Welcome to Sin City. This town beckons to the tough, the corrupt, the brokenhearted. Some call it dark… Hard-boiled. Then there are those who call it home – crooked cops, sexy dames, desperate vigilantes. Some are seeking revenge, others lust after redemption, and then there are those hoping for a little of both. A universe of unlikely and reluctant heroes still trying to do the right thing in a city that refuses to care.
- Based on the Sin City series of graphic novels by Frank Miller.
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Back when this came out, it was a big deal to have comic book artist Frank Miller team up with hot directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino for Sin City. But would the end result withstand the years since it was made?
The ensemble cast is impressive. With such a mix of characters, it’s amazing how right each casting choice seems to be. Whether it’s Bruce Willis as an honest cop, Clive Owen as a bad guy with a heart, Josh Hartnett as a tender assassin or Mickey Rourke as a disfigured tough guy (just to name a few), everyone seems to fit their roles perfectly. It’s a genuine pleasure to watch this cast give their all to their characters.
Since Sin City is actually a combination of several of Frank Miller’s graphic novels, it’s more a series of vignettes rather than a complete film. While each story is separate, the setting is what ties them together instead of the characters. The timeline is a bit wonky as well, with some stories taking place before others that have already been shown, so it’s not unusual to see a character or two in the background from other stories.
The stories themselves are told with a passion that’s obvious in the filmmakers. They truly believe in the vision they are portraying and it comes through in each shot of Sin City. Sure, these aren’t stories for the timid, and characters may or may not survive their individual arcs, but the way they are played out on screen is downright fantastic.
The main star of the show, though, despite the talented cast and spot on directing, is the way the movie was filmed. Shot like it was taken straight from a graphic novel, Sin City delivers an astounding visual treat. While it may not be up everyone’s alley, the style fits in perfectly with the stories being told.
Just like 300 or Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Sin City tries a new approach to filmmaking. While each succeeds by varying degrees, they all make for visually inspiring experiences. Thankfully, with a strong cast, solid storytelling, and an obvious passion for the project by the filmmakers, this film succeeds on so many levels, making it darn near perfect. It’s no wonder that a sequel was made a few years later. After all, not many of us could get enough of Sin City – and that’s true even today.
