Introduction to Sinners
Writer/director Ryan Coogler has become well-known for his blockbuster films, such as Creed, Black Panther, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, it’s easy to forget that he made his debut with the small-but-powerful 2013 film, Fruitvale Station. After more than a decade, he’s finally returning to original material with his latest film.
The Story Unfolds
Each of Coogler’s films has either starred or featured Michael B. Jordan, and this one gives moviegoers a double dose, as Jordan plays twins who go by the nicknames of Smoke and Stack. Set in 1932, the two hustlers have recently returned from mysterious work in Chicago to their hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi to open a juke joint. They call upon a number of friends and family to help them with the venture, including cousin and guitar player Sammie Moore, Smoke’s old girlfriend Annie, piano player Delta Slim, bouncer Cornbread, and Chinese couple Bo and Grace Chow.
Confronting Social Issues
Coogler began his feature film career by confronting the issue of unjustified shootings of Black people by police. How Black people are perceived by society has been a part of everything he’s done since. By placing this film firmly in the middle of the Jim Crow era, he infuses the story with all manner of subtext, including the injustice of sharecropping and prevalent segregation in the South.
The Power of Music
Music, specifically Blues, plays a big part in the film as well. It’s championed through the emerging talent of Sammie and the veteran presence of Delta Slim, but it’s also a driving force for other parts of the plot. Sammie is decried by his pastor father for playing "the devil’s music," while strange newcomer Remmick seems to appreciate it a little too much. A fantastically surreal scene at the juke joint turns into an entertaining and educational lesson on the history of Black music.
The Cast and Their Performances
Jordan can occasionally go over-the-top with his performances, and with him playing twins the threat of doing so was doubled. But he remains relatively restrained for most of the film, giving each twin their own unique spin. Caton, a rising R&B singer, makes his acting debut in the film and winds up stealing every scene he’s in. The rest of the cast complements each other well, with Mosaku and Steinfeld being standouts.
Conclusion
Coogler has proven himself to be a savvy filmmaker in each of his previous four films, and with Sinners he combines the personal with crowd-pleasing elements to great effect. It features great music, an insightful story, and even some gory action for an experience you’re not likely to find anywhere else. Sinners opens in theaters on April 18, offering a unique and captivating cinematic experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression on audiences.
