Displaying items by tag: Hailee Steinfeld

SINNERS

US, 2025, 137 minutes, Colour.

Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Helena Hua, Yao, Sam Malone, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson, Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Omar Benson Miller, Buddy Guy.

Directed by Ryan Coogler.

To judge the sinners, it is important to know what the sins are. And, in this very striking and surprising drama by Ryan Coogler, there is quite a range of sinners.

Once upon a time, 2013, first time feature film director, Coogler, made a small budget film with Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station. It focused on the police shooting of a young black man, highlighting racist issues, which received quite some critical acclaim. Coogler has collaborated with Jordan on the two spin-offs from Rocky, Creed, as well as two blockbusters in the Marvel Universe, Black Panther. Now he collaborates once again, big budget, long running time, with Jordan – twice.

Twice in the sense that Jordan here plays twins, two young men from a Mississippi town who went off to World War I, returned to prohibition Chicago, heavily involved in criminal activity, Sinners, to say the least. But, it is 1932, they return to their home town, buy an old mill from a racist owner, want to set up a jazz juke joint, especially for the African-American population of the town. And, this is what the first part of this film focuses on, the brothers, making all their contacts, hiring musicians, contracting friends to work, and the personal dramas from their past, past relationships.

While Jordan plays identical twins, the screenplay is something of a twins’ screenplay itself, to interrelated stories, but not identical twins. The second part of Sinners involves quite a different range of sins and sinners.

The film opens with the religious dimension, a talented young musician, Sam (a striking performance by Miles Caton) comes into his father’s church, the father is suspicious of the devil’s music, trying to reconcile with his son. And then the screenplay goes back 24 hours to the first part already described. With all the publicity, but a surprise to those who saw the film without warning, most audiences will now know that this is a vampire film, an Irish vampire (Jack O’Connell), roaming the West, pursued by Native Americans, but controlling and transforming the victims.

Then they converge on the mill, a siege, singing and dancing to Irish music, the contrast with the jazz at the mill, some eerie confrontations and conflicts, and an all-out battle with the vampires. And then back to the opening sequence of Sam at the church.

This is an original story, screenplay, full of the unexpected, but drawing on all kinds of movie traditions, jazz musicals, the vampire stories. Quite overwhelming in its way.

There is quite an important development set in the 1990s during the final credits which early exiters will regret that they have missed. And, further alert, right at the end of the credits there is a song sung by Sammy, calming and helping the audience to leave the cinema and reflect on what they have seen and felt.

1. Sinners? The range of sins? The range of sinners? Victims of sinners, exploitation, vengeance, forgiveness…?
2. The work of Ryan Coogler, his writing skills, his directing skills, African-American issues?
3. The theme of twins, identical twins? The film’s twin themes of music and song, but not identical twins?
4. The opening, traditions of music, supernatural elements, African, American cultures? Tone of the prologue, Sam, his injuries, guitar, entering the church, his father’s reaction, the choir, the congregation, his father’s warning, embrace, music and the influence of Satan, his father’s exhortation?
5. The transition to 1932, Mississippi, the cotton fields, the town, African Americans, the slave heritage? The flashback for the one day, the action taking place over 25 hours? The audience immersion in the life of the Mississippi town?
6. The twins, Michael B.Jordan’s performance as each, similar, contrast? The arrival back in town, the varying reactions of people, memories, their involvement in the war and this experience, later with Smoke and the weapons? The Chicago background, Al Capone, gangsters, taking the money, taking the Irish beer, the car, their ambitions, going to the mill, the encounter with the boss, his smile and dismissal of the Klan, paying the money? And the irony of later seeing the man, his white henchman, the racism, the attack, Smoke bringing out the weapons, the confrontation with the leader, asking for a smoke, shooting him? Sinners and judgement?
7. The plan, the truck with the goods, meeting with Sam, Sam as a character, his age, skill with music, playing the guitar, singing, Stoke and’s admiration? In the town, meeting with Delta Slim, their playing together, the crowds? His gaze on Pearline, the conversation with her, married, invitation to the evening?
8. Stack, his personality, relationship with Smoke, mutual protection, working together, the promotion of the venue? The encounter with Mary, the discussion, the relationship in the past, her passing for white, his awkwardness, the death of her mother, the burial?
9. Smoke, going to the cotton fields, the encounter with Cornbread, his work, his pregnant wife, the money, going along with the group, pleased, being the bouncer?
10. Smoke, visit to Anna, her personality, echoes of voodoo and beliefs, sexual relationship, the later memories by Smoke of the baby? Her agreeing to help?
11. The Chinese, the store, the young Jessica, watching, her father and enthusiasm, his wife and her strong mindedness, the helping with the cooking?
12. The crowds gathering, the music, the plan, Sam, Delta Slim and his enthusiasm, piano, mouth organ, Pearline and her performance? Zest, enthusiasm of the crowd?
13. The introduction of the vampire theme, Remmic, his arrival, his fears, the couple and their reaction, letting him in, the arrival of the Indians, the warning about him and the violence? Vampire, their being transformed? The going to the dance, not allowed in, the plausible story, the Irish and white tradition, wanting to be part of the African-American experience? The confrontation at the door? The singing, then moving away?
14. The vampire experience, Mary going out, the confrontation, possessed, going back, the sexual encounter with Stack, her attack on him? His response, Smoke’s response?
15. The atmosphere of fear, the crowds, trying to escape, Cornbread and his going out in the field, confrontation, transformed, his return? The plausibility of those possessed, their talk, and their knowledge of everybody else’s life? Stack, his joining the group, coming back, trying to be persuasive, with Mary?
16. The small group inside, the garlic, Chinese couple, the man going to get the car, transformed? The threat to their daughter?
17. The plausibility of Remmic, his talk, songs, the couple and their backing him up?
18. The attack, the fights, the stakes, destroying the vampires? Anna and her self-sacrifice? Delta Slim and his sacrifice?
19. The sun coming up, Remmic and the others caught in the sunlight? Sam, the guitar, being urged to go back home?
20. Smoke, getting the guns, lying in wait, the attack of the racists, the confrontation, shooting? His own wounds? Memories of Anna and the baby?
21. Sam, his return to the church, the repeat of the opening, his decision, leaving, the religious perspective, the race perspective, the issue of freedom?
22. The surprise interlude during the credits, 1992, Chicago, Sam as an old man, the visit from Mary and Stack, looking and sounding like the 1990s, the discussion with him, his singing, their offering to transform to live for eternity? His turning them down?
23. In the post-credits sequence, Sam and his singing, the young Sam, his experiences on that day, but his life before him, the audience finishing this film with song and music?