The sin of shame

Rating: 2/10 (6 September 2005)

Well...considering that I got to see it for free, I suppose that I got what I paid for.
I rented Sin City and watched it over the weekend with my wife and Mum-in-law...or at least, I began watching it with them, because my mum-in-law left after the first 30 mins and my wife gave up the ghost after 45 mins. I can't say that I blame them... I watched the movie from start to finish and couldn't keep my eyes off the screen. Then again, I was desperately looking for a scene or some dialogue that would 'save the movie from itself'.
I tried in vain.
Given the fact that this movie was based on several graphic novels written by Frank Miller, one of the most respected story tellers in the industry and taken from one of his most popular series of novellas... I expected the screen to ooze relevance and great dialogue. Playful banter, sinful doubles-entendres, and snappy one-liners should've challenged the watcher to keep up with both the words and the gritty atmosphere of the visuals. Imagine, a film-noir set in a quasi-1950's era..with the cinematography aimed at making 'live action' seem like it was a comic book.
Visually...the cinematography was fabulous. The hard-cut edges to shadows, the overpainted details, the way the camera followed and preceded the actors and the action all screamed 'comic book'! The music was fitting as well, slipping almost unnoticed except in the way that it tickled the unconscious to drive the tension.
All this hard work for 3 ½ stories that barely intertwine, where the violence and blood find a higher ground than the dialogue, where bullets and guns hold a higher purpose than the actors, and where the 'look' is more important than the story. I true shame.
**** ½ - visuals * - story