The first 'Sin City' movie, released in 2005, was one of the first films to be shot entirely on a digital backlot, with the actors performing in front of green screens. The backgrounds were added in post-production to mimic the look of Frank Miller's original comic books.
Robert Rodriguez insisted that Frank Miller be credited as a co-director for the first film, believing that the movie was as much Miller's creation as his own. This decision led to Rodriguez resigning from the Directors Guild of America, as the DGA does not allow co-directing credits unless the directors are an established team.
The visual style of 'Sin City' was heavily inspired by film noir, with high contrast lighting, deep shadows, and the selective use of color to highlight specific elements, such as blood or a character's eyes.
Mickey Rourke, who played Marv, wore extensive prosthetic makeup to achieve the character's distinctive look. The makeup process took several hours each day before filming.
Jessica Alba, who portrayed Nancy Callahan, did not perform any of her own nude scenes, despite the character being depicted nude in the comics. Instead, her scenes were altered to fit Alba's comfort level.
Quentin Tarantino directed a scene in the first 'Sin City' film as a guest director. He directed the sequence where Dwight (Clive Owen) talks to the corpse of Jackie Boy (Benicio Del Toro) in the car.
The first 'Sin City' film was shot in color and later converted to black-and-white in post-production. The selective use of color, such as the red of blood or the blue of Miho's (Devon Aoki) eyes, was added digitally.
The film's cast includes several actors known for their roles in other comic book adaptations, including Benicio Del Toro (The Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Mickey Rourke (Whiplash in 'Iron Man 2'), and Jessica Alba (Sue Storm in 'Fantastic Four').
To maintain the graphic novel's visual style, the filmmakers used the original comic panels as storyboards, closely matching the camera angles, lighting, and compositions to Miller's artwork.
The character of Marv, played by Mickey Rourke, became one of the most iconic figures in the 'Sin City' series. Rourke's portrayal was widely praised, and the character's catchphrase, 'This is for the big guy,' became a memorable line from the film.
The sequel, 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,' was released in 2014, nearly a decade after the first film. The long gap between the two films was due to scheduling conflicts and the lengthy post-production process required to achieve the film's unique visual style.
Rosario Dawson, who played Gail, wore a wig for her role, and her costume design was directly inspired by her character's look in the comic books. Dawson's performance was praised for capturing Gail's fierce and fearless personality.
The films' narrative structure is non-linear, with multiple intersecting storylines that explore different characters and events in the corrupt and crime-ridden world of Sin City.
Robert Rodriguez composed the score for the first 'Sin City' film himself, with contributions from John Debney and Graeme Revell. The music plays a significant role in establishing the film's dark, moody atmosphere.
The 'Sin City' movies were groundbreaking in their use of digital technology to replicate the look and feel of comic books on screen, influencing later adaptations of graphic novels and comic books in film.
