Not perfect, but still a great film

Rating: 9/10 (23 April 2005)

There's no denying that visually Sin City is a ride- a very violent one. Rodriguez makes a film that has a Tarantino-esquire feel but is somehow markedly different from the latter's work.
What makes the film great is not only the direction and cinematography, but the three main leads- Willis, Rourke, and Owen do incredible jobs, arguably some of their best work. Elijah Wood and Nick Stahl deserve some recognition too for taking a chance on edgier roles- to say that these two are playing against type is an understatement. Rosario Dawson, Michael Clark Duncan, and Benicio del Toro are great as always. The only off-key performance is from Alba- sure, she's hot, but she is a second-rate actress.
Nonetheless, Sin City is a dazzling meld of film noir, ultraviolent pulp, and Frank Miller's uncanny comic series.