This captivating original blockbuster from the visionary filmmaker makes for the year’s first memorable film.
Whenever director Ryan Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan reunite for film, it’s a guarantee to grab your attention. From their small beginnings with the unforgettable Fruitvale Station to the great Creed and, of course, the culture-defining Black Panther, these two have collaborated on some exceptional films. And with the release of this week’s Sinners, it presents their most ambitious collaboration yet. Initial previews have given away more from the film than I’ve seen for any other release in some time. But I get it: You have to convince people to see these two collaborate on a *gasp* original blockbuster. Thankfully however, this one that weaves music into horror with sprinkles of action makes for a remarkable moviegoing experience that will leave you buzzing.
Set during the Jim Crowe era in 1932, twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown in Mississippi. Back home from their time up in Chicago (and seemingly associated with Al Capone), the gangster twins return with their eyes on a fresh start and opening their own juke joint. After gathering the necessary resources and recruiting people to play at their joint—including an alcoholic harmonica player (Delroy Lindo) and their younger cousin (Miles Caton) who’s a singer/guitar player—the brothers open the club. However, once the joint is up and running, it begins to attract all sorts of trouble and evil – both supernatural and worldly.
At its core, Sinners is a movie in which music is the element that brings everyone together. It’s a risky proposition to bring music, especially bluegrass, to the forefront of an original blockbuster. But if anyone is up for the task, it’s director Ryan Coogler, whose usage of music and its symbolism and ties to a community ultimately drive the narrative here. Yes, there is a horror element to this film as well. And its interpretation of vampires is unique and fresh in its own sense, as well, as it ties into the film’s music in addition to bringing forth a new perspective on the mythology of the bloodsucking supernatural monsters. By meshing music and horror, Coogler creates a hypnotic experience, impressively demonstrating the filmmaker’s significant maturation through innovative thinking. But also: we cannot proceed without mentioning the enticing score from Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson, the great humor reminiscent of O ‘Brother Where Art Thou? or a couple of moments where we see aspect ratio transitions that utilize IMAX cameras that make for some of the best scenes in any film thus far this year.
Front and center in Sinners is Michael B. Jordan’s dual role as the twin brothers running the juke joint in the film. I would argue that Michael is one of our remaining beacons of hope for new stars whom Hollywood is in desperate need of promoting now and in the future. And leading an original blockbuster such as this one provides another great showcase for his charm and actions as the leading characters here screams “stardom.” A bevy of actors who join Michael in setting up the juke joint are great as well, from the always excellent Delroy Lindo, delivering the film’s most humorous moments, to others like Jayme Lawson, Wunmi Mosaku, and Omar Benson Miller just to name a few. We also can’t talk about Sinners without mentioning Hailee Steinfeld, who continues to carve out her own path in Hollywood, or Jack O’Connell, who almost steals the show as the film’s antagonist. But the actor who actually steals the show here is newcomer Miles Caton, whose life is about to change after the release of this film. Whether it’s his acting or his lungs (from his singing), Miles captivates the audience from the moment we meet him until the very end of this film. And for a newcomer to steal the show in an original blockbuster is just as impressive as anything else this film presents its audience.
Theatrical experiences don’t get much better than Sinners. Ryan Coogler’s eye for storytelling on the big screen is among the best in Hollywood, and the latest here is the boost moviegoing needs right now. By holding our attention from the opening frame until the credits roll, and even all through two post credits scenes, Sinners brings the right blend of entertainment, thrills, and relevancy that make for a surprisingly crowd-pleasing experience we’ll be talking about for some time. Run, don’t walk to the theater. But don’t forget to bring some garlic or a wooden stake—just in case.