Ryan Coogler & Michael B. Jordan vampire film "Sinners"

[Trav]

Sammie, I understand ya now

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

I wish I could . I love Coogler. Just haven’t loved his last 2 works as much as the consensus

I gave the movie an 9 on first watch. And maybe some of that is just my wanting the brehs to win


But I can lie Even Im a lil taken a back by what Im seeing from critics and on twitter. Its the kinda unanimous love that felt normal to me when Creed and Black Panther hit (I know people try to be revisionist, but Black Panther felt so unique at the time the hype/praise felt worth it). However, I'd argue Creed wasnt getting this kinda praise (early) and it seemed like Black Panther's faults were still relatively picked on early. Although some point have pointed out how "messy" the movie Sinners is as well.

But again Creed was like perfect execution of the movie it set out to make. Black Panther just needed a better CGI/final fight to be perfect to me. Here I do have execution issues keeping it from perfection.


However, you can clearly see the potential. Looking at this you can see how all the ingredients are there. But maybe its one of those things that grow over time for me simply because it did have the ingredients.

 

[Trav]

Hey Brehs, what themes you think were explored in the movie? I’m more of a bookie and with movies, I have to think a bit harder at the message that is being conveyed.

- Culture vultures
- Power and soul of black movie and it's impact
- The concept of freedom and the different ways (alcohol, music, money, church) people embark on tryna obtain it
- blood being a bond and burden
- Individual identity, cultural identity, individual vs collective identity, racial identity

 

[Trav]

Mf died, went out gettin' some of dis octoroon ass, then got to spend the next 45 yrs in the "afterlife" wit his tongue on dat 'button'

 

[Rollie Forbes]

The scene where

Spoiler

Sammie played through all of the different eras of Black music

was really cool.

 

[EA]

Your spot on with the dualities in your spoiler. I picked up on that too plus Hailey character saying “they got money and you need it” and “let me talk to them since they look like me” is deep too. Sent her out there for money and ended up destroying the whole idea until its revealed about the double cross coming in the morning


I do love how Coogler put the real racism on display in this movie and it wasnt even promoted like that so i know some crackers are going to be butthurt and call this a DEI movie with hurt feelings

I really liked that critique on mixed/white passing people trying to use their privilege in both spaces.

This film is definitely gonna rub some people the wrong way. I was sat next to a white couple and every now then, I would look over to see how they were reacting to the scenes

 

[NobodyReally]

Hey Brehs, what themes you think were explored in the movie? I’m more of a bookie and with movies, I have to think a bit harder at the message that is being conveyed.

- Culture vultures
- Power and soul of black movie and it's impact
- The concept of freedom and the different ways (alcohol, music, money, church) people embark on tryna obtain it
- blood being a bond and burden
- Individual identity, cultural identity, individual vs collective identity, racial identity

Also the way white people with power manipulate poor whites and play on their bigotry to take more power. The whole reason the vampire was able to do so much was because he saw those two white people were Klan, and all he had to do is say something racist, and they put their guns down and let him in.

 

[WIA20XX]

I loved it!

It’s basically telling a story about how white ppl always tryna force themselves into OUR spaces.

Coogler made it a point that they had to be INVITED in.

 

[ajnapoleon]

Coogler made it a point that they had to be INVITED in.

that irish jig was hitting tho


scary and fascinating at the same time

 

[Rollie Forbes]

I loved it!

It’s basically telling a story about how white ppl always tryna force themselves into OUR spaces.

A when they are let in, they corrupt, STEAL IT and destroy it.

"We will make beautiful music together."

 

[Nostalgic]

Sammie, I understand ya now

Sammie found that button.

 

[I AM WARHOL]

The movie was 100% made for black folk. The ‘isms, the jokes, the tone in delivery, all of it is relatable.

It’s really been a minute since we’ve had a mainstream film with black leads & a black film with “fukk you” at its core.

Also he presented an excellent concept with “the devil’s music”.

Ima keep it a stack tho, I think I like the idea of Coogler’s films more than his actual vision.

Coogler has big ideas but he’s not a good enough director or writer to execute them.

Spoiler

Sammy & the devil’s music being the key but his story not being fleshed out is probably the movie’s biggest flaw. It focuses heavily on MBJ and his backstory that no one really gave a fukk about when there needed to be more elements of how his music speaks the devil’s tongue or just captivates to people.

Instead we get MBJ and the ambiguous white girl, MBJ and his former flame, Sammy and the married wife, the white couple and the Indians on horses, Delray Lindo the drunk wonder and his war stories, it’s all over the place.

