"Sinners" Film Review

Sinners

Rating: 5/5

By: Nathaniel Simpson

    Honestly, about a month before Ryan Coogler's Sinners came out, if you had asked me how excited I was for it, I would tell you that I wasn't really hyped for this new story he's crafting. The trailers didn't sell me at all, and I thought it was weird to be seeing two Michael B. Jordans in a movie. Then, came the early reviews about a week before the movie came out, absolutely praising everything about this film and how it could easily be the best movie of the year. This piqued my interest quite a bit, and I was fortunate enough to see this movie in a packed theater with audience members who weren't sure what to expect, like myself. What I found is that I was foolish to underestimate Coogler and his ability to tell a fantastic film, as I do believe Sinners may go down as the best movie of the year so far, with fantastic performances from its ensemble cast, a wonderful display of filmmaking and storytelling by Coogler, and numerous elements that will stick with the viewer long after watching it their first time, making them want to go see it again and again before it's out of theaters. 

    Jordan plays Smoke and Stack, a pair of gangster twins who are commonly known by the moniker, the Smoke-Stack twins. They move back to their hometown in Missouri from Chicago, hoping to leave their seedy past behind and open up a juke joint, a dream they have had since they were young. They start to recruit many of their old friends, such as pianist Delta Slim (Delroy Linda), bouncer Cornbread (Omar Miller), shopkeeper Bo (Yao) and his wife Grace (Li Jun Li), Smoke's wife Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) and their little cousin, who is an aspiring musician, Sammie (Miles Canton). They open it up to great success, and have some unexpected guests, including Stack's former flame Mary (Hailee Seinfeld) and Pearline (Jayme Lawson), who is a married lady that flirts with the young Sammie. 

    The juke joint is going strong on its opening night, until they receive some people at the door who definitely have no place being there. While Remmick (Jack O'Connell) and the couple he is traveling with seem like normal people at the wrong place, our protagonists don't know that there is something sinister going on underneath, unleashing a series of events that will not only ruin the night, but change all of their lives for good. 

    To be honest, I thought the idea of introducing vampires into this movie was quite dumb idea. From the first couple of trailers and even the title of the movie, I was genuinely hoping this movie would be more demonic and sinister than just vampires. However, when I watched this move run through its story and started connecting the dots, it all made sense and made me realize this was the perfect route that Coogler could have taken. Having vampires, such a terrifying creature that has been around for a very long time, become the basis for a film that tackles racism and the way black people were treated during this time period is such a brilliant idea. Coogler makes this story work on every single level, and there is not one hair out of place that made me think otherwise when this movie concluded. 

    Coogler just proves again here that he is such a brilliant filmmaker. Coogler hasn't released a single bad movie in his entire career, and this picture just perfectly captures everything great from his previous movies. At this moment in time, I would go as far as to call this Coogler's magnum opus. He simply took all these variables and combined them together to create a near-perfect picture. I love the way how he directs every single scene, with beautifully haunting cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw. He takes this screenplay he wrote and perfectly transcribes it into the art of filmmaking, which keeps the viewer hooked and on the edge of their seat from beginning to end. 

    If you have read my reviews for other modern horror films, you can see my dismay for the lack of storytelling and a cohesive narrative in a lot of horror films. However, here, Coogler gives me exactly what I want. This movie is all story, with each single character here having their own narrative arc and structure, and he gives the story the time and depth it needs to work. This is perhaps one of the best stories in the past twenty years for a horror film, in my opinion. Coogler doesn't result into just using jump scares and thrills to entertain the audience, but gives them a deeply moving narrative that can make the viewer feel lost in the movie. THIS is how you make a great horror film, and I think many horror filmmakers need to take a page out of Coogler's book.     

    In terms of performances here, the entire ensemble does such an amazing job. Jordan is fantastic in the two roles he plays here, making both of these characters so distinct and different that it allows them both to thrive and evolve from beginning to end. This may be Jordan's best performance(s) to date, and he really shows how great of an actor he is here. The same can be said for Steinfeld, who I always thought was a good actor in great movies. Here though, she proves that she can go toe-to-toe with some amazing actors, and even steal the show most of the time. 

    What makes Canton's performance so awe-inspiring is the fact that this is his first major acting performance, as he has been trying to make a name for himself as a musical artist. By watching his performance in this picture, you would have no idea that he has never acted in a major role before. He is incredible, and I think he has a very bright career ahead of him in both music and film. Another standout here is Linda, who is the comedic relief here and is just one of the most lovable and fun characters of the entire movie. Coogler balances the horror with great comedic lines and timing, which mostly come from Linda's character. However, on the flip side, O'Connell gives a terrifying performance as the lead vampire, showcasing his chops at playing not only a villain, but a horrific character that the viewer fears watching this movie. 

    What really makes this picture pop and sets the atmosphere for the entire film as a whole is Ludwig Göransson's brilliant score. He is able to capture the sound of the blues during this time and in this area of the U.S., while keeping it relevant and catchy. Many of these songs stay in your head long after you watch the movie, and it keeps the movie flowing and stay relevant to the time period it is set in. Göransson is this  generation's John Williams, and he still has such a long and prosperous career ahead of him. 

    This is Coogler's best picture, in my opinion, and I think it will go down as one of the best, if not the best movie, of the year. Everything about this movie works so well and keeps the viewer hooked from start to finish, and I truly want to go see this one again very badly. Everyone involved with this production should be incredibly proud of what they have created, and I can't wait to see what story Coogler tackles next.