tjameswhite.com

Hollywood, pay attention — Sin City is what movies are all about.

And give Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller tons of money and free reign to write and direct everything. Heck, give them the keys to the city and get out. [no spoilers]

In case you can’t tell, I liked the movie. In fact, I think it should win every relevant Academy Award, but it won’t. Heck, it probably won’t even be nominated.

So what’s so good? Everything.

Frank Miller’s writing is simple, tight and brilliant. Rodriguez’s camera work is stunning – great angles, wonderful use of color, lighting and special effects. The actors all deliver great gritty noir performances. Mickey Rourke as Marv is probably the standout.

And how great is it to have Bruce Willis, Rutger Hauer and Powers Booth in the same movie? Not to mention all of the dames.

If you like detective stories, go. If you like noir fiction, go. If you simply like well-written movies, go.

That’s not to say it’s for everyone; it is adult — violent and messy. It’s not messy in the Tarantino-style blood-and-guts messy — something about the stylized nature of the film and Rodriguez’s direction reduces the impact. Plus, Rodriguez understands that you don’t have to show everything, and sometimes not showing it has a greater impact.

Hollywood, please, more of this, less remakes.