Sin City (2005): A Review

Over in Hollywood they almost made a great picture, but they caught it in time.
Wilson Mizner (1876 - 1933)

Plot Outline

A collection of interweaving stories all based in the corrupt, crime infested hell-hole that is Basin City. Heavily influenced by film-noir, the main storylines concern a hulking brute called Marv (Mickey Rourke), who is seeking the murderer of a beautiful woman who was killed while asleep in bed with him; an ex-photographer called Dwight (Clive Owen) who accidentally kills a hero cop and has to cover it up; and a soon-to-be-retiring policeman called Hartigan (Bruce Willis) who is incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit. All based on the brilliant graphic novels "Sin City", "The Big Fat Kill" and "That Yellow Bastard", written and illustrated by Frank Miller.

Credited Cast
Devon Aoki.... Miho
Powers Boothe.... Senator Roark
Rosario Dawson.... Gail
Benicio Del Toro.... Jackie Boy Rafferty
Michael Clarke Duncan.... Manute
Carla Gugino.... Lucille
Rutger Hauer.... Cardinal Patrick Henry Roark
Michael Madsen.... Bob
Clive Owen.... Dwight McCarthy
Mickey Rourke.... Marv
Nick Stahl.... Roark Jr./Yellow Bastard
Bruce Willis.... John Hartigan
Elijah Wood.... Kevin

Plot Outline and credits courtesy of IMDB.com

Review:

Well… Any film that casts Elijah Wood as a serial killing, cannibal that kicks ass as a martial artist has full marks for bravery.

Sin City is dark… not just dark but Daaaaaaaaark! Filmed in weird black and white with bits of colour: Whats that? Film Noir? I don’t fucking know – its artsy but the gore and blood with heads being lopped off left and right works for me. God I love you Quentin T and Robert R.

There are many characters that I enjoyed here: From the lethal and silent Miho played by the disgracefully attractive Devon Aoki (There had better be more of her in Sin City 2) to Dwight the ultimate anti-hero who is as bad and mad as anyone in this movie but we are all clearly rooting for him. Rosario Dawson is always good value but the fact that she’s in fishnets… My God! The writers and directors of this film have invaded my dreams and made a movie. I have been trying to get my wife to watch this movie but seeing as the first scene contains a lady catching a bullet up close the hard way… no chance.

This film was wonderful from start to finish. All the characters had something to say and the story, effects, mood, and acting were excellent. I’ve never read any of Frank Miller’s Graphic Novellas but I wish I had. BTW welcome back Mickey Rourke – An excellent performance as crazy Marv.

I only had one regret about this film… that I caught it on DVD instead of the Big screen. Just try keeping me away from Sin City 2.