I don’t know what Writer, Producer, and Director Ryan Coogler was dreaming when he came up with the script of SINNERS, but it was a genius move. SINNERS takes the movie goer on all kinds of journeys with surprising twists.
This film takes place in Clarksdale, Mississippi in the 1930’s during Jim Crow era. It opens with young Sammie Moore, a sharecropper and blues musician entering his father’s church beaten, marked, and bloody holding the neck of his precious guitar. Being the times the story is set in your mind automatically goes to the Klan.
Just 24 hours before, Clarksdale legends, twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) roll back into town after living in Chicago and rumored to have been working for Al Capone. They are dressed to the nines, carrying lots of money and alcohol with the plan to open a Jute Joint that very night. The recruit their young cousin Sammie to perform the blues. Little did they know that that guitar and his playing would open the door to darkness.
During the course of the film we realize that there is more evil in Clarkdale than the Klan. Where it came from and how it manifested isn’t known but it literally takes a bite out of the entire town.
The casting is phenomenal as well as the acting. Michael B. Jordan as the twins Smoke and Stack is one of the best portrayal of twins I have ever seen. The transition between the two brothers and personalities is seamless and award winning. Miles Canton is a child musical prodigy who has performed with many gospel greats and toured singing back up for H.E.R. at the age of 16. This is his first film and whatever Coogler saw in him was on point.
There isn’t a weak performance in the film and so many standouts such as Delroy Lindo as blues musician Delta Slim. He gives that old school wisdom when needed. Wunmi Mosaku gives a solid and warm performance as Annie. Mary is played by Hailee Steinfeld. She gives us a look at those who were “colored” but passes for white, but heart belongs to a Black man she can’t “legally” have.
There is a surprise character that is amazing.
Coogler brought to light the Chinese who lived in the south during that time through the characters of Bo Chow (Yao) and Grace Chow (Li Jun Li). There were treated the same as Blacks and lived in the community.
SINNERS is one of the most interesting, suspenseful, scary, best costumed and shot films I have seen in a long while.
SINNERS gets 4 ½ winks of the EYE. You MUST see it in the theater. Make sure you stay through the credits for an extra scene.
Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky