The Ninth Configuration (1980)

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

William Peter Blatty purportedly produced this as a sequel to the Exorcist and while much different, there are similar themes. Scott Wilson is a standout is what is one of his best performances. Stacy Keach matches him in an understated (for the most part) performance. It is really a shame this movie disappeared in 1980 as it is one of the more interesting flicks made then. Bravo Bill Blatty !

There's a reason insomniacs, 24-hr convenience store clerks and people who like to hit the chronic have smothered this movie with high ratings - - it's pretentious, self-indulgent, self-important tripe. The only way you could think this is the greatest thing ever put to film is if you've never actually seen a live theatre production in your life - the kind that's full of people who could never exist in real life, doing unrealistic things, spouting nonsensical philosophy. Bad plays like this exist all over North America, from off-off-off Broadway right down to your local community theatre production of Neil Simon's junk. Stacy Keach spends most of the movie looking brain damaged. I'm surprised he ever got cast in another movie he's so boringly wooden in this. His dialogue sounds like it's over-dubbed after he'd hammered back about 9 sleeping pills. Ed Flanders, on the other hand, is brilliant. I had forgotten he was one of the few credible characters on St. Elsewhere. The crazy inmates are just irritating. I didn't care for a single one of them. To even mention this garbage in the same sentence as Catch-22 or M*A*S*H* is an insult to one's intelligence. Little surprise Blatty never got another directing gig, unless you count Exorcist III, which is like taking a directing credit for Spring Break Co-Eds B00bstravaganza. I could see getting into this if I had hit the bong and downed half a pizza after a night out with my friends. Whoooaaaaa, dude, this is deeeeeeep....

I was born in 1984 and never got to see this until this year, never heard of it nor did pass by as a faint declaration through media or people I know. One person I know has a track record of films he saw like you couldn't believe and he did not know what this was and he was born in the late 50's. Either way, I finally saw the trailer for it a year ago, it seemed dark and I thinking wtf is this dumbfounded, perplexed and confused thinking this some some obscure s**t.I decided to skip it and watched some other ones and sort of forgot about it, I remembered the trailer yet not the title. When I came across it again I decided it was time to give this a look.One of the greatest comedies ever created, especially not expecting comedy. there were people sleeping at the house and I was watching it late and I couldn't hold in the laughter. This story has a lot of elements going on at the same time which make both the serious aspects and the comedy equally enjoyable. it was very well made by William Peter Blatty(writer, director, producer) and actors performances were well done. I have no cons for the film and am disappointed that I didn't get to see this sooner.

After all these years I still enjoy watching this movie. Some movies are timeless and this is one of them. In the intro, the stage is set. And the players defined. You don't need to know your history to watch the movie. I am sure this can be translated to modern times, replacing the Vietnam war with any of the several going on in 2011. A sensational cast of actors were assembled for this movie. They all were astounding. They movie is not action, comedy, thriller, but yet it is all of them. Mostly it is an exploration of faith. It explores the loss of one mans faith and another mans attempt to restore. Though the man attempting to restore it, has become arguably unstable himself. The intrigue of the characters and their development is key in the movie. Because the twists in the plot reveal the final end play. I love movies with twists that work. Those are rare. 9th does not let down. Promises are kept!