no limit to his greed. And yet he loves books. They're his passion. The world of book collecting might seem like a boring subject for a film, but Dean is searching for the truth about a book that people are willing to kill for.

The more often I watch the film, the more I'm impressed by Emmanuelle Seigner in her role as the girl who rides the beast. It's a subtle role. What I mean is, she comes and goes throughout the film, and even when she's on screen she fades into the background. She seems to be serving Dean Corso, protecting him from harm, but she's actually the one who is controlling all the events.

Is Dean Corso himself the beast? That's a matter for interpretation.

Success Rate:  - 0.5

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