Sin City (2005)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Directors:

Frank Miller
Robert Rodriguez

Writer:

Frank Miller (graphic novels)

Release Date:

1 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Hell of a way to end a partnership.

Plot:

A film that explores the dark and miserable town Basin City and tells the story of three different people, all caught up in the violent corruption of the city.

Plot Keywords:

Corruption | Death | Vengeance | Violence | Stripper

Awards:

16 wins & 29 nominations

Cast

Jessica Alba	...	Nancy Callahan
Devon Aoki	...	Miho
Alexis Bledel	...	Becky
Powers Boothe	...	Senator Roark
Cara D. Briggs	...	Hearing Panel Person (as Cara Briggs)
Jude Ciccolella	...	Liebowitz
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	...	Motorcycle Cop (as Jeff Dashnaw)
Rosario Dawson	...	Gail
Jesse De Luna	...	Corporal Rivera
Benicio Del Toro	...	Jackie Boy
Jason Douglas	...	Hitman
Michael Clarke Duncan	...	Manute
Tommy Flanagan	...	Brian
Christina Frankenfield	...	Judge
Rick Gomez	...	Klump

Also Known As:

Frank Miller's Sin City (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sustained strong stylized violence, nudity and sexual content including dialogue.

Runtime:

124 min | USA:147 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba) | Taiwan:R-12 | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) | Venezuela:PG-13 | USA:Unrated (unrated extended edition) | Australia:MA | South Africa:16 | Hungary:18 | New Zealand:R16 (TV rating) | USA:R (certificate #41611) | Iceland:16 | Italy:T | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | Argentina:13 (DVD rating) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Czech Republic:15 | Denmark:15 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Israel:18 | Japan:R-15 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:16 | Philippines:R-13 (cut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | Mexico:C | Poland:18 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:R21 (director's cut) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Peru:18 (original rating) | Peru:14 (re-rating) | France:-16 | France:-12 (cut) | Colombia:18 | Austria:16 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Basel-Stadt)

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

Guest director Quentin Tarantino directed the scene involving Dwight (Clive Owen) and Jackie Boy (Benicio Del Toro) in the front of the car, before Dwight is pulled over by a police officer.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Miho dives into the tar pits to pull Dwight out. But when we see her in another shot, there is barely any tar on her. This was an intentional joke by the filmmakers.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The Salesman: [voiceover] She shivers in the wind like the last leaf on a dying tree. I let her hear my footsteps. She only goes stiff for a moment.

Movie Connections:

References Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Soundtrack:

Wrong Baby

Truly a comic book brought to life!

I must admit that I know, or knew rather, very little about the story or history of Frank Miller and his series of comic book novels - and maybe that is why I enjoyed this movie so much. Although, this is still a different type of situation where one who was a big fan of the stories might be seriously critical of every little detail of the comic book turned movie. I don't believe anyone who considers themselves truly knowledgeable about Miller's work can say that this was not represented well on the big screen. I'm now intrigued to go back and check out some of his work.

That aside, as far as it being a movie and a work of art, I would give this movie high marks in both categories. For it being a movie, it was nice to see something so different as far as the approach to making it go. Also, having such an incredible cast makes it all the more intriguing. I don't see anyone else having portrayed any of these characters any better than the cast that was hired to do so.

On an artistic level, it is extremely hard to think of any other movie that comes close to being in the same league. I did not see Sky Captain, but I would say that anyone who liked Pleasantville for its cinematography and graphic elements, would love Sin City. The use of black and white photography with only specific colors added later make for a far more dramatic effect. And so much of the cinematography being so close to a "moving picture" version of comic book art simply makes this movie worth seeing.

Take the artistic elements of this movie, and put it together with the amazing cast (both looks and talent) and throw it together with a very different but coherent plot, and you've got yourself an extremely enjoyable movie that is definitely worth seeing. And seeing at the theater no less!

My hats off to Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, and the rest of the cast and crew for putting together something different for a change.

My only complaint about the whole movie - the use of labeling Quentin Tarantino as a "Special Guest Director" is almost too lame to deal with.