Sin City
Directed by: Richard
Rodriguez and Frank Miller; "special guest director" Quentin
Tarantino
Starring: Bruce Willis (Hartigan), Mickey Rourke
(Marv), Jessica Alba (Nancy Callahan), Elijah Wood (Kevin),
Rosario Dawson (Gail), Benicio del Toro (Jackie Boy), Clive
Owen (Dwight), Devon Aoki (Miho) and Nick Stahl (Roark Jr.),
among others too numerous to mention.
Review by : Li Rapkin
My usual
disclaimer of only speaking comic as a second language and
not being familiar with the source material applies.
Sin City
is a visually stunning, post-modern comic book movie jam-packed
with the kind of comic book violence that used to get people
incensed before they had MTV and reality television to complain
about. This film is darker than dark, and more disturbing
that Dick Cheney in a tutu and body glitter. I’m told that
Frank Miller’s comic books have been shot frame-by-frame,
and that look and feel is certainly there; the black-and-white
is exceptionally high contrast, and the obvious animation
is effectively and seamlessly mixed with the live-action/computer
animation sequences. Colors are picked out, intense or muted
as it serves the plot. The look of the film is as uncompromising
and over-the-top as the interwoven stories. The cinematography
was masterful, and I give it full points for visual effect.
The text,
although jarring and disconnected, was the distilled essence
of gritty film noir. Cutting together several short stories
into a feature-length film is quite the trick, and Sin City
achieves a certain amount of success. There are places where
it falls down, and plot holes all over the place, but so compelling
that you can get through the film. I did find myself checking
my watch more than once; the pacing is very uneven. The overall
tone of the film tips its hat to Hitchcock, but channels classic
Hollywood like a medium on acid. Extra acting points go to
Elijah Wood, who has obviously learned a few things from watching
Andy Serkis.
Overall,
I would have to say that Sin City is probably the only real
comic book movie out there, as opposed to the wave of movies
about comic book characters (Spiderman, X-Men, Batman, etc.)
It’s compelling, like the televised trial of a particularly
disturbed serial killer. Not for the faint of heart or mind,
but worth the trip. . .
Li says "I'm going to have to find some friends who don't
know me."
|
