Sinners
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Saul Williams
Genre: New blues news
Films can be fascinating, interesting, historical and topical, but that doesn’t mean they’re great. At least not all parts of the film. Sinners is a perfect example of this.
Set in 1932 in the Mississippi Delta, Sinners is initially an awesomely creative and artistic insight into the then southern Black community. They are passionate, work hard and party hard. The first half of the film is, in effect, a celebration of blues music. The local black community sings, dances, plays lots of amazing songs and has fun. It’s highly entertaining.
And then the Irish vampires arrive and the film becomes grotesquely over-the-top violent – lots of people are killed or vampired – and the plot doesn’t make any sense.
However, in retrospect, and admittedly subject to my post-viewing research, it turns out that there is a historical background to this. The interactions between the various communities were complex – some supportive of each other and others aggressively and viciously involved. Even the role of the few Chinese and Native American characters in the film was based on facts. This actually explains the title of the film as nearly all the characters are sinful to some extent.
If you’re not across the specific details of Southern U.S. history then treat Sinners as two storylines or mockumentaries. In that regard, the first one is fantastic and well worth watching. The second one is ridiculous – shlockingly horrorble!
Rating: One to Five – your call!
