Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Sinners

This is one of the most beautiful, haunting, well acted, amazingly written and perfectly composed films I have seen and truly one of the finest films of the decade! Their is so much I want to discuss about this film as Ryan Coogler and his team have crafted a film with the social smarts of a Jordan Peele film and this film in specific will be talked and dissected for years to come due to its genius approaching to storytelling and the many themes it covers from racism, owning your heritage, religion, love, heartbreak, family and following what you love. Sinners is Micheal B Jordan and Ryan Coogler at the height of their collaborative powers as I remember their humble start with Fruitvale Station to Now I have watched each single film they have worked on together and each project being different then the previous one. Sinners is in my opinion the best collaborative work they have done with each other so far and I would go as far as saying it is Ryan Coogler’s magnum opus of storytelling he has ever given audiences Sinners is a triumph of filmmaking at the highest degree. 

Firstly, This film is one of the most well constructed, multi layered screenplays I have seen of this decade. Now I have voiced for many years that Ryan Coogler is one of the finest directors working today his films have a constant thread of African American representation and discussions of black culture woven into his narratives. Two other directors come to mind who do a similar approach in their films making people of colour the centrepiece of their films which is Spike Lee and Jordan Peele. Now he constantly likes to have conversations about the oppression of black culture and he tackles it in a way that never feels preachy or to subtle to notice. He knows exactly the right notes to hit in order for people to sit up and take notice and here we see a film tackle racism within the horror/ thriller landscape which is a perfect marriage between the two themes as in many ways racism is horrific so having that be combined with dark imagery makes for a very punchy image. Now The film talks heavily about owning your heritage and knowing where you came from and that is shown in many different forms. It is primarily shown through the lens of music which serves as a character within itself in the narrative in a way that is a out of body experience as composer Ludwig Goransson gives one of the most breathtaking original scores I have ever heard that sends chills down your spine and will truly amaze you the music is the heartbeat to this film for so many reasons. The film shows black culture expressing what has kept them free through good times and bad and that form of Escapism is music and dance which culminates in a club for them to let loose and forget their problems for a few hours and just be and live in the moment and have fun in a time where they were looked down upon by society. The film is labeled as a horror film but it is as much of a horror film that 2017’S Get Out is as that film was about race in America and that film is the only one I would say it is similar too that being said it isn’t trying to copy anything Jordan Peele has done this is very much its own thing. Ryan Coogler and the whole team involved crafted a film where they wanted the audience to feel truly consumed into the landscape it takes place in before getting to the main plot line so they take their time letting us know who Smoke and Stack are and the world around them and why they are they way the are in many respects. It paints the world they operate in and it makes the film feel more lived in by taking its time as most filmmakers would of rushed to get to the action but by letting the film take its time to built up to that big climatic moment later on it feels like a far better payoff as your far more invested into the set of characters due to the great character building they established early on in the picture. You also can see the sheer respect for each character that comes onscreen as they all get their individual time to shine and flesh out who they are so it isn’t like most films where you are attached to just the main characters and the rest of the supporting cast fall into the background no not here they spend great time and detail explaining each person as they all serve a purpose to the plot in a important way. The film is soaked in culture and also religion in many ways you can see the sheer handle and care Ryan Coogler took researching every ounce of this story that was needed to properly immerses audiences into its setting. The horror I wouldn’t even say is super violent is their moments that catch you off guard and could genuinely scare you yeah sure but the film is not build around the scares which most modern horror films do. The film is so damn good in terms of how it builds upon its narrative as it is amazingly rich in character depth, utilizing it’s setting in a way that makes it feel so lived in, having so much to say with it’s message in terms of racism, religion, family and all of it is shown in such a way that feels like Ryan Coogler’s most personal film he has made up to now I love that he took his money and success of Black Panther and instead of doing a heavy effects film took his brand and put it on a passion project that is entirely original. The film tackles the message of owning who you are the film is able to show the love these two cousins have for one another in a way that is almost like brothers due to their shared criminal past they have with each other they have had to rely on another in order to stay alive so their is an incredibly strong emotional bond between the two of them that is beautifully shown onscreen. Sinners is musically brilliant, narrativly the best film Ryan Coogler has ever written and this film will be studied for decades due to the multi layered complexity of what is being shown onscreen in such rich detail due to the genius that is Coogler and the entire creative team involved. 

