(Review originally written at 4 December 2005)
Out of all the in 2005 released movies I have seen so far, this one takes the cake. It's renewing, stylish and just simply overall brilliantly made. It really is a breath of fresh air. This movie sets (or should set) the new standards for film-noir for the 21th century. It's straight to the point, very direct, dark and violent but yet all done with lots of flair and style. I really do hope more movies in this sort of 21th century film-noir style will be made, in the near or distant future.
I didn't wanted this movie to stop! I truly enjoyed every second of it. I have to admit that at first I had to get used to the unusual style of movie-making but once I was accustomed to it I didn't wanted it to stop. The first few minutes of the movie with Josh Hartnett and Marley Shelton perfectly works as an introduction to the movie and its style. This movie is unlike anything else you've experienced before. The style perfectly captures the Frank Miller's comic book feelings. It flawlessly captures some of those typical comic book moments and its atmosphere.
The movie is ultra-violent and features lots of bullets, other weapons and limbs flying around. The movie its essence is not on the story but truly on the violence in it. The violence is done in such an over-the-top way that it isn't 'shocking' in terms of sickening. It's done with style and lots of dark-humor and that's why it should be perfectly watchable for everyone. It really gives 'movie violence' a new meaning.
The movie features a few actors that truly surprised me. First of all it is great to see that Mickey Rourke is really back again. He is perfect as Marv and perhaps plays the best character of the entire movie. Actors that mainly surprised me were; Clive Owen and Elijah Wood. Clive Owen is a great actor but I always thought he also was very boring and had little charisma. Granted that that gave him a certain coolness in movies but in "Sin City" he is cool, cool and not boring cool (hope that made a bit sense to you). He suits his role perfectly and is really awesome to watch. And who would had ever known that that sweet little looking Elijah Wood was able to play a convincing and genuine scary psychophysic serial killer/cannibal. The entire movie is filled with well known actors but all of them are cast to suite their role and not in the first place because of their well known names. Some of the big names in this movie are; Nick Stahl, Brittany Murphy, Michael Madsen, Jaime King, Rick Gomez, Rosario Dawson, Powers Boothe, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jessica Alba, Rutger Hauer, Josh Hartnett, Benicio Del Toro..should I really go on? All of the characters are cool and unique in their very special own way. The movie mainly consists out of three separate stories set in Sin City. Three main characters in those stories are being played by Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke and Clive Owen. The movie also features some strong female characters. They might look cute and sexy but you better not mess with them!
Robert Rodriguez delivers with this movie a brilliant new sort and daring movie that is made with an incredible amount of style. The use of black and white and the use of some colors in some scene's works great for the movie and its special kind of atmosphere. It makes "Sin City" a certainly unique but also definitely awesome movie to watch. Besides directing Robert Rodrigueze also once again does his own cinematography, editing, sound re-recording mixing, visual effects and the musical score for the movie, along with respected composers John Debney and Graeme Revell. You really have to respect Rodriguez how he makes movies and what he achieve's with it and how it also appeals to a wide range of audience, even though his movies are often unique and something new that hasn't been done and shown before.
Finally a movie again, that lives up to the hype. Looking extremely forward to the new Sin City movies, I simply can not get enough of it!
10/10
Watch trailer
No comments: