Sinners is an excellent example of how multicultural representation in film enriches the presentation and experience of the film. A multicultural cast shows and tells a story far better than any monotone cast possibly can, even then, there’s not a fully fleshed-out story. The viewer wants more – more story, more sound, more imagery. How many different directions can this tale go? How deep? How far back? How far forward? How wide? What if each character told their part of the story with their cultural framing?
It was interesting seeing elements of how African American sharecroppers may have interacted with Chinese Americans, Irish Americans, and the Choctaw in a Klan-run Mississippi.
So much possibility, though I wasn’t blown away by the film, the visuals are excellent, the music is superb – I wanted more – and the dialogue keeps the viewer engaged.
I’m not sure what the intended story of Sinners is. There’s no plot. No goal beyond having a party. In that sense, if entertainment for entertainment’s sake is the purpose, intention, and goal, then it did what it set out to do.
I walked away feeling somewhat entertained. Certainly not altered. Sinners is interesting, but not mind-blowing.
The title itself is provocative, but almost every scene in the movie is something we’ve seen numerous times already. It’s a lovely patchwork tapestry of the dark side of Americana. In retrospect, it comes across as very formulaic, with levels of fusion throughout. Setting – deep south. Main characters – gangsters. Plot – house party. Tension – hungry vampires. All of these independently are favorite movie genres. Hard to go wrong with a combination.
That being said, something else I found interesting within the film is the theme of “the enemy coming for you.” The enemy will stalk and study you. They will know your prayers and say them with you while still trying to devour you to steal your voice and your story. The enemy wants your rhythm, your blues, your joy, your promise, your future. But they can’t take it without your invitation or permission. Unless you leave yourself vulnerable, they can’t touch you.
The enemy understands your desire for salvation, your desire for self-determination. They know you hope to escape a life of endless toil and drudgery. They know it’s impossible to subjugate hope completely out of you. They want to work you to death, crush you mentally, and devalue you to the point of giving up. No more trying. No more wanting. No more pursuing better in a world that refuses to give you anything approaching decent.
Essentially, the enemy is issuing their own invitation, “Come to the dark side. Not only will you not survive where you are, you were never intended to survive.”
That’s what I got from the surface. Sinners is entertaining; it will thrive. However, I don’t see it as a Wakanda-esque treatise on racism in the United States. It doesn’t have enough depth, breadth, meatiness to bite into, or emotional trajectory. That won’t keep the pontificators from pontificating, and that’s okay. Ryan Coogler (writer-director) and all involved are worthy of all the excited chatter.
Have you seen Sinners yet? If so, what did you leave with? If not, share your thoughts once you do.
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