Plot: What’s it about?
Elizabeth (Kim Basinger) has been alone since a bitter divorce, with no social engagements to speak of, outside of her devotion to her work. John (Mickey Rourke) on the other hand is all about sleeping with as many women as possible, but he too is alone in the deepest sense. He might have women in his bed, but he has an emotional void that none of them can fulfill. These two very different people have a chance encounter while shopping, which leads to an instant connection. The two begin a torrid affair, as John exerts his need for control and Elizabeth turns herself over to his desires. The attraction is intense and consumes both of their lives, as they push further into their fantasies and hidden desires. As their activities become more and more degrading toward Elizabeth, she starts to question the relationship and her own sexual fulfillment. Can the intense heat of their relationship remain intact and will Elizabeth discover her true sexual desires?
This was quite a controversial film when it was released, but does 9 1/2 still bring the heat? As with a lot of movies that push boundaries, time has taken a toll on 9 1/2 Weeks. What was once a red hot, risque experience now comes off as rather tame and quite dated. Some of the scenes retain the sex appeal factor, especially the infamous blindfold sequence, but without the edge it once held, the film’s weaknesses are more evident. As stylish as the sex scenes can be, the rest of the movie seems mediocre and rather run of the mill. I doubt anyone (now or then) watches 9 1/2 Weeks to be dazzled by plot depth, but time has really revealed how little substance lurks under the covers here. Even in this expanded international version, 9 1/2 Weeks just doesn’t have enough style to overcome the lack of depth and substance. I suppose there is some nostalgic draw with this movie, but otherwise, it is hard to recommend it, given how poorly it has aged.
If you want to make a movie driven by sex, having Kim Basinger at her peak sure doesn’t hurt. She looks incredible here and brings a lot of passion and heat to her performance. And as I said, the sex scenes come off as tame now, but for 1986, Basinger pushes the limits on cinema sexuality, to be sure. Those scenes would be ice cold without her passionate performance, which really proves to be the engine behind the entire movie. A pre-plastic surgery Mickey Rourke is able to keep pace with Basinger as well, with a nuanced, effective performance. It is a shame that the writing is so thin in 9 1/2 Weeks, as the leads could have really worked magic with a more capable script. The movie might not have the same bite as it used to, but the themes of control and power still hold true, even a couple of decades later.
Video: How does it look?
9 1/2 Weeks is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. This is a natural, impressive visual presentation. The image here is very film-like, thanks to the inherent grain that has been left in place. This allows means the visuals don’t look scrubbed, so detail is solid and contrast is accurate. I found black levels to be quite good, if a touch soft in rare instances, while colors have a natural, consistent presence. This is a marked improvement over the DVD, so fans should be satisfied.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a solid soundtrack, with a clean overall presence. The DTS HD 5.1 track makes the most of the 80s music, which sounds great and lively in this mix. That is the extent of the surround presence, but as the film is dialogue driven, that is not a concern. The vocals are clear and never lost in the shuffle, while volume issues never arise at all. In the end, this track makes the best of the source and delivers a terrific soundtrack. This disc also includes French and Spanish language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
