5Q Movie Review: Frank Miller's Will Eisner's The Spirit

Q: Is this movie like the comic book?
A: Yes and no. Miller includes many of the key elements of Will Eisner's "Spirit" universe, including characters, plot elements, and even references to specific memorable Spirit stories. But the tone and feel is different. Eisner's work came off as subtler and more meaningful even as it had fun with the conventions of the form. This adaptation is over the top, with the combination of noirish look and cartoonish story and characters never quite working.

Q: Speaking of the look, is this basically a "Sin City" sequel? Does that style work here?
A: I believe the distinctive visual style of "Sin City" worked better with that adaptation. Maybe I'm biased because I have long enjoyed Spirit comic books; maybe I just resent seeing Miller use similar strategies here. There are some really cool-looking scenes and shots throughout this movie. But the overall effect diminishes the humanity of what is, at least in the comics, not just a fun experience, but often a touching one with a strong undercurrent of humanity.

Q: How about the story here? It involves The Spirit going up against his archrival The Octopus, right? Is that taken from a comic book story?
A: The character of The Octopus is, though in the comics we never see his face, while here Sam Jackson is on full display. As for the story, well, I don't think it's directly from the comics, but it's hard to tell, See, perhaps the single biggest flaw of this film is that the story is a bit jumbled...even though it feels like 75% of it is characters reciting exposition.


Q: Hey, aren't the women gorgeous, though?
A: Sure, there's plenty of eye candy for the guys, with Eva Mendes capturing the femme fatale look. The acting is a different story. I understand why filmmakers want to cast Scarlett Johansson in femme fatale roles--her looks and smoky voice make her a natural, one might think. But she can't pull it off, and her performance here is the weakest of all.

He's not a woman, but Samuel L. Jackson provides a rare disappointing performance here. I think maybe Miller asked him to be as "big" as he is here, and it just doesn't work. The ladies may like Gabriel Macht as the Spirit, but he doesn't leave much impression on me one way or the other.


Q: OK, smart guy, do YOU have any ideas how to do this movie better?
A: Actually, I do. I might be able to live with the "Sin City" look if this approach were taken: An anthology format. OK, realistically, nobody would want to make this, but you asked me. The original Spirit stories were 8 pages, and the title character often made a token appearance or none at all. I would like to see a series of segments based on the original classic stories, with the Spirit playing a big role in some, maybe less in others. You know, a structure similar to that of..."Sin City."

Miller's emphasis of the strong connection The Spirit has to Central City--the city itself as an entity--would work fine with such an approach--actually, better. Go with something like this, tone down the dialogue, tweak the casting and/or performances--voila. Easy for me to say, right? But that's just my take. As a longtime reader, I don't think this version is garbage, but it doesn't work for me, either. By the way, the DVD extras are disappointing, too. What I heard of the commentary didn't delve into Miller's rationale for going about this the way he did.