Secondly, The performances across the board from each actor involved is truly amazing! The first actor that I have to give high praise to is Michael B. Jordan for giving what I think is the finest duel performance I have seen from an actor this year. Now not to discredit De Niro and Pattinson that both gave solid double role performances the way Michael B. Jordan operates though in this film is on a whole other level due to how incredibly different the personalities he taps into are. He plays Smoke with a focused father like mentality who has the weight of his past on his shoulders and out of the two brothers is the one that proceeds cautiously through life and does not do anything without thinking about all of the possible outcomes beforehand. His portrayal of Smoke is sensational and then his take on Stacks is for sure the more loose cannon of the two not saying he does not think things through but he definitely is more laid back and relaxed and lets the chips fall  where they may and is more in the moment person he is not concerned about the next 5 or 6 steps he is someone who is incredibly present in whatever he is doing. At the same time you could label his behaviour as reckless and is the reason why he has so much unfinished business he has to lay to rest he has yet to due to his ability to commit to anything or anyone but that rule applies to both cousins though. His Take on Stacks is amazing and one that is the brightest light in the room while also knowing when to buckle down and get serious when the moment calls for it. Michael B Jordan gives what I think is his finest hour onscreen with his work on Sinners he committed such incredible character work to each character he played and made them so unique in small details he gave them that made them truly stand out. The next performance that truly blew me away was Miles Caton who made his first onscreen performance with his work on this film which is crazy as he gave me the same feeling I had when I saw Dominic Sessa in the Holdovers back in 2023. He was such a natural and he steals each scene he is in with his rich soulful musical voice that brings a tear to your eye and raises the hair on your arms he put his blood sweat and tears into this character and it shows as he plays a young man wanting to make his mark on the world but is stuck between two worlds at a crossroads in his life having to decide how he wants to pursue his passion for music while having the expectation his father has for him on his shoulders. It is a performance that is Outstanding and I cannot wait to see what he does next as his future is bright he held his own against Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld and Delroy Linda which is no easy feat what a hell of a breakout performance that is among one of the best first onscreen performances I have ever seen. Hailee Steinfeld  delivers a performance that is unlike anything she has given onscreen before. She has been one upping herself for years now and here she plays the love interest of Michael B. Jordan’s Stacks and she isn’t onscreen for a great deal of the film but when she is you can see the heartache that haunts her and the sadness that washes over her when she sees him at the same time that longing of wanting him is always on her mind. She slips into the southern drawl of this role in such a easy way and she has this confidence to her and swagger that she is so sure of herself when around him it’s hard not to get swept up into what she is giving onscreen. She is seductive, Emotionally shattered, Compelling and gives a truly sensational supporting turn that will have your jaw firmly on the floor she may not be onscreen much but she ignites the screen on fire when she is in the frame Hailee is tremendous in this film! Then you have Jack O’ Connell Who plays the antagonist of the film and wow is he terrifyingly brilliant in this juicy role he gets to sink his teeth into. I have seen O’ Connell in films before like Unbroken so I know he has the range to break your heart onscreen and here he gets to play this well layered villain that will charm his way to get inside to kill everyone and make them join his as he calls it fellowship of love. Their is so much depth to this role he takes on it is not a moustache twirling trope of a character he is this red eyed demon that hides his evil intentions behind kindness and smiles and that is so unsettling and Jack soars with his performance in Sinners giving what I think is arguably one of the best performances of his career. Each actor in this film did a sensational Job their is no weak link in the cast they all brought their A game and poured everything they had into these roles truly one of the best acted cast’s I have seen this year! 

