New film 'Sin'fully appealing

April 21, 2005
By Jesse Virgil
Staff Writer

While a majority of action movies don’t hit theaters till summertime, Frank Miller’s “Sin City” is an absolute delight and refreshing change of pace.

Based off the graphic novels by Frank Miller, the movie brings a comic book feel unlike any other comic turned motion picture.  With dazzling special effects that give an old-school feel, co-director Robert Rodriquez (the “El Mariachi” trilogy & the “Spy Kids” trilogy), brings to life a world unlike any other.

Basin City is run down with crooked cops, powerful clergymen, politicians and prostitutes who uphold their own brand of law enforcement.  The movie itself has a sort of “Pulp Fiction” type flow in the story line, in that three different stories are being told at once.  Oddly enough, they do not all follow the same timeline in some parts.

The first story begins with detective John Hartigan (Bruce Willis), the stereotypical by the textbook good guy cop.  Hartigan gets set up by politicians as the rapist of a little girl, because the son of a prominent politician is the actual rapist.  The story leaves you with very little information as it moves on to part two.

The second story revolves around a misunderstood psychopath, played by a hardly unrecognizable Mickey Rourke, named Marv.  His tale begins with his encounter with Goldie, a prostitute goddess of his dreams played by Jamie King.  After their rendezvous, Goldie is silently murdered by a Kevin, a silent cannibal assassin played brilliantly by Elijah Wood. 

During story two, there is plenty of non-stop, shoot ‘em up action, and multiple fight scenes with Marv and Kevin.  I must say It was refreshing to see Wood take on a role in which he did not play a character who many deem as a wimp, such as Frodo in Lord of the Rings.  Rourke seemingly comes out of nowhere to handle such an evasive and complex character after his brief stint as a professional boxer.

Story number three, the most complex of them all, begins with a confrontation between Shellie (Brittany Murphy) and Jack “Jackie Boy” Rafferty (Benicio Del Toro), and her new lover, Dwight (Clive Owen).  Jackie Boy roughs up Shellie and Dwight decides to put his shenanigans to an end.  Dwight follows his adversary to Old Town, where we meet Gail (Rosario Dawson), the leader of the prostitutes.  After a slight mix up Gail and her girls find themselves in quite a mess that threatens to tear down their authoritative rule over Old Town.

After the third story end, we are taken back to the story number one.  Hartigan admits to the charges filed against him after eight years of solitary confinement in order to save a more grown up and sophisticated Nancy (Jessica Alba).  Once again, Junior, now turned to an ugly and vile creature named Yellow Bastard, is Hartigan’s nemesis.

With guidance by Quentin Tarantino, Miller and Rodriquez are able to pull off the multi storyline extravaganza that makes Sin City so appealing.  While all three stories are unique and exciting in their own way, the second storyline wins hands down with a surprise performance by Mickey Rourke and the ever so appealing Elijah Wood.

Comic book turned movies now have a tough task at hand.  While Spiderman and X-Men have found major success, they’ve lacked a comic book quality type feel, which made both franchises mainstream.  Sin City is truly one of the most creative and unique movies in recent history.  Chalked full of violence, nudity, and special effects, it’s not a movie for everyone.  However, there is no need to be a comic book fan to enjoy what Sin City has to offer.

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