The Nines

My thoughts in general: I recently watched the film The Nines, which is written and directed by John August (who wrote the screenplay for Big Fish and other films). In The Nines, there are three separate segments, and each segment has the same actors playing different roles. The first segment begins with Ryan Reynolds playing an actor who confined to house arrest. While in the house, he is confronted with a note that reads "Look for the nines" written in his own handwriting. He has no recollection of writing this cryptic note and has no idea what it means. This sets an almost mystery/thriller feel to the film; then, the next segment begins. In the second segment, Reynolds plays a television writer who is trying to sell his idea for a new show. In this segment, we find out that he wrote the "Look for the nines" note to himself. In the third segment, Reynolds plays a computer game designer, who has created a game similar to The Sims (or Sim City). This segment leads to the resolution where we find out that Reynolds (who is a god-like being) has really been playing different roles in this real world that he has created, like a game designer playing different characters in his own game.


My thoughts on application: I liked this film, but I preferred the film that it started out being rather than the film that it ended up being. However, I think the film is interesting in how it blends the worlds of film, television, and computer gaming. In addition to the blending of these worlds, the film also questions reality (where is the line between reality and virtual reality?). As far as finding an application of this film to the classroom, I think the main point for application is to discuss how the film blends the worlds of film, gaming, etc. Students are living in such mediated worlds, so I think it would be a worthwhile discussion to see what students think about living through film, television, and gaming. Are these worlds reality for them? How do these worlds affect other realities? I think this could be a very productive discussion.