SINNERS -- A Masterclass in Modern American Cinema

Review by Jonathan Berk

Ryan Coogler looms large in terms of modern-day directors to the point that it seems impossible that his new film, Sinners, is only his fifth. From his debut with Fruitvale Station, and the first of four collaborations with Michael B. Jordan, to Creed to Black Panther, and its slightly divisive sequel Wakanda Forever, Coogler has continued to demonstrate his understanding of the form. Sinners is his first truly original story, and he flexes his skills to incredible levels. This film should silence any doubters and secure Coogler as one of the most important voices in cinema today. 

Set in Mississippi during the 1930s, twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Jordan) return to establish a juke joint. They are fleeing their immediate past and returning to a past they left behind. Their young cousin Sammie (Miles Caton) helps them establish the team they need to make their grand opening a big success, with his own guitar playing being paramount to the entertainment. While they are setting about to achieve their dreams, a new evil lurks just outside their walls. 

It doesn’t take much research to learn that Coogler is a student of the art form. Like Quentin Tarantino and Edgar Wright, Coogler is able to rise above imitation and pastiche to synthesize the films that inspired him into something personal and authentic to his voice. Film nerds will spot the inspiration and the homage embedded in the frames as they burst onto the silver screen, but you’ll hear Coogler’s voice. His story, style, and aesthetic are clear and feel immensely original while managing to also feeling familiar. These elements of his craft lend themselves to the viewing of the film as well. 

Every aspect of this film is immersive and equally impressive. The film looks incredible in its cinematography, costumes, and production design. These elements bring the audience into a world that feels so lived-in. The characters are crafted in such a way that they don’t have to dump tons of backstory for you to truly know who they are. While the frameworks of archetypes are there, it doesn’t feel like cookie-cutter clichés dancing on screen. These people have lived lives, and we are joining them at a crossroads. The stakes are clear, and Coogler makes all of that an unbelievable cinematic adventure that keeps the audience hooked from minute one. 

Jordan is always watchable as a screen presence, but he is always at his best with Coogler. The same actor playing twins is often a risky choice by filmmakers, and from the first time he is on-screen with himself, Coogler wants to show off a bit. The two light a cigarette and pass it back and forth seamlessly in the same frame. Smoke and Stack are similar yet distinctly different, and a lot of that is due to Jordan’s dual performance. His charm goes a long way, but there is something to his performance that stands out. 
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Caton makes his feature film debut here, and that detail was shocking. Nothing about his performance feels like a debut. Yet, his character, Sammie, is ultimately making his debut to the world. He has existed, but this night is pivotal to the life he will lead. He has ambitions of his own, but the people in his life all seem to believe they know what is best for him. A familiar role, but the way it plays out in the film feels incredibly original. 

The cast as a whole is completely incredible. Fans of Delroy Lindo will be ecstatic when he shows up and owns every scene he gets. Wunmi Mosaku is incredible as Annie in this film. Hailee Steinfeld has been an incredible screen presence since her debut in True Grit (2010), and gets to show her evolution as an actress here. Then Jack O'Connell continues his 2024 momentum and stealing scenes and playing an incredible villain. 

Of course, one could argue that the real breakout of this movie is music. The songs and score written by Ludwig Göransson take inspiration from various genres, but center around the blues. The trailers allude to many things about the film, which I’ve mostly left out in case a reader doesn’t want to know the details, but almost nothing about the role music plays in this. While not quite a musical, Coogler again demonstrates his love of cinema by paying homage to the Hollywood musical and its framework. The importance of music has on this story and its characters will likely resonate with audiences. If nothing else, it elevates an already incredible genre movie. 

Sinners may be Coogler’s opus. It delivers in every aspect and shows why creative people should be given creative license. What’s lost on the Hollywood executives who are constantly chasing existing IP because of the built-in audience is the idea that, at some point, all of those IPs were new. They started with nothing, and fans flocked to them, likely because there was something genuine about them. This film is a great example of that. 

Sinners is in theaters now, and you should see it on the biggest screen possible. 

Rating: 5/5

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