Sin City

Review By: Adam Biernat
AdamBiernat@TheCinemaSource.com

Frank Miller is a man that has shaped the way that comics are drawn and read. While most may be unfamiliar with his work, Miller has been a staple in modern comics creating fantastic storylines particularly in Daredevil and the acclaimed Dark Knight Returns and DK2. Sin City represents his dark film-noir tales created out of the recesses of his own imagination. Starting with one tale titled The Hard Goodbye the rest of the characters ran away with the story and became a series of intense characters striving for something that they believe is bigger than themselves. Sin City comes alive in the concept of fighting for ideals.

Sin City centers around three separate stories involving three different ”main” characters. The acting talent is impressive with the three main leads being played by acting power houses, Mickey Roarke, Bruce Willis and Clive Owen. Most of the actors jumped on to this project because of how it was going to be shot using the material with little improvisation. Unlike other comic book movies, these characters have no super powers. They are merely individuals motivated by an ideal that will be not be impeded by anyone. The script, also unlike many others, has remained true to the graphic novels almost scene for scene, shot for shot and line for line. It’s because of this that director Robert Rodriquez needed to give Frank Miller a co-director title because all Rodriquez brought was the medium to bring Miller’s vision to the screen.

90% of the movie is created with state of the art computer graphics that will even make Lucas raise an eyebrow. One of the best parts about the comic was this dark, black and white feel with a sparing use of color; used only for hightened effect and of course symbolism. The fact that it’s gritty and always raining created a darker Gotham with no heroes but people with something which they we willing to die for.

While this isn’t exactly a new concept, the material itself and the amazing stylistic presentation of it makes it a completely captivating story. The only thing that becomes a double-edged sword is the acting talent. Everyone in this movie is a somebody, even down to Bruce Willis’ corrupt cop partner, played by Michael Madson. It’s tough when actors are typecast, especially tough guys who have made their living being badasses. Jessica Alba and Britney Murphy gave surprisingly good performances despite original expectations (come on. Did anyone see Honey or Just Married)??) and Mickey Roarke and Elijah Wood were extremely convincing. Clive Owen was just awesome but I don’t think that needs to be said. Man’s got talent.

From a fan point of view, Sin City was slightly monotonous. If you’ve read the novels more than twice, everything that used to take 2 minutes to read and absorb now happens in about 5 seconds. Some of the best lines are taken off and there are a few points of inconsistency but otherwise it’s solid, but the same. I never knew what it would be like if directors never took liberties with the story. From ...