So I watched The Ninth Gate for the first time last night. Enjoyed it well enough, though I thought it unraveled messily toward the end. But I couldn't help drawing comparisons to Angel Heart (a far superior film and one of my favorites) the entire time.
Anyone else?
I saw angle heart way after the ninth gate, and while they both are awesome movies to me, I don't see many similarities, or one being superior to the other. AH reminded me more of Jakobs Ladder, momento or something like that.
shareThe similarities I see are . .
SPOILERS -- if you haven't seen Angel Heart don't read -- I'd hate to spoil the film for anyone!
The films both involve a detective performing an investigation. In both cases the detectives are hired by someone with occult ties -- someone who wants to connect with the devil (THG) or is the devil himself (AH). Along the way, everyone who the detective comes into contact with as part of the investigation is killed -- by the same person who is paying for the investigation. Finally, there is the big reveal at the end that the malevolent force was in control the entire time.
Both movies follow the film noir trope of a private investigator hired to retrieve a prized asset that may or may not lead to their own downfall.
The outcomes for TNG's and AH's protagonists play out much differently though.
"The outcomes for TNG's and AH's protagonists play out much differently though."
They certainly do.
I think.
Still not sure what to make of the protagonist's fate at the end of TNG.
Corso seems to embrace Satan (has orgasmic sex with her). Harry Angel is doing everything possible, even Satan's own trickery, to avoid giving his soul to him. That's basically the difference.
I'd also argue that Corso's character exhibits all aspects of a selfish and indifferent human, which makes him more dangerous and aligned with Satan's "values".
I have not seen Angel Heart! I guess I'll have to track it down and give it a watch. I do like the supernatural thriller genre, and I have a certain fondness for The Ninth Gate, so if the vibe is the same, I'll probably like Angel Heart. Although, I have to say, I'm not 100% certain *why* I love The Ninth Gate. It's a nebulous thing, and I feel like the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. It's the atmosphere and the strange world of cults and mysterious books, but there's just some x-factor that makes me really enjoy T9thG. So, if I don't get the same wavelength out of AH, I might not connect with it in the same way...
Anyway, I'll give it a watch and check back here!
Based on what you've said I'd guess you'd probably enjoy it.
I am not always sure why I like a particular film either, at least in some cases. Perhaps it's nothing more than making an emotional connection -- even if I can't describe what the emotional connection might be. The film I'd mentioned on the other thread, Mulholland Drive, is a good example.
Atmosphere and hence the world that a film can create and draw one into is what I think it must be: A mysterious world as you put it. But to get there we have to be drawn in more on emotion than intellect I'm guessing. And each of us responds differently to matters of the emotion, so as the phrase goes "to each his/her own."
Perhaps if there was more of a realization along these lines there'd be far less head-butting on these movie boards.
Not to suggest head-butting isn't a fun exercise once and awhile . . .
This one is much more fascinating than Angel Heart.
shareThat's in the eye of the beholder of course.
Though I suspect which of these two films one sees first will play a part. If one falls in love with TNG, then later sees AH, there might be a bias and vice versa.
All the while watching the TNG all I could think of was AH. That wasn't intentional. It's just that the basic storyline proceeded so similarly I couldn't resist.
While watching both films it's undeniably clear to the viewer what is more-or-less going to happen, even if there is only slow recognition on the part of the protagonist.
Having said all that, I don't know that I'd consider either film fascinating. Suspenseful, yes.
And I must confess that AH had more of that than TNG, for me at least.
I also think AH had a more definitive ending, for what it's worth.
Not to say I don't admire an ambiguous ending on occasion.
I just watched Angel Heart because you mentioned it as comparable to The Ninth Gate, you said that it is a far superior film... And I have to say that you have terrible taste in movies, Angel Heart is not even close to The Ninth Gate in any aspect, I wasted 2 hours to learn this. Never take advice from Seperatrix
shareAngel Heart is much better. 9th Gate is lighthearted and almost comedic, it’s fun but throwaway. Angel Heart is much more serious and impactful, starting as a noir detective thriller and descending into disturbing horror, with legendary performances from Rourke and De Niro.
Did I advise you to watch it? Sorry you didn't like it but your taste isn't superior to mine and mine isn't superior to yours. We all like what we like.
And Melton's summary hits the nail on the head for both films.