The Ninth Gate - 1999

Artisan Entertainment, R.P. Productions, Orly Films

Directed by Roman Polanski

Cast:

• Dean Corso – Johnny Depp
• Boris Balkan – Frank Langella
• Bernie – James Russo
• Liana Telfer – Lena Olin
• The Girl – Emmanuelle Seigner
• Victor Fargas – Jack Taylor
• Baroness Keffler – Barbara Jefford

Story: A book broker specializing in rare books finds himself embattled in a struggle for power between the owner of one of three copies of a book supposedly coauthored by Satan himself. Dean Corso is a well known and unscrupulous man whose only interest is the money he will earn by finding rare books for his clients. He is engaged by Boris Balkan to verify the authenticity of a book he has recently obtained, one of only three copies known to exist. He soon learns there is more at stake than just a book. People are following him and searching his apartment. He hides the book with a friend in a rare book store, only to find the friend dead when he returns to retrieve it on his way to the airport. He tries to back out, but Balkan persuades him to continue. Soon Corso is pursuing the book for his own reasons. Is this book really the path to the Ninth Gate?

Review: If you needed an actor to play a somewhat strange and peculiar role, who would you choose? Roman Polanski, the controversial former husband of actress Sharon Tate and still wanted for his dalliance with a 13 year old girl, was certainly the right man to direct this dark film, filled with the realities of human frailty. Depp was the ideal actor, his ability to interact with others, yet stand apart from them is a crucial element of the film. As with all Polanski films, this one is filled with villians with nuances of evil, from the jaded, wealthy Lena Olin to the pontificating and self-righteous Barbara Jefford. Emmanuelle Siegner, Polanski's wife, provides our supernatural character, but on whose side is she? The plot weaves intricately from step to step and the reality of the book is only revealed in the end. Rated R for nudity, language and violence, this film is definitely a late night indulgence for the grown ups.