Thirty years in the making, Victor Bevine’s Nine Ball is a story of perseverance. Though the final product looks like it was made in the 90s, the story manages to stay relevant in 2024. Nine ball is a straightforward game. You sink the balls in the pocket in order from one to nine, and if you’re lucky, get a combo shot to win. For a group of young men, life is hitting one ball after the other, and whatever happens…happens.
Kenny Johnson plays Nicky—a drunkard down on his luck. On this particular night, he is greeted by his best mate, Doug (Allen Schneider), who bartends at Lucky’s Taven. After a thorough beating by a local gang of hooligans, Nicky and Doug reflect on a single night long ago that changed their lives forever.
Then Nicky and Doug spent almost every evening at Lucky’s during closing. The tap was free, and nine ball was the game. Life was hard, but at least there was nine ball. Joining Nicky and Doug are co-workers Bobby (Eugene Williams) and Cooper (Steven Benjamin Wise). Bobby was just fired from his job and Cooper has been tasked to tell him. Then there’s George (Rich Grosso), a newly minted security guard, but really the nerdy outcast of the group. He’s always drawing the short straw, but being part of the gang is worth it.
Though most of the night consists of nothing but locker-room jabs and s**t-talking, as each ball drops, the true nature of their friendship is uncovered. It all centers around Nicky, the alpha of the group. Nicky is a recovering alcoholic, and tonight, he picked the wrong night to be a recovering alcoholic.
“Nicky is a recovering alcoholic, and tonight, he picked the wrong night to be a recovering alcoholic.”
Nine Ball reminds me a lot of the John Hughes movies of that time. Its themes revolve around friendship, especially toxic friendships. It explores how deep and shallow our friendships become as we enter adulthood. The game of Nine Ball serves as a metaphor for allowing ourselves to be driven from one move to the next when we should really be thinking two or three moves ahead.
Bevine also explores the hyper-masculinity (or, as some would call it, “toxic”) that has existed in men for millennia—almost as if men have to have their walls of pride broken down before they’re actually able to see themselves and one another for what they truly are. It also explores the psyche of those of us on the sidelines observing spiraling behavior in our friends and uncertain if or when we should step in.
Once you press play, you’ll notice right away that Nine Ball was made in the 1990s. It seems to have been shot on high-quality video, set in a single location and features a 90s rock soundtrack. There are also some moments of slow-motion action that are typical of 90s indie filmmaking. I couldn’t help but be reminded of all the Albert Pyun movies I’ve seen in recent years. Nine Ball feels a lot like Deceit but without the sci-fi alien possession plotline.
I mention these flaws to say that there are a few obstacles to overcome in 2024 that you may not have noticed in the mid-90s. However, what you do get are some great performances from then up-and-coming actors getting their early break in indie filmmaking. A special mention to Kenny Johnson for his portrayal of the troubled character Nicky. He really nails the troubled and mean aspects of the character.
Nine Ball is a nostalgic trip back to the ’90s, offering a poignant exploration of friendship and masculinity. Producer and actor Rich Grosso’s dedication over thirty years results in a film that, despite its dated aesthetic, resonates with timeless themes and strong performances, particularly from Kenny Johnson as the complex Nicky. It’s a heartfelt story that deserves to be seen and appreciated, proving that some narratives truly withstand the test of time.
"…a poignant exploration of friendship and masculinity."
