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.
THE EXTRAS:
The Recut and extended theatrical release has roughly 20 extra minutes of additional footage separated into four stories.
There is an all-new feature commentary with Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller. The commentary with Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino isn’t as billed. Tarantino only comes in to chat for the scene he filmed.
An audio track featuring a recording of the Austin premiere audience reaction is quite possibly one of the most bizarre extras to date. You can sit and watch the movie with the audience who watched the premiere. It’s interesting for a moment but then quickly loses its curiousity.
“15-minute film school with Robert Rodriguez” is a very cool look at all the greenscreen that was used in the film. The amount of detail is superb and supremely interesting.
“The Long Take: 17 uninterrupted minutes of Tarantino’s segment” is a decent featurette where we go behind-the-scenes and watch the Tarantino, Del Toro, Owens, and Rodriguez working on the scene.
“Sin City Night at Antones” is a party with filmmakers, cast and crew.
“10-minute cooking school with Robert Rodriguez” is an unusual extra—which feels more like filler as we watch Rodriquez make a breakfast taco.
“A Hard Top With a Decent Engine: The cars of Sin City” shows the classic cars used in the movie.
“Making the Monsters: Special effects make-up” is for the diehard fans who want to see how the makeup was done—interestingly Yellow Bastard is actually blue for the filming.
“Trench Coats & Fishnets: The costumes of Sin City” is a look into the costumes for the film’s characters.
“Booze, Broads & Guns: The props of Sin City” is about the weapons used in the movie. How the booze and broads got put into the title is beyond us.
“How it Went Down: Convincing Frank Miller” to make the film is a quick intro to the story that many fans already know.
“Giving the Characters Life: Casting the film,” “Special guest director: Quentin Tarantino,” “Sin-Chroni-City interactive game” and “Complete Sin City Graphic Novel – The Hard Goodbye” round out the extras that we could have lived without.
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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