Sinners-Empowering Music and Story

Poster of 'Sinners.' Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. 

 'Sinners' was not your typical Southern period drama. That's because it included vampires on the hunt in 1930s Mississippi while Michael B. Jordan ran a juke joint whose set design reminded me of 'The Color Purple' (1985). Despite the horror scenes throwing me off, I enjoyed the powerful performances of Jordan and Miles Caton and the powerful direction by Ryan Coogler. Besides those two things, I really enjoyed the Southern blues soundtrack. I first learned about the connection between the blues and African Americans back in college, and it felt great to see some black pride in the music of a dark time.

Taking place in 1932 in Mississippi, twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore, played by Jordan in dual roles, are opening their own juke joint with money stolen from gangsters. They recruit their cousin Sammie, played by Caton, to play, and pianist Delta Slim, played by Delroy Lindo, as a performer. Their oppositions come from not just racism in the 1930s Deep South and Sammie's father being against his music ambitions, but also some vampires that are on the hunt for blood and victims, one of them played by Jack O'Connell.

I really enjoyed seeing the blues music bring everyone together, and the emotions that Caton and friends showed in pouring out their souls into it at the joint. It threw me off when one scene combined depictions of past and future while Sammie was playing, though.

Despite his con-man outlook, I appreciated Jordan's character of Stack reminding Caton's character Sammie to be free, to not let his father stop him from doing what he loves. I also enjoyed the emotional side of Jordan as Smoke with his anger and hunger for healing after the death of his daughter. One thing to appreciate besides the men's different emotional journeys was how dapper they looked, like they came out of Paul Newman's 'The Sting.' Thank you, costume designer Ruth E. Carter.

After seeing her wild nature in 'Transformers' and the Spider-Verse films, I was surprised to see Hailee Steinfeld give a sharp Southern tongue as Stack's jilted ex-girlfriend, Mary.

Though I don't get what his vision was when he decided to include vampires, I guess Ryan Coogler's vision was that in dark times for colored people, sometimes you need a little kick, like warding off horror creatures, to remember to stay with your squad and not let anything societal problems stop you.

You'll also appreciate the production design by Hannah Beachler and set decorating by Monique Champagne. From the looks of the old-fashioned segregated shopping center to the cars that looked like Ford Model Ts to a juke joint and farm area that reminded me of 'The Color Purple' and 'Idlewild,' they really made the early 20th-century South look so good, even during something so troublesome. And while I had the parts I was thrown off with, I'll tell you this, 'Sinners' certainly is original.

Overall, I give 'Sinners' a "B." Great blues music, great cast, great crew, just vampires and occasional timing issues that messed me up. 

Feel free to comment, share, and tell me what you think if you see 'Sinners.' Rated R.