Sin City Review

So, I gave the long absent Nick a call a couple nights back to see what the story was with our long wayward soul - he's actually just been obscenely busy since starting film school - and received a message on my voice mail in return, one that ended with something along the lines of "Well, I've got to go to this Sin City screening and party now ... you want me to write something up?" Uh, yes? So here are his thoughts ... positive would be an understatement ...

Sometimes the hype is real and all the drooling over the car chases, cinematography, and Jessica Alba’s sweet dancing self in the trailer is well warranted. I’m not sure if there was another movie this year that I’ve been waiting to see more than Sin City (with the exception of possibly the new Batman – though, I believe that’s just because I want to see what Christopher Nolan actually does with the franchise) and all that waiting paid of more than a 60 dollar rub-and-tug, believe you me. Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s adaptation of Miller’s story is something to marvel at and adds a manhood-ripping amount of greatness to the whole comic turned movie genre.

Where can one boy start here – the film runs like a comic book with page turning pace going from story to story in Basin City, and where some films tend to loose you in all the action along the way Sin City is more than capable of keeping your eyes fixed to the details that it’s throwing you way. The violence is dished out in copious amounts like the stories in that Rodriquez style we’ve come to love and crave in the way people kill without thought and remorse bringing alive the characters from the stories pretty damn accurately. The cinematography and art direction are flawless and give that extra depth to the world being created here – where Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow failed horribly to try and mix live actors in a c.g.i. world, Sin City’s ability and attention to detail with color and landscapes mixed perfectly – it’s genius I say. Even the lighting is down perfect for noir and is a breath of fresh air as it’s been a long time since someone has lit a film so fittingly.

With an ensemble cast of millions – ok, like 15 of the silver screen’s more well known faces - the acting is another driving force behind this film. The only problem in this film and it’s always a problem with her is Rosario Dawson. God, I still don’t know why this woman still gets acting roles in smart directors' movies because she’s the acting equivalent of the ebola virus, cancer and swimming in a pool full of human hair all rolled into one. But, with that being said, there’s some who like Clive Owen (who showed us in Closer and Croupier that he shouldn’t ever be doing another King Arthur-esq film), Elijah Wood , a surprising Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis who add so much to the film. Also, anytime you get a little Michael Madsen screen time, well that’s aces in my book. When you're delivering stylized over the top dialogue such as this film it could be cringe inducing but these guys hold pretty strong delivering the content easily.

Do you remember those meals where every single bite you take is like taking a bath with that person you had a crush on for 5 years in high school? Well that’s how watching this film can be (well, without being naked and wet though) – seriously, just going through this thing in my head right is making me melt like a 16 year old boy who just brushed his hand against what he thought was a girls breast (but was more than likely just her elbow). Sometimes with the amount of creative control Rodriguez takes in his films, it’s hard for him to see outside of the frame and thus letting something slip in that shouldn’t be there (like 20 minutes of Once Upon A Time In Mexico) but his hand doesn’t falter here at all. Everything is in the right place at the right time and he draws so much out from this film he and the creative team deserve many an accolade.

So as I previously mention the hype is real, my friends, and everything we’ve been saying, wishing and hoping about the film over the course of two trailers is fulfilled in full. Sin City is probably as close as the best adaptation of a comic/graphic novel and doesn’t falter along the violent, bloody and naked (as always, Robert Rodriguez loves his girls unclothed) course it brings the audience member (that’s me!) down. I was kinda afraid of writing such a positive review here of the film because if you hold something up to such a high regard and people don’t have the same reaction then they always tend to crucify you – but if you see this and you don’t have a positive experience, well then you deserve a crotch kick ala Ralph Machio in Karate Kid 1 and 2 style my friend. And I will deliver it personally. Oh, and the after party thrown by Toro magazine was something of a blur – it’s not often that the free alcohol remains steady longer than your own balance so that’s my reasoning behind the extra day to write this. Enjoy the film, seriously, you know what happens if you don’t – do it! do it!