Disturbing, uncompromising, brilliant - 91%

Rating: 9/10 (8 September 2006)

Every now and again, I stumble across a film that makes me wonder why I'm not into graphic novels more than I am. I'm not a huge fan of graphic novels but whenever I see things like "Road To Perdition" or this simply amazing film from Robert Rodriguez, I can't help but think what I'm missing. Like his good buddy (and guest director) Quentin Tarantino and his best film, Rodriguez has fashioned a truly memorable picture out of multiple stories brought together in a black-as-Hell modern film noir and the result is pure gold. Already, I'm running out of superlatives and I haven't even explained why this film is essential viewing, providing you have the stomach for it.
"Sin City" is set in Basin City and it is a dark and twisted place – the sort of urban nightmare where only the sick and the twisted live. Amid the darkness and perpetual rain, honest cop Hartigan (Bruce Willis) refuses to retire until he's protected stripper Nancy (Jessica Alba) from one of the true evils of the town. Over in Old Town, disturbed cop Dwight (Clive Owen) is plunged into a war between the ladies of the night – led by matriarch Gail (Rosario Dawson) – and the cops. And across town, the hulking man-monster Marv (Mickey Rourke) mourns for a dead prostitute, murdered beside him in his bed. But soon, his drive for revenge takes him on a blood-soaked journey through town to the very top and a farm on the outskirts of town, which has seen some truly vile crimes
What is truly spectacular about this film is that it is, in every sense, the graphic novel filmed. Every shot is exactly as it was in Frank Miller's original and the vision is pure and true. And what a vision it is, an extraordinary ensemble cast led by Willis and a resurgent Rourke appear in what may well be the darkest film noir ever made. The black-and-white look also matches the graphic novel (complete with milk-white blood and occasional flashes of colour) and the whole thing is a joy to behold. It must be said that due to the strength of the source material, "Sin City" is strictly adults only and a strong stomach is a must. Some of the scenes in this make "Saw" look like a Disney production. Even without the film's stunning appearance, blacker-than-black humour and rock-solid scripting, every actor gives their role their all and boy, does it pay off. Owen is fantastic as Dwight and shows what he could have done had he got the Bond job ahead of Daniel Craig. But Rourke has never been better, tearing the place up like a hurricane in a trench coat but with a black sense of humour and a wry smile.
This is, without a doubt, Rodriguez's opus – a film of such stunning brilliance that it is the equivalent of Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction". I know that sounds a bit much – "Pulp Fiction" is still one of my favourite films ever – but the style and feel of the piece is very similar. It's blacker and more ambitious, using a bigger budget to great effect in bringing "Sin City" to life. It's one of those rare movies that sticks in your mind and you remind yourself of key scenes or lines of killer dialogue (mainly Marv's) with a smile on your face. It isn't an easy film to watch, by any means, but it is a huge achievement and one that any fan of noir will kick themselves for missing. From the fantastic opening sequence where you struggle to keep your jaw from dropping, "Sin City" remains a film of consistently high quality and should deserve to be remembered and treasured for a long time.