The thinking man's Pulp Fiction

Rating: 10/10 (21 October 2006)

Sin City is one of the greatest films of the past decade. A pure adrenaline rush of action shot with a truly epic scope, it grabs you by the throat and never lets go. A bloody mosaic of revenge tales sharply focused by unforgettable characters, Sin City is quite simply a masterpiece.
Comics are being adapted for film all the time now. Some are excellent like Superman and Batman Begins. They embody the feel of a comic in ways never thought possible. Some are completely awful like Batman & Robin, mere mockeries of their source material. Sin City sets a whole new standard.
Based on the graphic novels by Frank Miller, Sin City is film-noir pulp, shot in black and white with flickers of colour creeping into the picture, almost like Pleasantville. Both films are similar because we have these one-dimensional characters struggling to break through to all three dimensions.
Another film I'm reminded of is Pulp Fiction. Both have a similar structure and individual stories that flow into another. But Sin City is far superior. There is a human face ever-present in each one of these tales. We get beneath their skin and learn in the corrupt world of Sin City, even crazed vigilantes have human souls.
Every frame of Sin City tells a story. There is so much here it could be a TV series. Although we only see three stories, by the end, we've learnt so much we feel like we've penetrated the darkest recesses of this city.
The film begins innocently enough with a three minute prologue that in a way is the most intriguing story for me. A beautiful woman in a red dress (and red lips), surrounded by black and white. Standing on a veranda to get some air from a party, she's joined by a smooth talker, who instinctively knows she's running from something. That in itself would make a great setup for a story. Unfortunately we never find out what she's running from, and neither does her companion, when he kills her.
That death scene is ironically one of Sin City's quieter moments. But it's interesting because even at this early stage, we know that every person in this city has something to hide. On to the next story, where Hartigan (Bruce Willis), one of the few decent cops left in this city is about to retire because of a heart problem.
Hartigan is searching for Nancy, a child kidnapped by Junior Roarke, the son of a powerful senator. He's already killed four children, but the law can't touch him because of his connections. Before Roarke has his wicked way with her, Hartigan catches up, and kills him. And then gets killed himself. For being the only decent cop, willing to do the right thing. That story would seem to be at an end. Only to be picked up later. Remember, in Sin City nothing is what it seems.
The next story is my favourite. Marv (brilliantly played by Mickey Rourke) is a sociopath with hidden layers. He spends the night with a hooker, Goldie. The film makes a point of this by illuminating her golden locks in stark contrast to the black and white of everything else. The next morning, Goldie is dead, and the police blame Marv for her murder.
Marv goes on the run, and journeys into the seedy corners and seamy underside of Sin City to find Goldie's killer, and avenge her. Marv has more than a passing resemblance to Hellboy, and it's great fun watching this tortured monster trying to reclaim his soul, even if it means committing murder to do it.
Throwing out wisecracks every five seconds, Mickey Rourke gives one of his best performances in years. His internal monologue allows us to get right inside Marv's psyche, easily enabling us to side with him on his vendetta. Special mention should also go to Elijah Wood in this segment as Goldie's killer, Kevin. Radiating a steely eyed coldness behind a pair of glasses and a thin smile, he makes a huge impression whenever he's around and does it without ever uttering a single word.
Marv's is quite a tragic tale. Taken by a hooker he hardly knew, he fell in love with somebody who probably only viewed it as a one night stand. And yet he was willing to give everything for her. Just because she showed an interest in him. Marv is such a complex character, he should get his own series.
The next story is the longest, and exposes the corruption that exists in this city. A battle between Irish radicals and weapon wielding whores on the streets. This initially didn't engage me as much as the others, but after a while it did. There are some marvellous action scenes, and a fine turn from the ever impressive Michael Clarke Duncan as the radicals ringleader. It's quite a virtuoso battle, like something out of a Viking novel.
Bruce Willis' tale picks up again, where he actually survived, but thanks to that same corrupt senator, gets wrongfully imprisoned for Nancy's abduction. Nancy and Hartigan strike up a friendship through letters, keeping him alive throughout his imprisonment. When he's released, he checks up on her, the only person left in his life who means anything to him.
Nancy is now a stripper (fetchingly played by Jessica Alba), sending the message that in Sin City, either you grow up fast, or you may not grow up at all. Hartigan has to save her again from the same abductor, who's now a grotesque creature called Yellow Bastard. A fierce battle ensues, with Hartigan making a noble sacrifice for Nancy.
I understand there are sequels in the pipeline. I can't wait. I want to learn more about the fascinating denizens of this city. This film is a breathtaking, stunning tapestry of events, beautifully realised, impeccably crafted, bringing to life the marvellous world of Sin City.