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A life long cinephile from the Bay Area in Northern California. Aside from having written for various outlets since 2019, I've been podcasting since 2020.
(Currently Co-Hosting the Geekly Goods Roundup)
When I'm not indulged in a ridiculous amount of media consumption or losing track of days working 2 jobs, I can be found at concerts, playing basketball, or training in Mixed Martial Arts.
Well, folks, with his new project, Sinners, acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther) has done it again. His fifth feature film is yet another brilliant masterclass in storytelling. Boasting a top-notch cast and gorgeous visuals, Sinners is an absolute triumph from start to finish. Set in 1932’s Clarksdale, Mississippi, audiences are introduced to bootlegging twin brothers who return home from World War I to start a brand new business. Unfortunately for them, their opening night doesn’t quite go as planned.
Grand Spectacle
I cannot emphasize it enough, but frankly, Sinners grabs your attention from the very first frame. Ryan Coogler and director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Loki Season 1, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) shot the production on film in two different formats: large format 65mm film as well as IMAX. I was fortunate enough to experience watching this amazing picture on the third-largest IMAX screen in the United States at the Metreon 16 in San Francisco. This presentation is absolutely breathtaking. It was shown on 70mm, and thanks to the screen’s capacity, I was able to enjoy seeing both aspect ratios. In particular, the IMAX sequences vibrantly capture so much detail from the seams on a person’s tailored suit to the gloss of a 1930 Ford Model A automobile.
Only during a small handful of times the screen expanded from the 2:76:1 widescreen format to the full 1:43:1 IMAX view, but every time it did, it was done with purpose and beautiful execution. Sinners has the privilege of combining these two perspectives for the first time in film history.
An Epic Ensemble Led by Michael B. Jordan
As luscious as the film is on the eyes, thanks to the casting director, Francine Maisler, the talented cast bringing in this eclectic band of characters is truly just as good. Wunmi Mosaku (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The End of the F***ing World Series 1, Lovecraft Country, Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine) provides a nice baseline as the lover of one of our star twin brothers. Her spirituality and emotional weight balance well with the smooth toughness of the men. Delroy Lindo (Malcolm X, Da 5 Bloods, The Harder They Fall) is fantastic as usual as an old, hardened harmonica musician. Miles Caton makes his feature film debut as the blues singing, guitar playing Sammie Moore, who actually turns out to be the story’s heart and soul.
And of course, we have our star Michael B. Jordan (The Wire Season 1, Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther) as the Smoke/ Stack brothers. Jordan puts on an absolute clinic as he masterfully plays each brother distinctly and with fierce ferocity. Stack is more flamboyant and loose, while Smoke is more calculating and reserved. Both of them are absolutely lethal and intimidating when needed. Jordan’s dual performance is the mesmerizing glue that perfectly pulls the film together.
Impactful Beyond The Thrills
The pure magic of Sinners lies in its ability to captivate and entertain beyond its horrific premise. Not unlike another vampire horror film, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s From Dusk Till Dawn, Sinners is almost two entirely different movies. On the one hand, there is the film that sets up our characters before they run into the creatures of the night. Then, there is the chaotic carnage afterwards. Interestingly enough, I was sufficiently entertained and engrossed even without the blood-sucking and fight for survival.
I loved the way Ryan Coogler captured the small town of Clarksdale, Mississippi. Utilizing both Durald’s crisp photography and production designer Hannah Beachler et al’s authentic set designs, he shows us the Prohibition era, slave-owning world we are in without telling. Then, we have the little stories behind each character, e.g. the Asian couple running the market, the talented son of a preacher wanting to pursue his dream of playing music, and of course, Michael B. Jordan’s pair of bootlegging brothers doing business in Chicago. I probably could watch a film on just that. However, therein lies the beauty of Coogler’s storytelling, because he gives viewers this beautiful, terror-filled icing on top of an already scrumptious cake. Sinners is simply outstanding, and I highly encourage seeing it for oneself.
5/5 stars
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A life long cinephile from the Bay Area in Northern California. Aside from having written for various outlets since 2019, I've been podcasting since 2020.
(Currently Co-Hosting the Geekly Goods Roundup)
When I'm not indulged in a ridiculous amount of media consumption or losing track of days working 2 jobs, I can be found at concerts, playing basketball, or training in Mixed Martial Arts.
