Sinners

Full disclosure, this is my second viewing, having seen it in opening night back in March. Let me tell you, the film is somehow even better than the first time I saw it! I say this in no way lightly, this film is a modern masterpiece. It will go down in history as an influential, creative and groundbreaking tale of how music links the souls of everyone who hears it.

Firstly, I want to draw attention not to the camera work or the music or even the performances, I want to draw your attention to the costumes. This film thrives on its aesthetic, it provides such an authentic feel of the time period through how the characters look. Each one is not only period accurate but actually relevant to the character they inhabit. Smoke wears a flat cap to showcase his calm authority whereas Stack wears a fedora with a pinstripe suit that shows his more erratic and confident behaviour. Every part of their costumes is carefully thought out, each in service of the terrific character work present in the script.

Now, the real heart and soul of this film is the music. It’s the glue that binds this whole film together, with the central story and theme revolving around the music. There are multiple sequences in the film that are driven purely by music, and they are absolutely breathtaking. Ludwig Görrenson creates such an atmospheric score that rattles you to the bone, making you feel like you are partying the blues away and then, later on, fighting for your life. The original songs are really effective on showing the character arcs and making the plot developments incredibly more effective.

The performances really elevate this impressive film as well. Michael B Jordan pulling double duty and making each of the twins similar but distinctly different in their mannerisms, personalities, and approach. He manages to create such a rich history between the characters that makes you feel like you’ve known them for years rather than for mere minutes. He is backed up by an amazing ensemble as well, with Hailee Stienfeld acting as both a source of pain and joy for Stack, having insane chemistry with him and providing some more rich backstory for the twins. The wider ensemble also have their moments to shine, Jack O’Connell especially stands out as the primary antagonist. He brings a level of comfort to his sadistic performance, almost drawing you in to trust him before he turns the tables and shows you why he’s a being to be feared. His character being Irish contrasts the racial themes of the film, but him being a vampire complements said themes as well. Providing a different approach to this time of inequality, trying to consolidate and overpopulate instead of Smoke and Stack’s vision of social freedom and independence.

In addition to these aspects, I want to highlight the camera work. The film is shot using 16mm film, and they make every single frame of it count. The amount of detail and light they can capture is very impressive, making the film look almost ethereal in its nature. Coogler utilises a lot of tracking and dolly shots to make the small settings and locations feel expansive and massive, creating an atmosphere that can switch from expansive to claustrophobic in an instant. He also plays with IMAX aspect ratios, which are thankfully intact in the digital release, they further enhance the experience by giving you a wider view of the scene and making you truly feel like you’ve been summoned like the other spirits.

Ryan Coogler is one of the strongest and most steadfast creatives working today. Coming from the intimate Creed to the expansive Black Panther and then to this personal and historical supernatural thriller truly cements him as a generational talent. He gets the best out of every actor, the crew are all bringing their A-Game and the final result is something truly transcendent.

Overall, I cannot recommend this film enough.

If you are getting tired of the constant sequels, reboots and remakes then please go and support this monumental achievement.

10/10