Repetitive, yet it could have been so much more.

I have a lot of respect for Michael Winterbottom as an auteur be it his fictional analysis of intimate proportions between Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in The Trip or his comical take on the Manchester club scene in Twenty Four Hour Party People the man's talent is unique within the field.

For me, in many ways 9 Songs was no different we still get the intimacy conveyed through the key protagonists of many of his films (Genova and A Mighty Heart to name a few) but in a different sense, we see them at what could be considered their most vulnerable yet beautiful at the same time, when they make love. Now, i found the lovemaking became a little stale after a while it seems within itself a little exploitative and its repletion alleviates the true power and romance which Winterbottom was looking for. Although he does get his point across, quite bravely in fact as we bear witness rather unflinchingly to Matt and Lisa's far from mundane sex life.

And despite it having porno almost branded upon it's forehead Winterbottom has actually managed to get across the deterioration of the relationship in the film's 69 minute running time with Lisa’s ahem, interest in other things and also her drug addiction whilst Matt observes the whole time. But, there is little depth in the analysis of this deterioration and I felt as if there should have been a little more explanation instead of just watching another prolonged sexually charged scene or an indie band flaunting their prowess in the field which should have explained it, not to say the latter wasn't one of the films best qualities with a brilliant score from bands such as Elbow, Franz Ferdinand and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

So for me this felt as if it was merely an excuse for the director to flex his desire for an intent to create a rapacious yet informative piece and push the boundaries of film. In many ways he has succeeded, he has merely done something which reflects great realism as we don't all sit around thinking about the times we bought our ex flowers as there were much more exciting elements to the relationship and we contemplate where we fail in those sensitive departments.

I will definitely say it isn't a film for the masses, it is interesting to say the least but unfortunately it does outrun it's 1hr 9 min running time, which with a bit of narrative tuning could have lasted a while longer and made for perhaps a more well regarded endeavour.