Sinners: A Movie That Flirts with Perfection.
Eh fellas, this one is for allyuh. Good Friday kicked off a nice long weekend, so I figured it was the perfect time to check out Sinners. Sinners is the latest offering from Ryan Coogler, who first achieved notoriety with his movie Fruitvale Station. That film also marked the beginning of his long-running collaboration with Michael B. Jordan, who starred in Fruitvale and has since appeared in most of Coogler's projects. He’s back again in Sinners, taking on a double role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack—a bold move that adds another layer of intensity to the film. And ladies, let’s be real—two Michael B. Jordans? That’s double the temptation. Sheesh!
Without giving too much away, the movie follows the twin brothers as they return to Mississippi after seven years in Chicago, with whispers circulating about what they were up to during their time away. While the film never fully explores their years in the city, it does reveal that they worked for Al Capone and made their fortune through less-than-honest means. You might wonder why anyone would leave the fast-paced, flashy life of Chicago to return to rural Mississippi, but it's eventually revealed that the brothers have a plan: they want to open a Juke Joint for the local Black community.
That decision ends up setting the stage for the film’s darker, supernatural turn. The story introduces the idea that some individuals possess the power to create music that transcends life and death, time and space. Their young cousin Sammie happens to be one of those rare musicians. So basically, the cousin rell bad on the strings. His music draws the attention of a vampire named Remmick, who is lured to the Juke Joint. I won’t dive into the villain’s motivations here, because that’s where things get deep into spoiler territory—but just know that’s when the madness starts.
Visually, Sinners is nothing short of stunning. The film was shot using a combination of 65mm IMAX film and Ultra Panavision 70, which Ryan Coogler broke down in a behind-the-scenes featurette. Even though I didn’t get the chance to see it in IMAX myself, based on the buzz online, I’d strongly encourage anyone who can to experience it that way. On top of that, the performances—especially from Michael B. Jordan in his dual role—are top-tier. The supporting cast shines as well, and the attention to detail in the sets, clothing, and classic cars lends a strong sense of authenticity to the time period.
If I had a couple minor gripes, it’d be that the movie doesn’t dive deep enough into the backstory of the vampires, particularly Remmick. While I get that the mystery was intentional, I’m a firm believer that great villains make great stories—and giving us more insight into his past could’ve added even more emotional weight to the narrative. Also, a few of the vampires came off a bit goofy, though I suspect that’s exactly the tone Coogler was going for—a balance of dread and eccentricity. Still, these are small complaints in an otherwise bold and ambitious film that blends genres in a way we rarely see. Sinners might not be perfect, but it gets damn close.
If yuh looking for something to do this weekend, organize something with yuh friends or even yuh family, and go see Sinners.