Though it looks and feels a lot like a poorly-lit adult film, “9 Songs” isn’t hampered by an XXX-stigmatic designation, thanks to the involvement of mainstream creative forces such as director Michael Winterbottom (“24 Hour Party People,” “Welcome to Sarajevo”); star Kieran O’Brien (“Band of Brothers”), and an impressive cast of modern Brit-rockers that includes the Von Bondies, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Elbow, among others. Casting aside conventional narrative structure, character arcs, plot and most of the other key elements of dramatic filmmaking, Winterbottom pairs the well-endowed O’Brien with lithe newcomer Margo Stilley and instructs them to let it all — and I do mean all — hang out. When they’re not playing naked mattress hockey, they’re getting high and watching bands gig at London nightclubs — nine songs in all (get it?) performed in their entirety and captured on low-budget hand-held cameras. (Not rated. Running time: 71 minutes)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 22, 2005. Read the original PDF.