Culture
Dr. Gordon Briggs’ Now Playing: ‘Sinners’: a vampire film that’s sinfully good cinema’
By: Gordon Briggs
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You may know Dr. Gordon Briggs from curating film series at the Athena Cinema, like Heroes in Color with Brandon Thompson or the upcoming Rainbow Connections series. If you’re really in the loop, you might also follow his smart, sharp, and highly readable daily film reviews on Facebook.
Now, WOUB Culture is proud to bring his writing to our audience: starting this week, we’ll publish Now Playing, featuring Dr. Briggs’ writing every Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday’s post will highlight a current Athena screening, followed by a Thursday piece that offers historical context or explores a related film.
Up first is Sinners, now playing at the Athena Cinema (20 South Court Street).
Sinners is one of the year’s best films. It’s a bold, bloody Black bloodsucker movie infused with brotherly love and beautiful blues music. There’s plenty to praise about its story, which feels divided into two halves.
The first focuses on two twin brothers, both played effectively by Michael B. Jordan, as they prepare to open a juke joint in ’30s Mississippi. As night falls and the music blares, the celebration takes a turn when it is set upon by a pack of vampires eager to be invited into the party.
One of Sinners‘ achievements is its pacing. A different sort of movie would’ve rushed to get to the vampire slaying, but this film takes time to establish its sultry southern setting. Director/writer/producer Ryan Coogler has patience and takes the time to develop his characters and give us the flavor and atmosphere of this world. For example, we see twin brothers trying to find the right musician, cook, and doorman for their business. Each supporting character adds a little history and texture to the story. I particularly like Wunmi Mosaku as a wise hoodoo healer woman who must tangle with vampires.
Then there’s the film’s second half, which could’ve easily ditched its themes of music and community in favor of vampire-killing action. Thankfully, Coogler is smarter than that. Even as vampires are staked and blood is drawn, the movie still emphasizes the importance of Black music and uses the blues to underscore many of the film’s sincere emotional notes.
Specifically, Sinners creates a unique dynamic where a white vampire wishes to assimilate and conquer this Black space. There are many memorable moments, but I must single out a remarkable musical number where Coogler visually traces the evolution of Blues from Funk to Hip Hop, all in one unbroken shot.
Even if you’re not a horror fan, I encourage you to seek this one out.
Rating: ★★★★