Michael B. Jordan At His Most Ambitious and Terrifying in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” – Coming to Theaters Everywhere This Friday
If you’ve found yourself seated in front of a TV anytime in the past month, then you’ve probably already seen the teasers and trailers for Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s soon-to-be-released big-screen sensation, “Sinners.”
A Story of Vampires, Blues, and Jim Crow-Era Horror
The genre-defying historical drama/vampire thriller centers on Jordan as the twin brothers Smoke and Stack, WWI veterans who are returning to their Mississippi home in 1932 after a stint in Chicago’s mob underworld working alongside Al Capone.
Upon their homecoming, the twins discover something sinister lurking in the shadowy corners of their hometown – supernatural presences mixing and mashing with the overt atrocities of the Jim Crow-era Deep South – and they become determined to rid their home of these evils, at any cost. One of the film’s key themes (aside from vampires and demonic presences and Jim Crow-era threats of violence) is music, specifically blues and its historic significance as a form of resistance and strength, and in the case of “Sinners,” a metaphorical stake used to drive through the hearts of vampires.
Jordan’s Dual Performance Brings Smoke and Stack to Life
Jordan’s performance in the film is more ambitious than anything he’s tackled before, playing two characters at the same time is no easy feat, but he excels in the roles with a certain blend of subtlety and intentionality that works like magic. The two brothers are nearly indistinguishable in appearance, except for their attire, so the burden of telling them apart lies mostly with Jordan’s portrayal of their personalities.
As Smoke (the more calm-and-collected twin), Jordan sports a serious demeanor, and his facial expressions are concentrated in the way he furrows his brow. Stack is the more fast-and-loose, uninhibited of the two, which shines through in his carefree attitude and his rebellious smirk. Jordan’s performance is calculated and speaks to his prowess as an actor capable of delicate precision – and if you weren’t already aware of that, then “Sinners” is all the demonstration you’ll need.
Coogler and Jordan Reunite for Their Fifth Blockbuster Collaboration
Directed by Coogler in what will be his fifth blockbuster collaboration with Jordan (“Fruitvale Station,” “Creed” and the “Black Panther” movies), “Sinners” is already being celebrated as one of the best movies of the year, and currently has an astonishing 100% perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. Coogler’s career so far has been something of a spectacle – right out of the gates he proved to be a director poised for greatness, seeing critical acclaim for his debut film “Fruitvale Station.” Since then, everything he’s been a part of has been a hit, and he already has three Academy Awards under his belt with more undoubtedly to come.
“Sinners” will be taking the world by storm this Friday, April 18th, so go see it while you can for what critics are already praising as an “Avengers-level experience.”
