Sinners Review
It’s been twelve years and five films since the filmmaking partnership started between director Ryan Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan, fast becoming an iconic partnership. Since Fruitvale Station, they’ve gone from strength to strength, and their latest effort, Sinners, might just be their best yet.
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Sinners is an intoxicating modern epic drenched in sweat and blood, Ryan Coogler having a whale of a time bringing his A-game to the horror genre. The vampire lore adds such a unique element to proceedings, the use of music throughout in the narrative strengthening the film’s themes and offering a new way to tell this story, the Blues influence proudly front and centre. There’s a moment that on paper feels like it shouldn’t work yet Coogler’s direction makes it feel seamless, as past, present, and future meet in a spellbinding sequence. Of course, there’s another ace score from Ludwig Goransson accompanying a Coogler film; his work towards the end is utterly stunning.
Watching the film unfold, it’s easy to see why there’s been so much made of Coogler working with IMAX cameras to bring his vision to life. He utilises the format to perfection, honing in on the scale of it all while ensuring we get some incredibly intimate moments between characters. There’s an aspect ratio change at one point that just gave me such a euphoric feeling. Coogler opens the action up to the audience and keeps you firmly locked in. Not only that, the use of long takes is something he has become known for, and there’s a masterful one included here, cranking up the tension for an inevitable outcome that hits hard emotionally.
Coming to the performances, Sinners features a scintillating double-lead performance from Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers. What could be seen as a bit of a gimmick at first soon turns into something that drives the film forward in such a spectacular fashion. If you have someone as good as Jordan leading your film, why would you not want two of them?
The rest of the cast sees Hailee Steinfeld showcasing her strength as one of Hollywood’s best young actresses, Wunmi Mosaku bringing a powerful ion to her character’s belief in the supernatural, Jack O’Connell playing the cheekiest chap of a vampire you’ll ever see, and Delroy Lindo stealing the whole damn film as an alcoholic musician. Not to forget Miles Caton, who is great as Sammie Moore, the beating heart of the film.
Sinners is the film to beat this year and solidifies Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s partnership as one of the very best cinema has seen. We do hope they carry on making films together for as long as they possibly can.
★★★★★
In UK cinemas April 18th / Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo / Dir: Ryan Coogler / Warner Bros. Pictures / 15
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