Sin City piles on the sugar...

Rating: 6/10 (9 October 2005)

(Max Payne + Queens of the Stone Age "Go With The Flow" video + film-noir + violence) x Frank Miller = Sin City
Easy viewing fans need not apply. This film was certainly not what I had expected - being a fresh latecomer to this one, free from reading reviews, hearing hype-talk and seeing promos (in fact, all I saw was the poster designs) - I really went into it without any real idea as to where it would go (the reason I mention this is because this rarely happens with me, and if you can, go into it the same way -- ironic, seeing as you're still reading this now). Set in Basin City, the film is made up of 3 Frank Miller novels that loosely interlink with one another in a kind of chronological fashion, mixed with a hint of Pulp Fiction (see, you're still reading this). I hadn't read any of these novels beforehand, but having looked up the content of each book (the script as well as the illustrated frames) the film itself stays extremely true to the original in every way. I can imagine Frank Miller fans loving this film regardless, so if you've read the books, this review isn't for you. The mood itself takes film noir to new depths: and I was surprised at the heavily stylised Basin City being one of the more sinister locations I've seen on film as I didn't think the film had it in it (anyone who has seen Dark City will also relate): in fact, you literally never get to see the light of day during the whole picture (not a good idea to watch this with a reflective TV screen next to window in mid-afternoon). This, though, only lends itself to the equally dark storyline and superb lighting effects that make it intense viewing, bordering on illustrative (remember the novels). The CGI effects, make-up, costumes, prosthetics, stylisation and moody voiceovers also push this to it's outer limits, further than any other comic-come-film has gone. Stylised violence, loud sound effects, big muscles, bigger guns, dominatrix queens and lots of death and revenge - the storyline certainly knows how to get itself noticed (rating this film R was probably the easiest job the ratings office must have ever had) and taken from that point of view this film gets a 10 out of 10. The film's general mood is certainly pulled off by both director and actors throughout, and the big Hollywood stars don't disappoint. So, why a 6 out of 10? Well, as a rule of thumb, I extremely dislike anything that is an excuse to use brilliant aesthetics tapped to a much weaker idea - and there is most definitely a lot of that here. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was a film about violence for the sake of violence. The novels, themselves, can been seen as a separate item in this respect - they are what they are. However, the film differs in the sense that it most definitely falls in love with itself all the way through. It feels like it's more than it is, when in reality it is a brilliant storytelling idea and aesthetic doused in gruesome violence, iconic characters and slick anecdotes all chained to the location in which it is set - nothing much more than that. Although it never tries to be a realistic depiction (in fact, it is the original stylisation that does give it some emotional substance in my opinion); the fact that one story, for example, is entirely based around a man set out to get revenge on a cannabalistic killer who eats a hooker he met that very night ("killing his way up the food chain" as the film openly states) makes me think: what's the point? I got the point after about half an hour, the other hour and a half is just filling the holes and finishing the tale, not showing me anything new or giving me something to take away. As far as Sin City goes, Frank Miller fans will love it for it's superb depiction of the novels and the strong performances from the big stars (especially Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis) - and having seen the books, I do recommend them as separate an virginal entities from the film. For those who aren't familiar with the novels and going fresh into this, they can never take Sin City too seriously, even though it tries to make you believe it's epic viewing (pushed heavily by the gravelly voiceovers and dry, hard, slick talking characters), or they will be disappointed. If you remember that films are about storytelling and entertainment, then this does have some meat on it, but to see it as more than a violent, sinister, bad-city-bad-people novel made into a film would be a mistake. It is definitely one to see, even for it's aesthetic emotional value: but remember that it's a cake covered in many layers of beautiful icing with a the filling doesn't come close to the exterior. Those of you who have 4 sugars in your tea, this is essential viewing. Anjoy.