In PT Anderson's acclaimed ensemble drama, this feels like an unlikely play for a musical montage. However, through the heart breaking lyrics of 'Wise Up' by Aimee Mann these few minutes effectively sum up the persona's of each conflicted soul present. Also if you like Tom Cruise's Rock of Ages crooning then this is far better!
In Mike Myers now legendary 1992 piece the tongue in cheek tone is set pretty much from the first frame. Queen seems an unlikely choice for these guys to rock out to- but boy do they ever nail this one!
40 Year Old Virgin: Age of Aquarius/ Let The Sunshine In
After two hours of seeing Steve Carrell attempting to get it on, the climax of this piece takes a turn into a rather zany road. Though bizarrely enough it is rather fitting as a release of sexual tension.
In a few short moments, Joseph Gordon-Levitt pretty much sums up every man after doing coitus. Sound tracked to Hall & Oates a big crowd of passers by join into celebrate the mans big moment. As our smiles go wide, we all give kudos to the Han Solo inclusion.
Proving that this is one student who could truly draw crowds, Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) bring a parade together to serenade his conflicted friend Cameron (Alan Ruck). The result is a jubilant sing along of Twist & Shout by The Beatles. I'm sure even the Fab Four would have approved.
Deciding to play a classic well before it has been released to the 1955 high school crowd does down a storm from Michael J Fox. Well, until he nails that solo! Eagle eye music lovers watch out for "Chuck, its your cousin Johnny Berry- I think I found that sound you're looking for!"
Nine long years we have been kept waiting for the follow up to 2005 cult classic Sin City. Robert Rodriguez and graphic novel writer Frank Miller have suffered through numerous productions delays (including the death of star Brittany Murphy) which has caused unrest among committed fans. But the long wait is finally over and this year we are given Sin City: A Dame to Kill For! But is the long wait going to be worth the time invested?
On another wet and black night in Sin City, cocky young gambler Johnny (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is playing a dangerous game of poker against Senator Roark (Powers Boothe), Nancy (Jessica Alba) is still recovering from the death of her beloved Hartigan (Bruce Willis). Meanwhile Dwight McCarthy (Josh Brolin) meets up with old flame Ava (Eva Green) who claims to need his help! But in Sin City, nothing is ever so straight forward!
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For hasn't lost its dark and rough feel that made the first installment so memorable and once more we are brought into a seedy and grimy town filled with corruption, murder and constant rain! But while it is great to see this place getting another adventure on screen, it doesn't feel like this has been worth the long wait. A lot of the characters we know and love such as Marv (Mickey Rourke) are still a great and knuckle bashing delight and technically wise, Rodriguez is on great form and his black and white cinematography once more looks stunning. But this installment slightly suffers from some patchy dialogue which gives the film a cliched feel.
The stories this time around are mixed bag of nuts, the first tale of Johnny winning a big game of poker but ending up losing more than he bargained for is an entertaining affair. But feels too short in comparison to the others. Dwight and Ava story flounders from being unpredictable and thrilling to being slightly wooden. An early glimpse of McCarthy life does add some excellent characterization of his early fiery personality. In this piece, Dwight is a man who is angry at the world and wants to punch it out. Ava proves to be the fuel to the fire and her snake life personality makes for some erratic moments as she is able to convincing switch between being the damsel and the ice maiden!
Nancy is a different woman from the Sin City of old and we see her floundering in a sea of self pity and aggressively channeling her anger through her dancing. But her transformation into a gun touting and scarred rebel doesn't ring true and leaves us with an ending that is perhaps slightly flat. But the monster that connects the movie together is one to cherish in Senator Roark, whose cigar smoking menace never once fades out. In a more bumped up role from the previous affair, Roark is exactly the kind of man no one should cross, especially one with goons that carry tweezers! But Marv is still a welcome returnee and his free flowing fists make the movie come alive, where it be mashing frat boys to a pulp or helping Dwight going into hell.
It's thanks to Mickey Rourke that Marv still feels like an original and compelling character and Rourke still feels born to play this muscle bound killing machine. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does well as overly confident Johnny and his eventually downfall is excellent played and Gordon-Levitt gives him a fighting desire to pick himself back up. Josh Brolin is fine as Dwight, but the movie somewhat misses the suave quality that Clive Owen was able to bring to the role before.
Eva Green makes for both great eye candy and devilish charm as Eva, from the very moment she appears the aura she gives makes her glow! It is easy to see how she so effortless intoxicates Dwight and all other men in her path, because she knows the true male weakness! But Powers Booth is the one who steal the acting stakes with his ice cold stare and the veteran is the one we are most drawn to throughout! If there is ever a Sin City 3, make sure to include this guy.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For may not have had the end result that we had hoped for, but Rodriguez and Miller still make this a town worth revisiting. Plus as far as sequels go, this one feels far more original than any others you may see this year. Though you may want to consider leaving quickly because "Turn the right corner in Sin City and you can find anything"