Lastly, Sinners is one of the best films of the decade! Ryan Coogler has crafted I think his finest work to date from all fronts the writing, the direction, the thrills, the music, the performances everything just hits all the marks perfectly. The Music just sucks you into the landscape it is set in within moments of hearing the first chords of Ludwig’s phenomenal score that is among one of the best composed musical scores of the year. It also will make you think with the themes of black culture, musical impact, the bond of love between two cousins and love lost between lovers as well along with following your passions all told through the  lens of a horror and thriller style thrown on it that seems so perfectly fitting. This film is addictive it will have you wanting to run back into the cinema and seeing it again and discussing it with friends and family members about all the hidden meanings you didn’t pick up the first time when seeing it. Sinners is monumental and is a film that reminds you why you fell in love with movies in the first place Ryan Cooglar is a mastermind of storytelling this film is a freaking masterpiece and no doubt one of the best films of the year and has raised the bar that will be hard to surpass when discussing at the end of the year what the best film of the year is. I cannot stress enough to recommend people to see this on the biggest screen possible if you have access to a 70mm IMAX screen please go to it as you will get the full scope Ryan meant for this film to be seen on and also showing the film industry we want to see more original films like this. 

This film centres around Two cousins who come back to their old stomping grounds to put up a Juke Joint for a night to sell some booze but sadly some strangers come wandering in causing all sorts of problems they never expected

Rated R : Sexual Content|Language|Strong Bloody Violence

Michael B. Jordan : B Jordan delivers the finest work of his career with his take on the criminally shady but emotionally complex individuals that are the Smoke and Stack cousins. Now Michael B. Jordan I think is one of the most talented actors of his generation as whatever he does he pours his whole body and soul into whatever part he plays. He got shredded for the Creed and Black Panther films and then for films like Fruitvale Station which was very early on in his career he showed he can do thought provoking dramatic pieces where he digs to the deepest part of his heart to show the most vulnerable parts of himself. Here he takes one of his biggest challenges he has ever had to take on yet which is playing Duel roles and now their have been quite a lot of that going on as of recently with Alto Knights, Mickey 17 and now Sinners but I will say the way the twin performances are done here is probably my favourite due to how Michael B. Jordan made both personalities just really pop onscreen in his ability to give them each personality traits that just made a great impression. So I will discuss his performance as Smoke first now his take on Smoke I thought was such a great angle as he is very much the calculated and calm one out of the two. Not to say Stack flies off the handle but the older brother Smoke is most definitely a person to think far ahead of what a decision he would make would do in the long run and you can tell his has a father like mentality to his personality just in the way he carries himself he means business and is never thinking about the joy of of a situation everything is well thought out and calculated in his head. He is a family man as well and that I will say is his only tender spot is the family he left behind that haunts him in many respects and the way Michael is able to bring the character to life is in this very strict no nonsense attitude while also at times trying to evaluate a situation logically without letting his emotions override what is the right course of action.Where Stack is more relaxed you can tell he is the one that keeps them alive in many ways because he knows he made choices that he regrets now and due those poorly made choices he lives with heartache and tragedy on his mind and he will never let that repeat itself for him again so he is very emotionally restrained except when it comes to family that is when his judgement does become quite clouded. I love the sheer way him and Stack get along it is almost a telepathic way of communicating as their is so much that is said without dialogue being exchanged between the two you can see the sheer respect and love they have for one anther and that they always have one another’s back if one of them was in a tight spot. Michael Breathes great life into Stack he also is the most fleshed out of the two as he is a man that follows strict rules but at the same time you can see he wears his heart on his sleeve and can become quite emotional over specific people that mean a great deal to him and when those moment arises Michael B. Jordan brings the required emotional depth to explore the valleys of his heart in such a genuine way that moved me. Now I loved how stern and emotionally sincere he used Smoke as it was a great role for him to get to showcase a more subtle side of him while also exploring the magic broken aspect of his heart truly a tremendous performance given by Michael B. Jordan. His turn as Stack the more reckless cousin I feel was very energetic and out of the two knows how to let the situation fall where it may he is a very in the moment person who isn’t focused on what comes next