If this film had been shot and produced in the same manner as conventional films, it would have been a failure. The saving grace of this neo-noir comic book film is its style and art direction. Sin City is a visual masterpiece that really looks like a comic book in motion. Because of this, some of the effects that would seem laughable in any other film are laudable here.
Sin City accomplishes a rare feat for me- it is a film that I nearly fell asleep watching, but rather enjoyed. The high concept and suspenseful payoff at the end of this installment make up for the weighty, overblown and overlong feel this movie carries through much of the middle. Under normal circumstances, this film would have been at least a whole star lower on my scale. It’s uncommon for technical aspects to save a film, and should certainly not be tried more often, because it usually won’t work.
This film is mainly for readers of the Sin City series of comic books (the industry would like me to refer to them as graphic novel, but I don't really care) and for those who enjoy high concept comic book film adaptations (of which there are few). It can be hard to follow at first, because Sin City brings you into an already living world. Nothing is explained to you about this world’s construct except through dialog. It takes a few minutes to get used to, but more focused viewers will catch on quick.
Quentin Tarantino’s original masterpiece, this film shows us what the director was capable of doing. The success of Reservoir Dogs on the Indie circuit elevated his credibility to the point where he acquired the funding to create his magnum opus, Pulp Fiction. Tarantino’s style is still in the refining stages here, and compared to Pulp Fiction, Dogs is grittier and less polished. But what do you expect from a first time indie director who learned all he knows about movies from working at a video store?
The thing that makes this movie stand out the most is the way it is told. Dogs covers the before and after events of a botched bank robbery. We never actually see the robbery and what makes it go wrong. Tarantino leaves that one gap for us to fill in with our imaginations. This is novel and at the same time risky. It pushes the edge of the fourth wall, but doesn’t tear it down completely. He merely gives us a chance to imagine part of the details. It’s subtle, but genius.
As far as themes go, Reservoir Dogs is about trust. There are several underlying themes and symbols throughout the movie, but trust is by far the biggest. Honor also plays a large factor into why some of the characters are thrust into their situations. While seemingly ultra-violent, the movie is also an examination of the male psyche. In a group of men unknown to each other, there are plenty of egos to flaunt and Alpha Male issues.
Other big pluses are sharp, witty writing that makes you question the archetypal brainless gangster, and Steve Buscemi (who excels in every one of his film roles). Despite some unrealistic parts (Mr. Orange would not have been able stay conscious after losing that much blood), the film is tense and a terrific first effort from one of the quirkiest directors in Hollywood.
PS- You’ll never be able to hear “Stuck in the Middle with You” again without thinking of this movie.
If this film had been shot and produced in the same manner as conventional films, it would have been a failure. The saving grace of this neo-noir comic book film is its style and art direction. Sin City is a visual masterpiece that really looks like a comic book in motion. Because of this, some of the effects that would seem laughable in any other film are laudable here.
Quentin Tarantino’s original masterpiece, this film shows us what the director was capable of doing. The success of Reservoir Dogs on the Indie circuit elevated his credibility to the point where he acquired the funding to create his magnum opus, Pulp Fiction. Tarantino’s style is still in the refining stages here, and compared to Pulp Fiction, Dogs is grittier and less polished. But what do you expect from a first time indie director who learned all he knows about movies from working at a video store?
