‘Do it again I like it’ Jean Harlow said when Chester Morris slapped her in the face in the gold digger comedy Red Headed Woman more than 70 years ago. I kept thinking about that scene as I watched Sin City, which is based on three comic book novels. I imagine this movie will have the Harlow effect on the all-important teenage boy movie-going demographic, as it’s a near-perfect distillation of what are apparently their two favorite things: violence and vixens. Your enjoyment of the picture will hang on those two elements and perhaps an appreciation for film noir conventions which the movie religiously adheres to in both its almost continuous voice over and high contrast black-and-white photography look.
About that look—it’s been computer generated to recreate The Maltese Falcon, Night and the City and other noir classics while adding modern flourishes of color to add intensity throughout. And like the recent Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, this is another attempt to weld old movie clichés to new-fangled technology. Sky Captain was based on the cliffhangers of the ’30s and ’40s so everything was sepia toned with the actors placed next to huge, rumbling robots and massive skyscrapers. Part of the brag about Sky Captain was that the whole thing, save the actors, was computer created but the mundane story wasn’t much to hang onto and the special effects quickly lost their razzle dazzle.
The same basically holds true for Sin City and its denizens, who are portrayed in the three interconnected stories by everyone from Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Clive Owen, and Benicio Del Toro. Plus Elijah Wood as a mute cannibal with eyes glowing behind nerd glasses and Nick Stahl, who seems to specialize in playing rotters, as a villain with jaundiced yellow skin.
I’m not sure how much of the look of Sin City and the extreme features of some of the characters we can thank the computer, special effects or make-up department for, but I do know that everyone looks better photographed in black and white. Even if the comic book acting and gruesome comic book violence are not your thing, the suddenly beautiful Brittany Murphy and others who have not registered much in color in earlier films just might be. I’m not sure why Hollywood is turning to old movie conventions to lure in this teen boy demographic that hates anything photographed in black and white (I offer my four nephews as proof of that), but I’m happy to go along for the ride—even if it means sitting through a movie that, unfortunately, heralds the return of Mickey Rourke.
_____
Sandra Bullock is spunky, pretty and intelligent and adroitly handles physical comedy—sort of a modern-day equivalent of Rosalind Russell—and she works well in roles that utilize those qualities. This may have been part of the reason for bringing back her klutzy FBI agent, Gracie Hart. In 2000’s Miss Congeniality, Bullock went undercover at a beauty pageant and was feminized in order to attempt to blend in. She was given ample support by veteran scene stealers Candice Bergen, William Shatner and most vividly by Benjamin Bratt, who the producers wisely managed to photograph in a bikini. A special-edition DVD of the movie has just been released that includes two rather nice making-of docs, Bullock’s funny commentary, a couple of deleted scenes and a camp ‘Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Beauty Queen?’ quiz hosted by Shatner (I passed with flying colors, natch). The release also includes a nice little marketing idea: a complimentary movie ticket to the sequel, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Dangerous.
As the sequel begins, it’s three weeks after the pageant has ended and Bullock’s sudden fame has given her beleaguered boss, Ernie Hudson, an idea to turn her into the new face of the FBI. But first, of course, the Queer Eye rip-off character needs to make with the make over and we flash forward 10 months after Bullock has morphed into a fashion and style icon and writer of bestsellers. But duty soon calls and Bullock, chained to a tough body guard with anger management issues (played in typical, ‘You talkin’ to me’ style by Regina King), responds, this time using her wits while looking fabulous to stay three steps ahead of everyone else while appearing to be three steps behind.
Most of the action takes place in Las Vegas with one major scene set in a drag club. I found this to be an amiable little comedy, not far removed from the Bette Midler female buddy comedies of the ’80s (and I was happy when the always testy King was finally softened near the end of the picture) though I think a moratorium on drag clubs being used for comedic purposes needs to be enacted immediately. I was happy that Ernie Hudson, William Shatner and Heather Burns (as the ditzy Miss United States) returned for the sequel, but substituting Mr. Bratt’s character (not to mention his bikini) in the life of Agent Hart with the one played by Ms. King was a grave error on the producer’s part.
_____
Chicago Filmmakers Announces Dyke Delicious Spring Line Up and New Gay Film Series: The North Side-based group has proudly been sponsoring the fabulous, wildly successful Dyke Delicious series that combines both a social hour and hot film programs and sexy themes. The series continues in April with monthly screenings of classic, local and new film offerings. ‘Athletes in Action’ is the theme that kicks off the new series showcased by a screening of Personal Best. For Pride in June the series will have the Chicago premiere of I Was A Teenage Feminist.
Now, with Dyke Delicious such a hit, they’re letting the men in on the fun with a new companion series. With the tongue-in-cheek title, GQQ (Gentlemen’s Queer Quarterly), naturally, gay film fanatics can expect a diverse line-up. It begins with a program called ‘H.D. Bares All: An Evening with H.D. Motyl.’ Motyl, who has worked in the Chicago video and film community for close to 20 years, will preside over a collection of some of his shorter, queer-themed works. These include Oh Michael/Oh Jesus, a work in progress described as, ‘An experimental narrative about one man’s obsessions and fantasies about sex, murder, pray, the Crucified Christ and redemption.’
In addition, Chicago Filmmakers will present an eclectic array of programs featuring local artists in both solo and group presentations. www.chicagofilmmakers.org