So after watching the season finale of "The Class," I decided to watch a screener of "Nine Lives" which made for quite an adjustment from light silly comedy to hard core drama! I gotta say, "Lives" was fascinating in the way that it just took you to unexpected places as it zoomed in on nine individuals whose lives intersect – emotionally, sexually and dangerously over the course of one day. It was at times moving, at times very sexy, at times disturbing and at times horrifying.
The real standout segment is the story involving Daniel (Nick Salamone), a closeted television producer who is a real jerk, his hunky boyfriend Corey (Steve Callahan) and their pool boy Carlos (Eric Turic). Salamone does a perfect job of being absolutely loathsome and Callahan is superb in showing his character's hurt and rage. You'll see what I mean during a certain pool scene.
The other standout is the story of pregnant Lisa and her perpetually late husband Ralph, who is living life on the down low. I was particularly impressed and moved by the performance of Debra Wilson as Lisa. It's mostly a monologue of her talking to the camera as she tells us her life story while painting her baby's room. The power of those scenes, especially after she gets a fateful phone call, are still with me today and I think will stay with you.
"Nine Lives," an adaptation of the play "Complications," is the film debut from writer/director Dean Howell and writer Michael Kearns and is described as a cross between Schnitzler's "La Ronde" and Altman's "Short Cuts."
The movie debuted this month on here! TV and will be out on DVD in the coming months.
Don't miss it!