Sammy was used as a side character and playing music in the background for people with no suggestion that it’s doing anything to seduce people……but then we get a random quip from the lead vamp that he’s who they’ve been after all along.

It was very disjointed in themes & tones and the pacing was terrible lol. It took too long to get to the scenes that matter and a good portion of the scenes have expositions that could’ve been condensed.

Coogler either gotta figure out how to make his writing more nuanced or utilize more camera tricks when characters are speaking because dialogue is not his strong suit. The intro for example, where it cuts mysteriously with vampires while Sammy is walking in the church is probably the best usage of ambiguity and creativity in the movie.

The ending also was rushed, MBJ as red twin, blue twin didn’t work, the vampires were whatever, what the fukk was that musical scene with all the different eras, Delray Lindo was amazing.

For me this was a 6/10 but I can see why folks would give this a 10/10 or a 7. There’s good but it’s so hard to ignore the very mid aspects of it

You hit the nail on the head. Out of all Ryan’s movies, I think this one showed his limitations as a writer more than any before. 3 major scenes stood out to me as clunky and poorly done, that I know most ppl loved

Spoiler

1. The music time set piece. Completely took me out of the movie. Thought it was corny, campy, and didnt flow at all with the movie before or after. Felt like Ryan just had a vision for it and was gonna put it in regardless. I can dive deeper into why I don’t like it, but overall just as you said, it was disjointed imo.

2. The post credit scene. This was probably the most damaging part of the movie honestly. It makes the vampires way too human. To give Stack the ability to have the self control to listen to Smoke and just leave Sammie alone and live his life with his girl makes it seem like the vampires were right all along. Like what are the actual downsides of being a vampire if your faculties are still with you and you can choose good? Like you’re a soulless, blood thirsty vampire right? If not, we gotta have a discourse lol. Just seemed to step on any type of good vs evil of the vampire vs humans theme. Once again, thought the scene was unnecessary and tacked on and more of Ryan just having a really cool scene he wanted to use vs one really necessary for the overall story.

3. Smoke killing the KKK was just some gratuitous, “I want my Django” moment type shyt. I love seeing some clansman get fukked up in a movie, don’t get me wrong. But this was sooooo forced and goofy that it actually pissed me off. And Coogler is a much better writer than this. Once again this scene felt tacked on, instead of truly woven into the story. Like we got a picture of a clans gown and one sentence from the main vampire of set up. Why would the clansmen not go on a night raid, when the juke would be packed with nikkas, to attack? They wait until morning, when it’s all cleared up? Why? If he wanted this scene, I feel like story wise, he could’ve easily elevated that whole showdown. Instead we just get a cheap, tacked on scene, meant to be a suicide. Disappointing. Lowkey, I feel like Ryan looked ant the movie and was like “damn, we really just killed like 40 nikkas to 3 white ppl. That doesn’t sit well with me. Let’s even it out “.

 

[Straw Hat Luffy]

I knew some dudes were tripping in here. This movie as a horror fan it’s amazing to see black horror be so good like this. What an amazing story. I got chills at the very end and now I gotta start bumping Blues music more often

Spoiler

I love how this movie includes the rules of a vampire film. Specifically the part where you have to invite them in. And why they were invited in twice made so much sense.

I’m 50/50 on Sami playing music and the have a transition of all the music throughout the decades… idk why but it threw me off. But I did love the ending of that scene when the vampires can see them in there. All that fire and everyone dancing was a dope visual. So I’m torn

I’m also 50/50 on the ending cut scene. Seeing Sami old and performing in Chicago gave me chills. But I didnt feel MBJ and his girl characters appearing tbh. Especially since they let Sami go. You would think a vampire would be down to get him after fulfilling their promise.

I thought it was a great blend of many genres. And I love the runtime especially giving all the characters introductions time and learning their backgrounds.

Different walks of life but sharing the same experience and in the end we all need a place to escape once in a while.

I liked the idea of twin characters… it technically gave “one character” to interact with multiple characters at once.

Also killing kkk members at the end>>>

Man I was high as hell and the girl I was with kept trying to talk to me during the trailers. It was a black crowd. There was one chick who replied to everything like girl shut up damn. People clapped at the end of the movie

 

[SCJoe]

Spoiler: Spoiler

I think this might be the first black made movie I’ve seen where rootworking was more impactful then Christianity, usually it’s the opposite with emphasis put on it. I remember growing up seeing coins in old folks shoes and thinking they were saving money or some shyt

 

[Ribbs]

Won't end up seeing it this weekend but I'm glad to see high appraisal from the brehs




Creatives owning their art. Crazy concept.