which is that is where the cousins are different in that regard. He is someone as like Smoke is also haunted by his past mistakes and he is more reminded of the wrongdoings he did in terms of his relationships through Hailee Steinfeld’s character their is a great scene between the two of them where she has been asking and constantly remarking why he Never wanted her to stay with him and as tough and cool he may appear to be to others she sees right through him which he loves as he can be himself but also hates because he knows she makes him show his more vulnerable side with her. He gives her the answer that due to his line of work he wanted her to be safe and it was never going to be with him due to what he does and how he goes about doing said things which is heartbreaking so he essentially is telling her to love her is very much to be a stranger and to love her from afar. Stack has a weakness for her heart as he is for sure to be someone to live up the moment that being said he also wants to forget his worries for a few hours and just have fun but with her being the reminder of his past he is unable to just let loose and finally deal with things that he was unfinished with. He is trying constantly to tell Smoke to loosen up and have fun as he can see that he is so tense and worried about running things smoothly that he cannot enjoy himself and Smoke sees it more as Stack should be taking it more seriously and not just excusing his way of looking out for them both as his cautionary way of living has kept them both alive this long. Stack also undergoes a transformation later on in the film I cannot say straight up what it is about without going into spoilers but I will say he has to psychically and emotionally change who he is within Stack to show a more darker and manipulative side to him which is shown in such a phenomenal way that will just have you in awe the whole time. You also can tell out of the two of them Stack is the one who is more social and can get through to people by using his charm as Smoke is no nonsense he isn’t as socially adaptable as Stack is because he knows how to get people to relax and do what he wants he is very intellectual and due to his party like way of living he has a great ability to ease people’s minds and work in his favour when the situation calls for it. Michael B Jordan really had a lot to do In terms of character work as he got to show the quiet stillness of Smoke but the relaxed nature of Stack and both of them are dealing with their own personal issues on the side that they have to deal with and B. Jordan explores these men’s hearts in such a staggering way that I think it is among the best work we have seen from him so far. 

Miles Caton : Caton gives one of the finest onscreen debut’s I have ever seen from a fresh face making his mark on a film! Now he has zero acting experience prior to this film which is crazy to think about he rips onto the screen with such a amazing amount of charisma and to hold his own against Delroy Lindo, Michael B, Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld is not easy and he for me stole the film in many ways in terms of performance. He plays the son of a preacher who is in love with blues music and also is close friends of Smoke& Stack and he is so entranced in the world they occupy as they live fast and have such interesting paths they have carved out for themselves his character can’t help but get swept up into the spectacle of their lives. He is very much torn between two worlds as his father wants him to devote his life to faith and live what he deems a clean way of living as Blues music to his father is the stuff of the devil and so he has to decide between what his father says or do what drives him which is music and we see amazingly a scene in the car between him and Stack where he pulls out his guitar and starts singing beautifully. When the film progresses and he goes into the Joint the cousins  have spent all day crafting to put in place you can see that sheer environment he witnesses changes his life the people dancing, drinking, flirting the observation of seeing each person in their letting loose and having a place to belong and a sense of unapologetic fun for a couple of hours is a transcended experience that changes his life. Miles Caton is able to say so much with his eyes and what he observes and through his Body language as in the first act of the film you can see the shyness in his ability to just be quiet and listen to what people are saying but not really engage much. Now Stack was essential in getting him to let his guard down and become more social as the longer he spends time with him the more he sees how benefiting it is to his social mind and then by the time the party starts later on he again is still shy but the one place he isn’t is through his music as you can see him close his eyes at times to just be one with the music which was a great little detail I loved about his contribution to the character he plays.  