THE latest Sin City film makes no qualms about what it is – a film for fans of the comic series.
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Sin City: A Dame to Kill For will hit cult status easily, even if it doesn’t get strong reviews or make big bucks at the box office.
It tells three separate stories that are either prequels or sequels to the first Sin City film (2005).
Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson and Bruce Willis all reprise their roles.
Others have been recast for a number of reasons. Michael Clarke Duncan and Brittany Murphy have both died since the 2005 film while other stars were unavailable due to previous commitments.
Josh Brolin, Eva Green and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are the three main stars to come on board for A Dame To Kill For.
Brolin plays Dwight (previously played by Clive Owen), a private eye who is forced into a dangerous situation by his ex-wife (Eva Green).
Green, who we know from Casino Royale, is one of the highlights in the film.
She goes between a sultry, seductive damsel in distress and a sociopathic femme fatale with apparent ease and it is brilliant to watch.
Also putting in a strong performance is Jessica Alba, who transitions from the innocent and naive Nancy we know in the first Sin City to a woman seeking revenge in this sequel.
Brolin and Gordon-Levitt are solid in their roles. Brolin’s take on Dwight is quite reserved but it suited the film’s atmosphere.
Gordon-Levitt plays a cocky, young gambler who doesn’t lose and has the most intriguing plot of the film but it feels skipped over and never really wanders out of a safe zone.
All three of the major stories feel rushed thanks to the relatively short run time of 101 minutes.
Somewhat expectantly, there is a lot of violence in A Dame To Kill For.
Guns, swords and fists fly freely as characters fight each other for the upper hand in their own little power struggles.
But with blood freely flowing, it is never totally gruesome thanks to some striking cinematography.
Like the first Sin City, this film is shown exactly like a comic book. It’s black and white with dashes of colour.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is wonderful to watch on the big screen even if the plots aren’t as good as the first Sin City.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (MA15+) is now showing at Bendigo Cinemas. See page 3 for session details.
Follow film reviewer Chris Pedler on Twitter @FilmNerdChris
