Babes and blood reign in gritty 'Sin City'

Bruce Willis and Jessica Alba appear in a scene from the new movie Sin City. The film is based on a comic book series of the same title.

Published: Friday, April 1, 2005 at 7:54 a.m.

The title of Robert Rodriguez's latest film says it all because Sin City is filled to its sharply-styled edges with pistol-packing prostitutes, gritty anti-heroes and villains so disgusting it is difficult to describe their depravities in a family newspaper.

Anyone venturing into this wicked world will be taken on a grim visual roller-coaster ride, but how much you enjoy the trip depends on your tolerance for relentlessly graphic violence.

How graphic?

Blood flows freely down Sin City's streets (albeit mostly in starkly beautiful black-and-white imagery) and appendages fly across the movie screen at regular intervals.

How relentless?

One character picks off an adversary by firing his pistol through another enemy's already-impailed head, and that's far from the most extreme example of gore on display.

To come close to imagining the wicked world of Sin City, try combining parts of A Clockwork Orange with Dick Tracy and add the storytelling sensibilities of Pulp Fiction.

It's a not a pretty world. It's not a nice world. But then again, it does not pretend to be either.

Sin City is a celluloid adaptation of Frank Miller's cult comic book series of ultra-violent pulp novels set in the corrupt locale of Basin City where characters spit out dialogue like "He's dead, he just doesn't know it yet," and "I've been framed for murder and the cops are in on it" without ever seeming out of place.

The film intertwines three stories from that dark and dismal town. The main one involves a seemingly invulnerable ex-con (Mickey Rourke) and his effort to find the killer of a prostitute murdered in his bed.

The second plot revolves around a private investigator Dwight (Clive Owen) trying to prevent a turf war between ladies of the night who run the city's shadier section and the police who allow those prostitutes to invoke a unique brand of vigilante justice.

Bookending those segments is Bruce Willis as the last honest cop in town trying to protect an 11-year-old girl from a sexual predator.

The performances in Sin City are all over the top, but most work within the confines of the violent cartoon imagery. Rourke's gruff character conveys a sense of adoration for his lost lover in spite of the fact that actor is encased in layers of prosthetic makeup needed to make him resemble his iconic counterpart from the comics.

Willis, Owen and Benicio Del Toro similarly prove themselves in their sections of the film, but the women of Sin City do not fare anywhere near as well.

Jessica Alba provides some ample eye candy, but little characterization. Brittany Murphy's character does move the plot along a little but she's almost forgettable and Rosario Dawson is such a violent caricature that she comes across more as a punk-rock vampire than the heavily armed blood-thirsty vixen she's supposed to be.

The real star of Sin City though is the cinematography. Rodriguez replicates images from the comics almost frame for frame while brilliantly using silhouettes and sparse color-infused shots for maximum effect.

It's not a film for everyone. In fact, I'd say chances are good at one point or another Sin City will offend the majority of people who go to see it, but if you can stomach the violence it is worth the time if for no other reason than the visceral visual experience.

  • Starring Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Jessica Alba. Info
  • Four out of five stars
  • Rated R for strong stylized violence, nudity and sexual content
  • Running time: 2 hrs. 6 min.

    Contact Rich at 694-7890 or via e-mail at


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