The Ninth Configuration

THE NINTH CONFIGURATION, a drama set in a scenic castle functioning as a mental ward, and asking fundamental questions about life, goodness and evil, was written and directed (and even performed in in a small role) by William Peter Blatty, who became practically a household name in the 70s after the worldwide success of the dramatization of his work, THE EXORCIST (1973). CONFIGURATION is his directorial debut, and reveals him to be a highly talented director; it is really too bad he did not make any other films beside EXORCIST III (1990), for which a director's cut LEGION (2016) was released right around his death.

The spectacular direction, acting and cinematography cannot, in my mind, completely compensate for the implausibility of the plot reveal, which occurs about 2/3 of the way. That implausibility, at least as presented, distracts in turn from the treatment of the serious existential questions the film asks because after the reveal, events to make the movie's point seem contrived to be "just so".

Evidently, the expression "ninth configuration" is supposed to refer to the improbability of proteins randomly rearranging themselves to give rise to life. An astronomically small number is mentioned,and compared unfavorably to the probability for the existence of God, but I must admit that, as a scientist, I had never heard this term before. Nor does it seem to me that anyone could seriously calculate the probability of life arising on earth, given that the sample size of planets where this is known to have occurred is exactly one (there is something called the Drake equation for estimating the number of alien civilizations, which requires estimates for the probability of life in other worlds, but there are too many unknowns to make it possible to perform a serious calculation).

I have found that theological arguments are sometimes dressed up in mystical-sounding mumbo jumbo, and can't escape the suspicion that this might be the case here, too. However, that does not diminish the importance of the question itself of how life could have arisen.

The main philosophical question this films asks, however, is this: if we are really just a collection of atoms, perpetuating a phenomenon involving proteins which originated in an incredibly improbable random event long ago, then whence comes goodness?

The premise behind the question is strongly reductionist: for example, we have at least some biology-based frameworks for understanding altruism in higher organisms, and even if some proteins may play a role in these, the behavior of atoms at that level has long faded into explanatory irrelevance.

The movie is idiosyncratic and plays really well with our expectations. There is a hilarious scene in the beginning involving a short exchange between the protagonist and the man himself, which both foreshadows events to come, and sets us up to question what is real and what is not.

Scene after scene, we are sprayed with rhetorical snippets and actions by the mental patients (and even the attending physician) which seem nonsensical, but then, every once in while, there is follow-up dialogue which makes clear that what we thought was nonsense actually makes perfect sense.

No doubt Blatty did all this to disorient us, the audience. I can only speculate, but I suspect he sought to achieve a state of disorientation in the audience because it is, in a way, the best possible state to be in when asking the most fundamental questions: since we are not certain of anything, we cannot attach ourselves with certainty to any side of the debate.

And not taking sides is nowhere more important than when we try to really get to the bottom of things.

If my speculation is correct, then the set-up is nothing short of a stroke of genius. It makes how the aforementioned plot-reveal was handled all the more disappointing.

My problem is that an impossibly far-fetched set of events is presented to us straight. If, instead, it had taken the movie, say, in a surreal direction, then it would not have cheapened the film's attempts to provide an answer to the main question. As presented, it makes the final sacrifice, and especially the very last scene, seem like plot devices which betray that the author has, after all, taken sides.

Despite this criticism, CONFIGURATION is an impressive debut.

Films with similar elements:

1. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)

2. AMARCORD (1975)

3. KING OF HEARTS (1966)

Everybody's got their own list of overlooked movies that they can't believe aren't recognized as classics. I have several contenders but this brilliant movie must surely top the list! William Peter Blatty of 'The Exorcist' fame adapted his own novel for his debut as writer/director and came up with a mind-bending classic. I only know a handful of people who have even heard of this movie, but everyone who gets to see it becomes an instant raving fan. Yes, it's THAT good.

Colonel Kane (Stacey Keach, 'The Long Riders', 'American History X') is sent to a top secret facility full of military personal suffering from breakdowns, delusions and other mental problems. While attempting to find some way to cure them he becomes particularly concerned with a tortured astronaut, Captain Cutshaw (Scott Wilson, 'In Cold Blood', 'The Way Of The Gun'), and the two form a special, odd relationship. However things are not what they first appear to be, and to give anymore plot points away would be criminal. All I can say is that you're in for one hell of a ride!

Keach and Wilson are both outstanding in two of the best roles of their careers, but what really makes this a must-see is the superb supporting cast of character actors who are all equally good, and spout some of the freshest, most memorable dialogue you'll ever hear. Some of them include Robert Loggia ('Lost Highway'), Jason Miller ('The Exorcist'), Tom Atkins ('Maniac Cop'), Moses Gunn ('Rollerball'), Neville Brand ('Eaten Alive'), Joe Spinell ('Maniac') and Richard Lynch ('Open Season'). This movie is heaven for b-grade film buffs, and I can't recommend it highly enough. An unforgettable experience.

The Ninth Configuration (1980) was William Peter Blatty's directorial debut. He adapts his own novel for the big screen in this bizarre film about an astronaut (Scott Wilson) who's reached his breaking point and a military doctor (Stacy Keach) who's trying to reach out to him. The cast has a who's who of Hollywood cast-offs (William Peter Blatty has a cameo himself as one of the patients).

This is a strange film that'll cause you to think (if you don't enjoy these type of films then I suggest you look elsewhere). An interesting movie about things that aren't as they seem, soul searching and seeking redemption through honor and self sacrifice. I liked the way these people have to look into themselves and see who or what they really are. I wished that William Peter Blatty made more movies and Hollywood should have gave Stacy Keach more film roles like these. He was quite impressive.

I have to to highly recommend this movie. But if you're expecting some mainstream popcorn nonsense then look elsewhere.

An isolated castle in the Pacific northwest serves as the last secret experimental insane asylum for the US military. Billy Cutshaw (Scott Wilson) broke down after getting dragged out of a moon-bound rocket after an aborted launch. Psychiatrist Colonel Kane (Stacy Keach) is the new commanding officer. Colonel Richard Fell (Ed Flanders) is the world-weary medic. Kane indulges the patients in their delusions.

This is not quite at the level of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Stacy Keach is deliberately stiff which dampens the humor. He's almost robotic. There are some wacky characters in weird craziness but it's mostly dark seriousness. It's a real oddity and an original creation. While the rest of Hollywood zigs, this one zags.

Well, well, well. At last a rating I can fully agree with. Yes, the Shawshank Redemption was very good. But this is a hidden classic. If you're one of those people (like me) who loves to be taken completely by surprise by a movie, this is the one for you. The IMDB rating says it all: VERY few people know about this one, but those who do are nearly unanimous: this is outstanding storytelling. First time viewers, be warned: be patient. Let it happen. You won't know where it's going at first. Your patience will be rewarded, I assure you - it all comes together, culminating in a bar-room brawl that is an absolute textbook piece of tension-building. And then, you'll want to rewind it and watch it all over again, to pick out all the clues that slipped by you the first time through. Quentin Tarantino, eat your heart out: THIS is how it's supposed to be done.