'Sin City' is brutal, violent, gritty, and a lot of fun

Rating: Null/10 (10 April 2005)

Sin City (2005) Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Jamie King, Brittany Murphy, Benicio Del Toro, Nick Stahl, Elijah Wood, Michael Clarke Duncan, Michael Madsen, Josh Hartnett, D: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino ("special guest director"). Gritty, violent, visually sensational comic-book film noir, based on Frank Miller's graphic novels, is set in the corrupt, crime-infested Sin City, full of thugs, dirty cops, bloodthirsty killers, and sleazy prostitutes. Film has a collection of interweaving stories: a burly brute (Rourke) on a mission to avenge the death of his love; an ex-photographer (Owen) who kills a cop with a gang of prostitutes and must cover it up; and a soon-to-be-retiring cop (Willis) who tries protecting the girl he once rescued. Virtuoso visual style (black-and-white with only splashes of color) feels overly self-indulgent at first, then overtaken by terrific energy from graphic violence, an array of hard-working talent, and crackling humor. Given a hard R-rating for a reason! 123 min., rated R. *** Â½