Visually Stunning and Imaginative

Rating: 8/10 (11 April 2005)

Based on the graphic novels by Frank Miller, "Sin City" is a collection of interweaving stories all based in the crime infested back alley-ed hole of "Basin City". "Basin City" looks like New York City or some other major metro city that has gone to hell in a handbag filed with hookers, corruption, and filth.
Hartigan (Bruce Willis) plays a man incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit while befriending a special little girl who he keeps in his mind to always look after when he gets out of jail. Marv (Mickey Roarke) is a hulking giant who seeks the murderer of a beauty who was killed while in bed with him. Dwight (Clive Owen) is an ex-photographer who accidentally kills a hero-cop (Benicio Del-Toro) and has to try and cover it up.
All the stories are connected and it eventually all comes together at the end of the film. It takes a while to get to that point as the film does go on for a long time. The movie is also not for the faint of heart as it is very violent. If you like castrations, be-headings, and numerous loss of limbs with buckets of blood, you'll like it. If that's not your thing, stay away. Keep in mind though, that this film is shot like a comic book and many of the violence is done in comic book style, with animation, CGI, and over exaggeration. The blood is yellow, white, and is used as more of a prop of style than anything else.
"Sin City" is dazzling to look at. The film, shot entirely in front of a blue screen, is a tribute to film noir, comic books, and I could'nt take my eyes off the screen. All the characters are fascinating people conjured up in Frank Miller's mind. Mickey Roarke's Marv is probably the most creative character to me. I loved how this guy is this giant hulk of man drawn like he came out of a Dick Tracy cartoon with his chiseled face and giant body. He is a despicable person, but for some reason, you like him.
There is a real rogues gallery of B' movie villains all over this movie. Rudger Hauer, Powers Boothe, and Michael Madsen (A Tarentino fave)are all in this. Throw in Mickey Roarke, who is unrecognizable in a slew of band-aids and covered in blood for most of the film, and you've got yourself quite some characters.
"Sin City" really is quite anchievement. I think, like "Scarface", this film will have it's audience and fans for a very long time. It's that type of film. (***1/2)