"The Notorious #9" at Anthology Film Archives

If you check the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com), you’ll find two movies entitled “Notorious.” One is Alfred Hitchcock’s 1946 thriller, while the other, released in 2009, tells the life and death story of Brooklyn rapper, Notorious B.I.G.

Now there is a third “Notorious” film (not yet listed on IMDb): Milon Henry Levine’s “The Notorious #9,” about a father warning his son to abstain from partying and drugs by telling of his own wasted days as a young man, getting stoned while trying to shoot a movie with friends.

The comedy-drama seemed to purposely resemble an amateur attempt, with rough editing, a few silent film-type scenes complete with title cards, and other scenes with some of the actors (possibly novices) over-dramatizing.
After the film's first screening to a full house March 9 at the Anthology Film Archives in New York, Levine said the movie was to be further edited. At the same time, Levine, a New York director/photographer, plans to show it on the ninth of each month in different cities across the United States and possibly internationally, starting with Winona, Minn., April 9.

The audience seemed satisfied enough with the film, applauding at its end (although that may have been because they were glad it was over). Levine tied the film’s screening together with the first-ever fashion award given by his media company, Glamwire. The Paolo Award was presented to New York designer Malan Breton, who some may know from the third season of the popular reality show, “Project Runway.”

Levine said Breton’s fall 2010 collection was the best of 22 runway shows reviewed by Glamwire. "The Ninettes" (gorgeous women wearing glitter-coated top hats embellished with large “9s”) presented the award. They also served as hostesses at the screening and its afterparty.

Anjhula Singh Bais (shown above, at right), one of the Ninettes who is also a model and fashion journalist, said she was less enthusiastic about one of Breton’s earlier collections. “But you can’t judge a designer by one collection,” she said. That could also be said of Levine’s stint as a director. Let’s not judge him yet. I liked his film well enough myself, and look forward to seeing the next one.