variety.com
By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Who says creativity is dead in Hollywood? Ryan Coogler brings audiences an original story involving an old cinematic monster, providing pure, bloody entertainment along the way. “Sinners” begins its long ascent as a period drama before careening into a vampiric horror film at breakneck speeds that will leave you breathless. The story is beautifully crafted and extremely well-acted, led by the impressively talented Michael B. Jordan.
In 1932, brothers Smoke (Michael B. Jordan) and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) leave their disreputable past in Chicago behind, returning to their rural hometown in the delta of Mississippi. With ambitions to open up their own juke joint, the visionary brothers purchase an old sawmill, and with the help of friends and family, they quickly clean it up enough to have their grand opening that very night. They come across their younger cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), who happens to be a savant performing blues music. Alongside old Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), a well-regarded blues musician in his own right, their headline act is destined to draw a crowd.
Drawn by the hauntingly beautiful music from Sammie, an odd character by the name of Remmick (Jack O’Connell) sweeps into town, gaining followers with a promise to end their suffering. There is a catch, however, for he is an immortal vampire with an insatiable thirst for blood. Obsessed with capturing Sammie, whose music has the power to conjure the spirits of the past and future, Remmick wages a blood-soaked war against the brothers. The survival of their lives is not the only thing on the line, they must fight to protect their very souls.
While writer/director Ryan Coogler may be new to the horror genre, he is not new to success. The talented filmmaker of “Creed,” “Black Panther,” and “Fruitvale Station” arrives at his greatest achievement yet with “Sinners.” He exquisitely combines very traditional vampire lore with a fresh, unique tale, wrapping it all in the bluesy countryside of pre-war Mississippi. Coogler uses a slow-burn strategy to properly set the stage, focusing on character development while slowly ratcheting up the tension. He almost lulls viewers into a false sense of security without losing attention, sinking the hook deeper and deeper, until he unleashes a furious crescendo that has everyone wide-eyed and mouths agape.
1996’s “From Dusk Till Dawn” is clearly a source of inspiration for Coogler, who creates a similar flow of a character driven story and then unleashing mayhem with a bunch of vampires. Unlike that movie, however, he doesn’t cheapen the vibe by incorporating over-the-top gimmicks to solicit low hanging laughter. In fact, the visual style and cinematography he uses is professional grade with smooth camera movement and continuous shots that are incredibly graceful. Wisely seeking guidance from Christopher Nolan on how to make the most of the IMAX cameras, Coogler creates a spectacle worthy of the biggest screens. He further enhances the visuals with his attention to detail, ensuring costumes and set design are indicative of the time and place. By filming around the New Orleans area, he successfully conveys the muggy heat of the bayou, transporting audiences through time so completely, they can almost feel the beads of sweat forming and bugs buzzing around their heads. The inclusion of that timeless blues music only exacerbates the out of body effect, leading to bobbing heads and toe tapping. The music alone makes this film worth seeing, becoming an important character in and of itself.
This is the fifth Coogler helmed movie Michael B. Jordan has appeared in, and it is his most demanding performance yet. He has the daunting task of playing both brother roles in “Sinners,” and he pulls it off, believably portraying two different personas, one a level-headed yet quick to violence type of leader, and the other a less serious, more outgoing type with a silver tongue. He successfully conveys and develops these characters separately in a way that avoids confusion, allowing the audience to easily identify which brother is which. Jordan caps off this impressive performance with seamless interactions between his two characters.
The rest of the cast play their distinctive roles with equal dedication and passion, like veteran Delroy Lindo as the aging alcoholic musician, like Jack O’Connell as the Irish vampire who perfectly evokes an evil aura, and like Wunmi Mosaku as the main character’s estranged love who has an affinity for Hoodoo. But most of all is young Miles Caton, who makes his acting debut in the major role of the budding musical superstar with a deep voice smooth as silk. For a first-time actor, his performance is remarkable, showing emotional depth and mental turmoil as events unfold. This is hopefully the start of a brilliant career for the young actor.
It would be a mistake to dismiss this movie as just another typical vampire flick. “Sinners” is the type of joyful cinematic experience you hope to have every time you go to the theater. Every element of this film is done with precision and care, leading to the most complete and gratifying film of the year thus far. Don’t miss this original story on the biggest screen you can find and remember to stay for the end-credit scenes, they are worth it.
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