After that first push by Stack he becomes so much more comfortable in his own skin and also can enjoy himself a hell of a lot more. He becomes intoxicated in the space in which the party resides in and starts seeing a girl that catches his eye he is starting to do what Stack has taught him which is to let loose and also let the people witness his raw talents as he is so incredibly gifted with his voice. There is a sequence in this film where Miles Caton performs and the way that it is shown visually is one of the most out of body cinematic experiences I have had in 20 years. It perfectly described the power of music and Mile’s characters ability to touch people with his amazing talent which was shown in a jaw dropping sequence which will be talked about for decades. Now the thing is seeing him fall more into what Smoke and Stack is personality wise some could categorize him as becoming corrupted by the twins but I saw it more as them helping him find his way as I spoke about earlier he is very lost emotionally in what he should do but if that night taught him anything is how powerful he is with his talents when he does not let the anxiety take control of his body and just how much more freeing he can feel. Miles Caton also shares a great scene with Jack O’ Connell in the final act of the film that just blew my mind as it brings his fathers message about religion full circle for him and it is quite powerful In terms of what it does for the trajectory for his arc. Miles Caton again for the first act is very shy and kept to himself but over the course of the film finds his footing and realizes who he is more as the night goes on and we see the layers of him shed more and more and Caton delivers such a emotional sincerity to the character that you cannot take your eyes off of him when he is onscreen. He makes it seem like he has been doing this for ages he is such a natural onscreen and in the first act stumbles on words or won’t keep eye contact due to his shyness but by the final act he knows who he is and their is a confidence and power in him that was missing when we first met him that is cemented by the last frame of the film that he knows what he is and what he wants to do with his life. Miles Caton Is able to bring this amazing character to life through great exploration emotionally that will touch your heart and move you Miles Caton is brilliant in this film and I cannot wait to see what he does next he has a bright future ahead of him as if this is his first ever time in front of a camera it is among one of the greatest breakout performances I have ever seen Miles is a revelation. 

Jack O’ Connell : Jack O’ Connell is masterful as the sharp teethed blood dripping villain that will be remembered as one of the best onscreen antagonist of this decade! Now I have been familiar with Jack’s work most notably his work on Unbroken which I think is an underrated film that showcases his talents tremendously. Here he plays a Irish performer of sorts that just wants to have a great time and he does not show up into the film until the 45 minute to hour mark of the film which I thought was a great time to bring him on the screen as before that it is all character building. When he comes to the joint that the cousins have made their is a certain aura he brings that is unsettling due to his demeanour and voice he is cheery and him and his friends just want to join in on the fun time that is going on inside but is declined at the request from both Smoke and Stack despite his best efforts at being the most polite a person could be for a invitation. Hell he even sings a song to try to impress them both but all attempts fail and he is sent away from the joint but instead of leaving lingers around the building like Birds circling its prey and as the night goes on and starts to become incredibly odd due to the way people start acting the strange aspect  of the night ties back to Jack’s character and his doing. He tries to lure anyone outside to join what he labels as his fellowship of love and to join in the brotherhood of belonging to something where you can feel free forever. His entire way of seducing people out to this cause is through song and persuading them from showing them a right cause they can join if they feel lost or misguided that is why he has his eyes so heavily set on Miles Caton’s character as he embodies someone who is lost and trying to find his way and also is incredibly talented and to Jack O’ Connell he finds that to enticing to pass up. He disguises being owned by him as love and fellowship which is exactly what so many of the people in that joint have fought against which is ownership and Jack O’ Connell springs this very socially smart and unsettling personality to the screen in such a engaging way that you want to know who he was before the events of this film happen. Now the Irish relate to a lot of what African Americans have felt around that time as they to have been repressed and Jack O’ Connell’s character is supposed to represent that part of Irish heritage which I think is tapped into greatly by him and He is one of the most cunning and smart antagonist I have seen in a horror film in quite sometime. As he knows he can’t step foot in that establishment so he will use all his power within him to try to get through their brains that the sense of belonging to a loving cause is the answer. Jack has never taken on a antagonist like this before we got to see parts of his acting range that had yet to be tapped into until now and the way he slips into the skin of this really complex fellow was phenomenal to witness as I think it Is among some of the best work he has given we don’t know exactly where he comes from but we do learn to a extent his motives. We see why he wants to have them join but the sinister undertones and how he is able to walk the fine line between charming and utterly horrifying was magnificent I think Jack O’ Connell has given one of the strongest performances of his entire career with his compelling work in this film! 

