Movie Review: Black, white and ‘sin’fully good
Movie Review: “Sin City” (R)Grade: A-
Anyone who is looking for imagination and a stark contrast to recent film releases, will definitely find it in unexpected abundance while viewing “Sin City”. Never have I seen a film convey so much creativity and so much violence with such successful audacity, combining motifs from an old-fashioned detective movie with a wild comic book.
The concept and characters of “Sin City” initially comes from Frank Miller, the creator of a series of graphic novels with the same title. Miller was once a flourishing comic book writer/artist during the ’70s and ’80s whose work has contributed to the films “Daredevil”, “Elektra” and the “Robocop” sequels from the early ’90s. “Sin City” displays much of the same style that we see in these previous films: dark atmospheres, unflinching action sequences and grave emotional drama.
Miller co-directed the film with fellow director Robert Rodriguez (“Once Upon a Time in Mexico”). They also wrote the screenplay together while Quentin Tarantino (“Kill Bill”) worked as a special guest director. The combined efforts of make “Sin City” a spectacular version of a comic book that comes to life right before our eyes.
The film takes viewers into the murky depths of the fictional Basin City (nicknamed Sin City by all its disreputable inhabitants) and we are quickly wrapped up in the thwartings of justice that occur around every corner. The plot is driven by three separate stories which all become slowly intertwined for the somewhat conclusive ending.
Along these three seemingly jagged and disconnected storylines we are introduced to a lively bunch of city-dwellers including crooked cops, creepy serial-killers, mysterious convicts and murderous prostitutes, who all battle to the death for their freedom and survival.
As the film progresses, violence permeates every scene as people’s heads get blown off with guns, severed with machetes and spattered with blood. In fact, the R rating is primarily due to graphic violence as well as female nudity (since there are whores a-plenty). But the violence is so over-the-top and unrealistic that we are more inclined to snicker at the graphic content than be horrified by it. However, all potential viewers must be warned that “Sin City” is not for the easily squeamish.
Although the film takes you on an exciting ride of crime and wrongdoing, there are many moments that are just plain ugly.
Following along the theme of ostentatious violence, the characters are also larger-than-life. This doesn’t help the acting to be exactly prestigious but each of the numerous stars has fun with their role and strongly makes their presence known. It is because of this totally embellished view of life that makes “Sin City” such an original and sinful delight.
Filmed entirely on a computer generated blue screen, the film’s opulence and extravagant set design are impossible not to enjoy. And what makes it even more visually dazzling is that it’s shown entirely in black and white, with only a few specks of color revealed.
Baby blue eyes, a slinky red cocktail dress and bloody explosions (in a rich red as well as a startling white) are just a few of the colored items that intrigue the viewer and subtly grab attention.
“Sin City” is a wonderful film for comic book fans because it stays true to the unique genre it comes from.
With some fun surprises and thrilling action, “Sin City” provides something inventive and non-conformist with a bit of moral truth underlying it all. Something far different than we’re used to.
Casey T. Allan is a junior majoring in English and reviews movies for the Utah Statesman. Comments may be sent to caseyal@cc.usu.edu