CORPORATE LINE: Sin City is based on Frank Miller’s series of “Sin City” graphic novels. The plotline will include elements from the stories “Sin City,” “The Babe Wore Red,” and “That Yellow Bastards.”
The GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY: Marv is one ugly bastard—ugly in a very, very cool way. Mickey Rourke makes the comeback of a lifetime as the big-hearted maniac that looks half-man/half-ogre. Marv steals every moment on screen. His big-heart, crazy sense of doing good even if it means cutting someone into pieces–literally.
Sin City is gory without being gory. Director Robert Rodriquez shot the film with an ode to old gangster movies where you don’t have to see the violence–instead we must fills in the blanks to great effect. Viewers will find the episodic format very similar to Pulp Fiction—its not surprising that Quentin Tarantino is credited as a “special guest director.”
Comparing Sin City to Pulp Fiction is like comparing a peanut with a mangled walnut. Sure, Sin City’s script isn’t nearly as brilliant as Pulp Fictions yet the chaotic action leaves me wondering if it matters. I’d say a second or third viewing would be in order to make a decision—it’s enough fun that I’d see it a second and third time. And not simply because of the out-of-this-world sexy women who are wearing thongs and are topless eighty-percent of the time. Oddly enough the naked women are the least interesting part of the movie. No, I’m not kidding.
The driving lunacy of the main characters is what makes Sin City fantastic. Marv steals the film in fact. It would have been best had his episode fell later in the film because it was hard to come down from the mania and prepare for the rest.
Of note is the luscious color and life that Rodriquez breathed into Sin City with nothing more than a black and white film. At first I thought “please don’t tell me this is a black and white movie” and then as time went buy you realize the color may have only distracted from the colorful characters that arrest your senses.
The cast is brilliant. Certainly I’ve raved about Mickey Rourke as Marv but Elijah Wood is scary as a little psychotic monster. Who would have ever thought Elijah Wood could be worthy of nightmares? Benicio del Toro and his head make a rather amusing cameo. Carla Gugino is lovely—and topless! Bruce Willis certainly leaves a hell of an impression. You can tell he was born for this.
FRANKLY: A comic book comes to life once and for all. Sin City bleeds thrill after thrill! I’ve never read the comic, am not into comics and yet was completely and utterly enthralled by Sin City.
+ Charlie Craine
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