I rented this one thinking it might be an entertaining bit of tawdry trash with some cheap thrills. It is. It is also one of the saddest love stories ever. I can't say I "enjoyed" Another 9 1/2 Weeks, but I can say that I love the movie's romantic streak. It's a terribly sad romantic streak, but a great romantic streak nonetheless. Another 9 1/2 weeks is also cheesy and trashy. It's cheesier and trashier bits actually work to the movie's advantage by adding much needed levity to a very tragic story. Some have said the filmmakers should have had Mickey Rouke's character move on after losing his great love, but that would have diminished the power of their connection. He can't just move on. She's gone and he can't change that. There's no way out from his torturous pain. Mickey Rourke makes you believe it. The filmmakers were smart in building their entire film around him. He truly seems like he's been through Hell. His character begins the film in tremendous pain and ends the film in tremendous pain. There's no happy ending (although I like to imagine he changed his name to Marv and moved to Sin City). Another 9 1/2 Weeks isn't an easy movie to enjoy. Very few love it, but I do. I rented it, watched it, and then I bought it.
Review of Another 9½ Weeks
