Was there a special work-out routine or diet regimen the “Sin City” stars followed to get into shape to show off their lovely curves? According to “Sin City” star Brittany Murphy (‘Shellie’), she didn’t do anything special to physically prepare for the role. “Robert cast upon what we looked like before we started filming. I will say that,” confided Murphy.
The costumes of “Sin City” remain true to Miller’s vision and give the film's stars a lot of opportunity to reveal some flesh. Murphy says the costume designer was able to create an outfit for her that was done perfectly, down to the “slightest, intimate detail.” And not only that, Murphy claims Rodriguez had a lot to do with making her look great on film. “This man knows how to shoot women beautifully and light them in a way that their bodies look unique, and you can’t see any of the parts that we don’t want you to see,” said Murphy.
Violence in "Sin City:" The subject of violence to women was brought up a few times in the “Sin City” press conference attended by Murphy, Rodriguez, Clive Owen, and Rosario Dawson. Dawson said the women give as good as they get, while Rodriguez says the story is well-balanced. “The men are all criminals and the women are very strong in their own way. And it’s supposed to be the dark side of life there.”
Brittany Murphy agrees with her “Sin City” co-star, Rosario Dawson and filmmaker Rodriguez. “If you look at the undertones of Frank Miller’s writing, there’s a balance to everything. If you’re a true fan of his work and his graphic novels," said Murphy, adding, ”There’s actually a great balance to his work. There’s also several moments such as with Marv [played by Mickey Rourke] and Carla Gugino’s character, when she was crying and he was saying women just need to get it out. What is the dialogue exactly? She says, ‘I need a cigarette.’ I love that part. I love that part specifically because I find it true. I’m proud to be a woman and femininity is part of one of my greatest strengths and assets.”
Rodriguez added, “I think that’s what really helped them come and be part of the movie. They saw, ‘These are characters that I’m going to go play. It’s not me. It’s not the real world. It’s Sin City.’”
Working with Multiple Directors: Not only did Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez direct “Sin City,” Rodriguez called on his buddy Quentin Tarantino to take charge of a sequence in the film. Adding Tarantino as a ‘Special Guest Director’ meant that, at times, three directors were on the set working with the cast. Murphy recalls that life on the set with multiple directors was interesting. “My first day I had three directors – Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino. And there were certain – because that wasn’t planned – so there were certain shots I remember you guys saying, ‘That’s too Quentin. That was a little too Quentin.’”
Rodriguez laughed when he recalled Murphy’s first day on the set. “I was saying something to you, then Frank said something. Then Quentin came in, ‘Hey, by the way…’ I guess he wanted to get in on that – this whole working with you. And you said, ‘“My God, there’s three of them!’”
