When it comes to the search for freedom in African American history, Ryan Coogler’s latest film transcends cinema to say: today is not unlike the realities of Black America during Jim Crow.
Set in 1930s Mississippi, “Sinners” presents an introspective analysis into the ideals of music, faith and identity as a means for liberation – coupled with cultural innuendos, blood-thirsty vampires, and double the Michael B. Jordan.
With the religious division and push to diminish Black history seen today, the two-hour film delineates the power of ancestral ties that have shaped generations of culture throughout the diaspora and beyond – from the origins of the blues and Christian practices, to the depth of African spirituals and folklore.
According to Kwesi Hargrove, a senior film student at Morgan State University, that moment of deliverance was felt by simply watching the cinematic masterpiece unfold last Tuesday.
“This is the first movie I’ve seen where it was, like they kept saying in the movie…for us, by us,” Hargrove told The Informer. “The quality of the film and the level of the acting, that in itself just showed the film industry that Black people can do anything.”
“Sinners” hit theaters across the nation on April 18, which was also Good Friday, and is already well on its way to reaching the $200 million mark in box office sales. According to reports, the cinematic project brought in $45 million this past weekend, a mere 6% drop from its opening weekend record of $48 million.
Since its debut, the critically acclaimed film has earned numerous endorsements from social media users, film critics, and household names, including LeBron James, Spike Lee and Tom Cruise.
Meanwhile Maryland film fanatics like Hargrove, who has seen the film twice already, and Montgomery County resident Celine Corbie are also encouraging others to take a bite out of the vampire slasher.
After attending an April 25 show at AMC Wheaton Mall 9, Corbie rated the thriller a 9 out of 10, adding that it was “definitely worth the hype” seen across social media.
As a fan of Coogler’s work – which includes other powerhouse productions with Jordan, such as Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed (2015), and Black Panther (2018) – Aminah Cole of Fort Washington, commended the directorial vision and thorough research that brought the film to life.
She said she considers the box office hit a “tasteful” exploration of not only cinematic art, but the deep-rooted staples of the African diaspora.
“We’re continuing to evolve, and we’re seeing more and more of our stories being told,” Cole said after a showing in Silver Spring on April 27. “Since we were in the cotton fields, to now having corporate jobs and these high positions, music, faith, everything that represents Black people overall is a good thing.”
‘Sinners’ Offers D.C. Pride
While the film is set in the Mississippi Delta, there’s some D.C. pride throughout “Sinners.”
Cole, a marketing specialist, gave a nod to the breadth of talent on screen, touting her own DMV roots as she spoke fondly of Washingtonian Jayme Lawson, who plays Pearline, love interest to breakout star Miles Caton’s character, Sammy (affectionately known as “Preacher Boy”).
“[The] DMV represents…in Broadway, we represent in movies, singing, from politics on the hill all the way down to being an actor,” Cole lauded. “We continue to show up and show out. [Lawson] did an amazing job.”
An alumni of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) in Northwest, D.C., Lawson has always proved she’s had what it takes to go far.
“From the moment she walked into Duke Ellington’s School of the Arts, she was a professional, and we knew from day one that she was going to have an extraordinary future,” Ken Johnson, chair of DESA’s Theatre Department, told The Informer. “When she was accepted to Juilliard – into their acting program, nonetheless – we weren’t surprised that out of the 2,500 students that auditioned, she was one of the 20 who got in. We know she had an outstanding time there at Juilliard, and [has] really came right out and stepped into the industry.”
Johnson emphasized Lawson’s ability to bring important roles to the screen, from one of Lawson’s major breakout roles as Bella Reál in “The Batman” (2022), to her portrayal as a young Michelle Obama in “The First Lady” (2022) and Betty Shabazz in the National Geographic and Hulu television series “Genius” (2024).
Since her graduation in 2015, Lawson has been intentional about giving back to her high school alma mater.
“She’s come back to Duke Ellington multiple times to work with the students, and we’re as proud of her as you would imagine anyone would be,” Johnson said, “and I believe this is just the beginning for her of what is going to be an extraordinary career.”
Highlighting the Breadth of African American Belief Systems, Culture
In addition to Lawson’s performance–and admittedly, the sight of Jordan playing twins–Cole said another thing she appreciated about the film was Coogler’s intent to do Black history justice, especially as it pertained to the oppressive Jim Crow South.
“Sinners” navigates the return of twin brothers Smoke and Stack as they kickstart a juke joint in their hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, after several years away.
With the mythological elements of fantasy and horror, plus strong supporting characters like Delta Slim (played by Delroy Lindo), Mary (played by Hailee Steinfield), and Wunmi Mosaku’s portrayal of Annie, the story revolves around an internal yearn for freedom through music and spirituality that’s rooted in the Mississippi Delta.
Further, the cinema highlighted the presence of Chinese immigrants and Indigenous groups that existed in the South during that time, while honing in on rampant themes that have shaped diasporic connection.
“The message I got from that is, even though we’re so far away from our ancestral home, we’re that same people, no matter what we’re going through,” Hargrove shared. “The idea of spirituality and music connecting the past, present and future, that’s so prevalent in different forms of African spirituality and churches.”
Actors like Lindo and Caton deliver a standout performance dispersing monolithic ideals of music and religion in the Black community.
As the son of a pastor who considers music to be a sin, Preacher Boy’s journey through identity, faith and ancestral stipulations brought a perspective that Hargrove admitted “a lot of people probably got something from.”
“I have aunties in the South [that] go to church and think dancing and singing is the devil, but then I have other aunties that are deeply rooted in African spirituality,” he explained. “[This] was a good reflection showing that we’re not really a monolith. There’s a bunch of different ideas and views about things that are ours.”
Other highly regarded aspects of the film include the theatrical musical moments, ambiance of Black beauty in lighting and coloring, and ability to push the boundaries of filmmaking with intention and originality.
Hargrove commended Coogler’s approach to telling a Black story that didn’t center demoralizing trauma, nor force an understanding of the Black experience for non-Black viewers. In fact, the film major said he hopes to see more creatives shift from pandering to society and focus on “letting talent speak for itself.”
With “Sinners” anticipating a third week in hot topics, many show no qualms that the movie will only see further success, and happily share their own stamp of approval for all to see.
“That movie was just beautiful, it was just beautiful to look at,” Hargrove said. “I encourage people to go see it. Go see that movie twice, [and] in 70mm IMAX.”