Release: The Ninth Hour

 

The Ninth Hour

Genre: Drama/Historical

Director: Reed Morano

Writer: Rosie JoLove

Based on the novel by Alice Dermott

Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Mackenzie Foy, Nicole Kidman, Mary-Louise Parker, Teresa Palmer, Constance Zimmer, Wes Bentley, Greg Kinnear, Judi Dench, Chris Gere, Joan Allen, Colin Hanks

Budget: $37,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $8,801,447

Foreign Box Office: $4,329,052

Total Profit: -$41,904,100

Reaction: With its expensive and large ensemble cast and its lack of marketable subject matter, The Ninth Hour proved to be a costly flop for the studio and for writer Gwendolyn King.

"Reed Morano’s adaptation of Alice McDermott’s novel "The Ninth Hour" attempts to delve deep into themes of faith and redemption but often feels bogged down by its own weight. Elisabeth Moss delivers a solid performance as Annie, yet her character's journey is overshadowed by the film’s heavy-handed approach to its religious overtones and its inability to utilize any of its supporting cast to strong effect." - Ken Giles, Houston Chronicle

"The talents of its star-studded cast, including Elisabeth Moss, Judi Dench, Mackenzie Foy and Nicole Kidman, feel underutilized by Gwendolyn King's script, often serving as mere archetypes in a story that struggles to balance its numerous subplots. The Ninth Hour opens with a literal and figurative bang, but ultimately feels like it bites off more than it can chew, leaving audiences with a film that is more preachy than poignant." - Chris Mears, Slashfilm

"Despite its excessive length and occasional structural confusion, Reed Morano's mediocre direction in this film is buoyed by standout performances from its core cast, including Foy, Kidman, Palmer, Kinnear, and Dench. Moss shines once again, demonstrating why she's a truly underappreciated talent, and her performance carries much of the film. However, despite its noble intentions, the film ultimately falls short, coming across as pretentious rather than impactful in its dramatic adaptation." - Mel Leong, Screen International

Rated R for language, disturbing images and mature thematic elements