Film Rating: 7 / 10
"Frank Miller's Sin City" is filled with gluttons for punishment; characters who, fittingly, sustain more damage than seems reasonable or possible. It also contains Nick Stahl playing a hideous smelling and looking character called Yellow Bastard. Yeah, it's that kind of film.
Comic book writer/artist Frank Miller took a gamble when he allowed a film adaptation of his gritty series of graphic novels, "Sin City." Luckily, director Robert Rodriguez ("From Dusk Till Dawn," "Once Upon a Time in Mexico") is well versed in fun and gun style filmmaking. Shot on digital video and with the help of green screen aplenty, Rodriguez is able to perfectly capture the look of an onscreen comic book. While shot in black and white, the film contains splashes of color throughout. Although most are purely aesthetic, others will reward more patient and attentive viewers.
The film, culled from several of the "Sin City" books, consists of three disparate but occasionally related stories. The story of John Hartigan (Bruce Willis) and Nancy Callahan (Jessica Alba) bookends the film, with Willis playing a disgraced police officer who finds his only solace in the adoring young woman.
Unfortunately, the perverted and sadistic son of a senator, Junior (Nick Stahl), also lusts for Nancy. Even his mutilation and transformation into Yellow Bastard cannot deter him from his longing for Nancy. This leads to some magnificently grotesque sequences, including a particularly grueling barnyard scene.
One of the more enjoyable stories involves Marv (Mickey Rourke), a colossal giant superman, who finds himself misplaced and unloved in the vile Basin City. Marv is an ex-con who searches for answers after losing Goldie (Jaime King), the only woman who ever loved him. Rourke plays the character with the kind of down-and-out gleefulness that is a treat to watch as he jokes and smashes his way through his scenes, looking for answers.
Finally, there is the story of Dwight (Clive Owen) and the self-governed prostitutes of Old Towne led by Gail (Rosario Dawson). When the womanizing and maniacal Jack Rafferty (Benicio Del Toro) stirs up some trouble, the plot gets thicker and the thrills and laughs become more subversive. Perhaps this is why Mr. Rodriguez sought the help of the top purveyor of delightfully twisted films, Quentin Tarantino - a longtime friend and frequent collaborator. Tarantino crafts a wonderfully disturbing but hilarious sequence of dialogue between Dwight and Rafferty during an intense car sequence. The scene, which includes some humorous and magnificent acting by Del Toro, must be seen to be believed.
The actors seem to genuinely enjoy the roles they have undertaken, or at least the opportunity to have fun in the film. The dialogue is nearly all taken from the actual comic books and, understandably, is often stilted and over-expository. Some of the actors, like Michael Madsen (Bob), never quite manage to get comfortable in their roles. Others, like Dawson and Brittany Murphy (Shellie), exaggerate their roles too much, comic or not.
"Frank Miller's Sin City" is occasionally so wild and chaotic it spins out of control. At these times, the gore and the speed of the film tend to overwhelm you.
For most viewers, any type of cohesion or conclusion in a film like this may seem improbable, if not impractical. However, the film comes full circle and will leave fanboy and casual moviegoer alike satiated. Yeah, it's that kind of film.