SIN CITY LITE (GIVE EM' HELL MALONE)

Here's my two cents on another recent DVD/Blu-ray release (hit the shelves on January 26, 2010).

GIVE EM’ HELL MALONE (10):

This is Sin City Lite: a cinematic comic book set in a Noirverse (an alternative universe with a neo-noir atmosphere). Still, Malone is a fun film, and Thomas Jane (of The Mist, HBO’s Hung) does a great Sam Spade impression, spewing Dashiell Hammett dialogue as the hard-drinking hard-boiled detective Malone.

And he’s got a game supporting cast: Ving Rhames is good in a familiar role as a thug for hire with a chip on his shoulder, and the guy who plays the maniacal Matchstick does his best Joker (Heath Ledger’s version) impression, but it works more often that not. There’s also a sexy femme fatale, and a Sinatra-obsessed crooner played by 3rd Rock From the Sun’s French Stewart (he was the weird one who’s eyes never seemed to open).

Most of the ideas aren’t new: in fact, a lot of Malone is a rehash of clichés and it is teeming with stereotypical characters, but everything we’ve seen before is presented in a not-so novel but oh-so captivating way. The film is equipped with the requisite dark humor, and if that’s your bag you will be pleased to discover that it is peppered with funny dialogue (not hysterical though, mind you). It scores points with me for a high body count, relentless pacing and some stylish directing.

A couple things peeved me here and there (i.e. the dearth of originality, Matchstick making the same stupid mistake twice), but nothing detracted greatly from my enjoyment of what is one of the better straight to DVD releases in recent memory. The rest of the action never quite lives up to the in your face insane opening scene, but there is plenty of the red stuff and ample reasons to keep watching (especially if you like neo-noir detective stories).

Essentially, this is an ultraviolent, but good-humored thrill ride. Despite all the blood spray, it sports a breezy and somewhat silly tone, exuding an awareness that says: this is supposed to be entertaining and fun and not a heavy high-concept head smacker. If you dug Shoot Em’ Up, Sin City, or the recent British import The Tournament, go get your gritty little hands on a copy of Malone A.S.A.P. ‘cuz this will be right up your alley.

7.3/10