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Film critics err in recommending movies for specific audiences. If the purpose of a review is to compel readers to pay cash to see flickering light, than narrowing your targets to a group that like only a particular picture or genre risks alienating those who don't, and subsequently alienating those that do if they happen to disagree. It's better to speak in generalities than to talk solely to a certain, hip crowd, afraid that others might read your words, judge them as meant for them, and Far be it from me to err. I could tell you in specifics the type of crowd sure to love Sin City, to revel in every dark, sinister as wh*res and crooks stage a morality play of epic, if lonely, proportions, but that would be unfair for the aforementioned reasons. I've criticized Quentin Tarantino before for "dealing in slick, intelligent violence" that's "still just a lot of violence." Robert Rodriguez does not fail in the same direction as his "special guest director;" there's more here than just fancy swordplay and cunning linguists. But there is plenty of violence, acts that make the most hardened Tarantino veteran cringe and wonder if he's wandered into the wrong cineplex, or perhaps down the wrong dark alley. So to recommend Sin City to the masses --- this would certainly be an error as well. So I shall err, just slightly, and suggest Mr. Rodriguez's effort to those who like any (or all) of the following: -Heroes struggling to conquer evil, not for profit but solely in the name of what is good and right (even if this involves hookers.) A grizzled police detective putting his life on the line, just days from retirement (of course,) for an innocent young girl. A burly, hideous loner, straight from prison, sacrificing all to redeem the thankless murder of a call girl, simply because she showed him a rare glimpse of kindness. These are not always great people, but they can sometimes do great things, even if they're often fueled by raw vengeance. Revenge, karma's most favorite stimulus. -Tremendous cinematography and special effects, from helicopter sweeps through a dark, digital city to the ashen white snow circling ‘round in the film's latter scenes. Cathedrals that echo the medieval designs of towering castles and hide the medieval sins of their current tenants. -Rory Gilmore, dirty wh*re. -Films that do not spoon-feed morality to filmgoers in palatable lessons, but instead can spend every reel drowning in shades of gray. Heroes do bad things to good people for the cause of the greater good; more simply put, life isn't fair, so tough sh*t. Sometimes good people wear black hats. -Ballshots. -Castrations. All four of them. -Witty narration that entertains instead of just acting as dry, effortless exposition. Necessary not only to further the plot but to explain the reasons behind somewhat questionable actions, the mental dialogue far outpaces what is spoken in most other films. -Carla Gugino's t*ts, at last. I was enthralled by Sin City, primarily because of Rodriguez's ability to present such brutal violence in a non-gratuitous fashion. These are bad people on both sides of the law, and my telling you this gives you only a tenth of the understanding you need to comprehend this world. Rodriguez could come no closer by omitting the hysteria of this film; besides, as one evil bloke comments, once you've caused an explosion it's hard to go back to the tiny sound of a mere pistol shot. As Hollywood has continued to ramp up the killing and the horrors, as Tarantino did last year with the Kill Bill double shot, anything less than what we're shown here would seem tame and archaic. As Frodo's ripped apart and yet another man loses his ability to procreate, there's more happening than just people becoming tenors. There's three interesting stories playing out, with two constant underlying reminders: -None of these people, perhaps one, is really a good person. But that doesn't mean everyone is 100% bad. -Justice sometimes requires a bit of...persuasion. So finally, my error: if you like original stories with interesting characters shown to you in a startlingly fresh fashion, then go see Sin City. Just bring a jockstrap. email this review to a friend
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