Ryan Coogler : Coogler has crafted the defining work of his career with Sinners! Now I cannot express how happy I am for Ryan on the success of this film as I have been following the trajectory of his career since 2013’s Fruitvale Station which is when I first got notice of who he was as a rising filmmaker to watch out for. Ever since he has gone on to great heights with Creed of expanding the world of the rocky universe and then stepping his style into the comic genre with Black Panther and now his take on the horror genre with his latest film Sinners. He gives a film that is his most personal film to date in his amazing filmography he has slowly been crafting over time. He delves deep into the impactful meaning behind Blues music on the African American experience and how vital it is to the community especially in a time when things were  extremely dividing for them. I keep going back to Get Out as a reference point as it is the only other film I can draw similarities to in tone as the film is labeled as a “horror” but it is more of a deconstruction of racism through the landscape of horror which is exactly how Sinners operates. One of the many things I love about Ryan’s style of direction is he never forgot that indie style of storytelling sure he has gone on to do big things with Marvel and the rocky universe but he is still that small scrappy filmmaker and it shines through this film as I voiced earlier the music is a character within itself in this film it really is. He worked closely with composer Ludwig to have the instrumentation be so beautifully haunting throughout the whole film and be able to express each character’s feeling and the atmosphere the film is surrounded by in such rich detail from the melodies that Ludwig was brilliantly able to craft together for this picture. He takes on these two cousins that have dabbled in the criminal lifestyle coming back home to close some unfinished business but also try to look forward to new business ventures for themselves.  We see them as emotionally close men but also how they operate their business and then how they treat the woman in their life. Smoke left his woman as a tragedy befell him that could never repair the damage that was caused from said tragedy to his relationship and then Stack was someone who cut ties with his to keep her safe from the reckless nature of the line of work he is deeply consumed into. Then as the night goes on those 3 things the business aspect, emotional and way they treat their woman all are centre points for both characters and greatly explored to a full extent that you can fully understand why their are the way they are. It is both due to the great performance that is from Michael B. Jordan but also the rich writing layered amazingly well from Ryan at the helm of it and then he surrounds the film with great performers from Delroy Lindo, Hailee Stienfield, newcomer Miles Caton who gives a hell of a breakout performance and then the great antagonist role from Jack O’ Connell. Their is no character he presents to the audience that is a throwaway they all serve great purpose to the plot and to the over arching message of the film and I love that he gives each actor time to shine and fully flesh out their roles so they feel like well shaped personalities that you become heavily invested into. The horror element never felt cheap or overdone but instead it works as the scares come at moments you don’t expect it and Ryan was able to crank up the scare factor slowly overtime it never felt abrupt or sudden but carefully placed that he knew the most effective places that it would best work on The audience and also work for the story at hand. You can see from Fruitvale to here how much he has grown as a filmmaker and how much more he has learned in terms of storytelling but his drive, passion and heart has never been sidelined in any of his films and the biggest theme of this film is family and owning your heritage as that is explored greatly through the African American character but also through the antagonist and their Irish background and how they feel deeply connected to the struggles African Americans faced they feel they to a degree can sympathize with the oppression they faced. Ryan didn’t just want to give audiences a film that would entertain but he wanted them to walk away with an experience that they had not felt or seen before that would move them in a very profound way which this film does do and his work on Sinners is horrifyingly beautiful, their is so much emotional heart and soul to each frame and you can see the sheer love he has for the craft and medium he works in Sinners is by far his most complex film in terms of writing and I would also add his strongest narrative he has woven together and he shows once again why he is one of the best directors working today and has such a distinctive style that makes people drawn to his pictures to see what he does next. Sinners operates on so many levels as A effective horror film, commentary on racism in America, the exploration of how Blues music is forever tied to the African American experience and way of living, it also shows the sheer heartbreak these two cousins have felt and how they come to terms with trying to mend relationships they broke as well as serving up thrills and chills along the way. He surrounds the story in such great detailed world building that you feel transported to the time it’s taken place in only one other filmmaker I know successfully does that with all of his films and that is Martin Scorsese and Coogler also has that fine eye to detail. Sinners is him at his strongest creatively we have seen and this film shines so bright due to the immense amount of passion and love he put into it from the writing and genius direction at the centre of it Ryan Coogler has crafted a modern day masterpiece that will be talked about for decades to come.