Sin City (2005)
The Main Cast
Jessica Alba .... Nancy Callahan
Devon Aoki .... Miho
Alexis Bledel .... Becky
Rosario Dawson .... Gail
Benicio Del Toro .... Jackie Boy
Carla Gugino .... Lucille
Josh Hartnett .... The Man
Jaime King .... Goldie/Wendy
Michael Madsen .... Bob
Brittany Murphy .... Shellie
Clive Owen .... Dwight
Mickey Rourke .... Marv
Nick Stahl .... Roark Jr./Yellow Bastard
Bruce Willis .... Hartigan
Elijah Wood .... Kevin
Directed by Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez & guest directed (whatever that means) by Quentin Tarantino, Sin City has been referred to as the most accurate comic book adaptation movie ever made. I wouldn't know anything about that other than what I've heard, as I've never read any of Miller's apparently awesome comic book noirs. What I do know is that Sin City is one of the most slick-looking-bad-ass-gritty movies that I've ever seen.
Sin City plays like an old crime novella, with two main stories bookended by a third, which is further bookended by a mood setting little thread of a storyline as well. Each story has it's good & bad aspects to it, with the good outweighing the bad to the point where analyzing the bad just seems like nit-picking. For example, after the opening title screen, the rest of the technical credits show up on the screen looking like they were recorded off of someone's VHS tape. Like I said, nit-picking.
Other than that, the only minor complaint I have was some of the less than stellar acting chops on display. I'm looking at you Madsen & Alba (you bet I'm looking at her). Maybe I'm just so used to Michael Madsen almost always being top-notch, that when he doesn't steal a scene, I'm thoroughly disappointed. As for Alba, well, she plays her part as just another pretty face / hot body in a very average way. With all the hotness from the advertising of this movie, I kinda felt the way I did after watching Coyote Ugly. Just a little ripped off y'know? Speaking of rip-offs, the DVD is shockingly bare of Special Features, save for a Making Of documentary that I turned off after a minute & a half because QT was annoying me. One day I'll try to watch it again.
I'm trying to decide which story I liked best, & I'm wondering why I've never seen an LJ meme based on this movie. Like: Which Sin City storyline / character are you? Somebody with more time on their hands than me should put one together, or point me in the direction of it if I missed it. All three of the storylines feature a strong-willed male character, putting his ass on the line for the womankind. Rourke & Willis are particularily awesome as the grizzled old warhorses hellbent on vengeance. Top of the heap in my books is Clive Owen though, as his character's storyline is unfailingly excellent. If he wasn't already on his way to being a huge star, this movie would've been his ticket to stardom.
It's a gorgeous looking movie, through & through, with gripping storylines, excellent characters & a perfect mood-setting score. Other than some of the unavoidable creepiness in the Nancy / Hartigan storyline, & the previously mentioned somewhat phoned in performances of members of the cast, I thoroughly enjoyed Sin City. For all of it's film noir, crime novel-influenced feel, it still comes across as shockingly original. & I didn't even mention Carla Gugino's nakedness! 4.5 outta 5.