Review // Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For delivers an action packed punch of slick, stylized vignettes to rival their original 2005 film adaptation of Miller’s graphic novel series. Film audiences have had nearly a decade to acquaint themselves with Basin City and its outlaws since 2005’s Sin City first hit theatres. The original adaptation brought to the big screen comic elements in a way never seen before – making a movie that looked and felt like a graphic novel. The sequel however doesn’t offer the same visual innovation as the first. Instead, the focus is on developing the stories and characters of the rotten town further.

The green screen technique used is the same as in the first film and looks just as good. New to the sequel is the integration of 3D, which is subtle and well done. Technically, while this film isn’t the ground breaker the first was it is still fun to watch.  What is truly impressive however, is the well written multi-narrative plot structure that weaves together tales of Sin City from the point of view of different characters.

Frank Miller’s strong storytelling abilities are easily translated to the big screen; he weaves new and old tales of Sin City together into an exhilarating noir thriller.

A Dame To Kill For features an ensemble cast, some returning, some new. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Johnny is a must see – especially since the character himself is not a part of the written canon. It’s the type of role Gordon-Levitt was meant to play: a suave and sexy gambler who comes to Basin City in the hope of scoring big and settling a debt. Eva Green’s femme fatal Ava Lord is pretty usual fare for the actress – she’s sexy, manipulative and deadly. Green does a good job but there’s nothing spectacular about the performance.  Caught up in Ava’s scheme is Josh Brolin’s take on Dwight McCarthy. Dwight was originally played by Clive Owen, and we first met him in 2005 when he returns to Sin City with a brand new face, naturally this means Brolin’s mug must be the original face of the Basin City private investigator. Brolin’s Dwight is a little rougher, and a little darker than Owen’s – he’s got demons he wants to hide, unlike Owen’s free-wheeling version of the character.

Jessica Alba’s transformation from innocent victim Nancy Callahan, to the alcoholic vigilante looking for revenge against Senator Roark (Powers Boothe) is underwhelming. Nancy blames Roark for her hero John Hartigan’s (Bruce Willis) death and with the help of Marv (Mikey Rourke) decides to take on the most powerful man in Basin City.  For a plot line featuring the first female voice over and a drastic transformation it could’ve been a lot darker and wilder. Instead it felt more like a little girl wallowing in self-pity with a gun, than the birth of truly sensational Sin City renegade. Thankfully Rosario Dawson’s Gail and her harem of warrior women ensure that strong women are still represented in the franchise. Dawson gives a stellar performance as the maniacal leader of Old Town’s hookers.

Frank Miller’s strong storytelling abilities are easily translated to the big screen; he weaves new and old tales of Sin City together into an exhilarating noir thriller. Just like Mickey Rourke’s Marv the stories are gritty, dirty and fun. And fun is the optimal word here. The original Sin City is one of my favourite films, so after waiting nearly a decade for the sequel I’m thrilled it actually holds up to the first. In truth, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For plays out more like a companion piece than a sequel.

Reviewed by Vithiya Murugadas.

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