Sin City

Rated R

Starring Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Jessica Alba, Benicio Del Toro, Rosario Dawson, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Brittany Murphy, Josh Hartnett, Jaime King, Alexis Bledel, Michael Madsen, Powers Boothe, Michael Clarke Duncan, Carla Gugino, Rutger Hauer, Marley Shelton, Devon Aoki

Warning: The following review of “Sin City” gives away almost every major plot point, so if you have not already seen the film or read the comics, then I advise you to stay away.

            Leaving the theater after seeing “Sin City,” I contemplated in my mind whether or not I should even write a review of the film. I didn’t feel like I could really express, in words, my strong feelings towards the movie. After serious thought, I came to the conclusion that it would be better to write something than nothing, although the following review won’t come close to doing this masterpiece justice.

            “Sin City” is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Adapted from Frank Miller’s graphic novels, this is the most faithful adaptation of a comic book ever (I feel like an idiot writing that last line, since variations of it have been printed in every recent magazine in America.) Director (and fellow Austinite) Robert Rodriguez has done justice to the extremely violent comic books, as well as giving Miller a co-director spot on the film (which cost Rodriguez his Director’s Guild membership.) Quentin Tarantino also chipped into the production as a Special Guest Director.

            Although it is unclear what time period “Sin City” takes place in, the city itself is a masterwork of production design, art direction and visual effects. While you’re watching the movie, keep in mind that most of this motion picture was filmed with green screens filling in for actual sets, and all of the backgrounds were added later using a digital technology similar to that of “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.”

            The film is adapted from three of Miller’s “Sin City” books, and the final product is very similar to “Pulp Fiction’s” three interweaved storylines. The first story is called “The Hard Goodbye,” and Mickey Rourke is simply brilliant as the scarred and brutal Marv, who finds solace in the arms of Goldie (Jaime King), a local prostitute. While the two are sleeping together, an unknown assassin walks into Marv’s apartment and kills Goldie. Marv wakes up, and not only is Goldie dead, but he’s been framed for her murder. Determined to avenge Goldie’s death, Marv wrecks every joint in town looking for information about this assassin.

            Turns out, Goldie’s killer is a mute cannibal named Kevin (Elijah Wood, giving a performance creepy enough to be compared to Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lector), who lives on a farm and mounts his victims heads onto his walls like deer. Marv certainly gets his revenge on Kevin…wolf style.

            The second story is called “The Big Fat Kill,” and stars Clive Owen (amazing, by the way) as Dwight, a man sickened by the vile and immoral Jackie Boy (Benicio Del Toro, great as usual.) Dwight first discovers that Jackie Boy is a creep when they clash over Shellie (Brittany Murphy), and to make sure that Jackie Boy doesn’t harm anyone, Dwight follows him into Old Town, where the prostitutes hang out.

            The prostitute clan, led by Gail (Rosario Dawson), assures Dwight that the girls in Old Town have the situation with Jackie Boy handled, thanks in large part to their protector-of-sorts, Miho (Devon Aoki), who is equally as deadly as “Kill Bill’s” Gogo Yubari. And when Jackie Boy and his posse assault a young prostitute, Miho has a chance to chop Jackie Boy’s hand off with a swastika-shaped throwing star.

            But it’s not until Jackie Boy and his pals are dead that Dwight discovers that Jackie Boy was a cop. This only complicates matters, especially since the prostitutes and the police force had always held a shaky truce.

            The third and final story is called “That Yellow Bastard,” and stars Bruce Willis as John Hartigan, a hardworking cop with heart problems. He is after a sick child rapist named Rourk Jr. (Nick Stahl), whose father just happens to be a very powerful senator. After ripping off vital body parts from Rourk, Hartigan saves 11 year-old Nancy Callahan from the rapist, only to be shot in the back (literally) by his police partner (Michael Madsen.)

            Soon after, Hartigan is framed by Senator Rourk for Nancy’s kidnapping and is sent to jail. After eight years, Hartigan finally confesses to the crime he didn’t commit and is let out of jail. He goes to find Nancy (Jessica Alba), now 19 and an exotic dancer at a nightclub. Following Hartigan is Yellow Bastard, a mutated version of Rourk Jr., who is still looking to capture Nancy.

            Have I mentioned that the entire movie is in black and white? Well, with splotches of other colors (blood is usually bright red or white.) And speaking of blood, the film is extremely violent (although much of it is comical, such as in “Pulp Fiction” and “Kill Bill.”)

            In conclusion, I can’t remember the last time I was as enthusiastic about a film as I am now about “Sin City.” Although it’s pretty early in the year, I think it’s safe to say that I won’t see a better film in 2005. Consider this a huge achievement for Rodriguez, Miller, Willis, Owen, Rourke and anyone else involved.

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