Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 06/27/2006

Maverick director Michael Winterbottom wondered about the double standard of why novels can have explicit sex scenes and be legit and films could not. So his short film of a relationship based solely on sex and a love for music is the result of that thought. If the definition of a porn film is to shoot actors performing graphic sex scenes for real, then 9 Songs qualifies. It certainly doesn't feel or look like your standard whoopdee-do XXX feature. It's as glossy and low-budget arty as Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People or I Want You. But yeah, Matt and Lisa do everything to each other, and the actors are not "just acting" in some of the sex scenes. No matter how landmark the movie might be, there is not much story here (at least a book with hot sex often has a good story to it). Lisa is an American drifter in London who hooks up with Matt, a scientist who studies glaciers in Antarctica. They have sex and visit nine rock concerts including Franz Ferdinand and The Dandy Warhols. As advertised, you can't find these musical performances anywhere else, but we just see them from way back in the crowd. The film has an essence of how someone can find bliss in another person's body, and the emotional, magical weight that can hold over you. But that spell doesn't last. Since the sex is real, Winterbottom had to cast unknown actors, and they really don't make an impression, especially with the lack of story. --Doug Thomas

I like art house films. I like the idea of using real sex to tell a story- if it a story worth telling.

This movie has no story. This movie has no characters really, simply songs and sex.

This movie could've worked had there been an actual script, character development, and some cinematography. There was none of that.

The concert scenes were uninteresting. The sex scenes were cold and yet the audience is supposed to believe that Matt actually loves Lisa. There's no emotion between the two, no sense of attachment, no feeling that they even like each other.

Many people argue that this movie isn't porn but I completely disagree. I think the director had a vision that was good in his head but failed on screen. There are far sexier, more erotic, more romantic movies out there and I'd highly recommend you not waste your money to see what the hoopla was all about it because that's all there is to this movie- sensationalism.

You'd think that a short movie that alternates between edgy, alternative music performances and extended sex scenes between two young people would at the very least be minimally engaging, but I found "9 Songs" to be fairly dull. The music is murkily shot from the cheap seats, the presumably high resolution video photography doesn't seem very high-res at all, and the two young people just aren't very interesting as movie characters. The girl is kind of cute, I'll give the movie that, and some genuine steaminess seeps into the proceedings here and there. But the smattering of good sex is done in by inane acting, frequent dull stretches, and mostly unmemorable music. If sexy indie film fare is your occasional cup of tea, you could do a lot better. The DVD has a fair amount of special features, but my lack of enthusiasm for the movie has thus far kept me from watching many of them.

If you're one of those people who loves watching sex on TV but doesn't like renting or buying porn, then you're in luck: 9 Songs is definitely for you. With more sex (and much better cinematography) than late night HBO, Showtime and even `Skinemax,' 9 Songs is a hardcore art film with little in the way of plot or story and lots of hot, raw, steamy sex.

An official selection of film festivals around the world, I've been wanting to see 9 Songs since I missed it at Sundance. Having heard a lot about it, I had high hopes and was expecting to see a great story of love, set to the soundtrack of nine songs- the length of the movie. Having seen it, I can't say that I regret it, but the film itself didn't exactly knock me out of my boots.

Sociologically 9 Songs is very interesting. That someone (Michael Winterbottom) would make a film with actors engaging in graphic, real sex is certainly a statement on the time and society we live in and it's definitely not all bad. In fact, it was kind of interesting. The story- a man and woman's short (but very passionate) romance- was less enthralling and indeed parts of the film are confusing until (or unless) you watch the extras, explaining what the Antarctic has to do with a love affair in England.

Gloriously shot, the filming and camera work is beautiful, and the characters themselves are interesting; the actors did their job well. There's just little to hold the story together, save for the sex and concert footage dividing the film.

SPECIAL FEATURES

The special features- especially the interviews with the actors and director- bring the film together and raise the interest level greatly. Sharing why he made the movie and explaining some of the details left a bit vague in the film, Michael Winterbottom talks about the sex, the reaction, and the process of casting and filming 9 Songs. Both Kieran O'Brian and Margo Stilley also discuss their feelings on filming the largely unscripted film, dealing with the sex and its repercussions on their careers, and their experiences making the film.

Winterbottom also discusses the use of footage from live concert performances, as well as the bands' (and their respective management) relation to finding out that their music was being used in a sexually explicit film. The special features also include an option to watch a Concert Performance Only track, the Original Trailer and a featurette on the Bands from 9 Songs.

***1/2 2004. Written and directed by Michael Winterbottom. An American student and an English scientist live a passionate love affair between two rock concerts in London. Very explicit sex scenes in this film which is an UFO in the non porno movie production. Now, is this film worth its boldness ? I personnally think so. It describes a slice of life of an average modern couple establishing a relation based on sex only and its limitations. In this perspective, 9 SONGS is the direct heir of such movies as Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris and Nagisa Oshima's In the Realm of the Senses. Recommended.

Sex, nakedness & rock music - what else could you want?

I thought this movie was simple - it cut through all the filler you normally find in porn movies - unnecessary dialog, weak storyline etc... it go straight to the point - this is a movie about SEX & ROCK & ROLL & they abound :)

I thought the sex scenes were excellent, there was real chemistry between the leads & they looked like they were actually enjoying it which is a nice change from hardcore porn (for me).

Not to mention I thoroughly enjoyed the concert clips.. I was definitely totally tuned on & I totally rocked out!

I enjoyed the way this movie was shot & the natural feeling to it all...playful & sexy!

WONDERFUL, 5 stars!