... Nah, we cousins
Back from La La Land, ready to dive into the Mississippi Delta, Coog & them Smoke Stack Twins
Took a brief but needed break with my kid and went west. The boy, 16, had not been to Los Angeles since he was maybe six or seven. Some of those memories were a little blurry for him. Happily, we installed shiny new ones on this mom + me trip. We did A LOT and had a blast with every step (I’m talking 14K steps min. each day!).
We got home late afternoon Thursday, exhausted after another 3 AYEM wake-up and airport rigmarole. Correction: I was knackered. That guy was ready to meet up with his friends shortly after we landed.
Once I got my second-ish wind on Friday, there was one thing I had at the top of my To Do list: see Ryan Coogler’s new movie, Sinners. Scott La Rock (my husband) had made me promise months ago not to see it without him. So, we booked our IMAX seats for an opening day matinee.
At this point, I should tell you that the balance of this issue of “Come to Find Out…” will be overflowing with praise, soul claps and heavy hollers for this film. It was excellent—the writing, acting (Michael B. Jordan x 2, Delroy Lindo, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, Hailee Steinfeld, really, every single actor), cinematography, music, costume design (Ruth E. Carter!), the symbolism—all of it. It’s a must-see, even if you “don’t like” scary movies. This one is different. Truly.
Yes, there is definitely blood and body horror in this film—it is a supernatural thriller about vampires, after all—but it goes deeper than that. This movie is about race, faith, family, music, history, spirituality, the blues, the dark and the wicked, and, also, the free. So, let’s jump into this week’s Read, Watched & Heard through the lens of Sinners.
READ:
Though I knew, generally, what it was about, I avoided reading about this movie before seeing it. Here’s a great summary:
“It's 1932 in Clarksdale, Miss., and enterprising twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by Coogler's longtime muse Michael B. Jordan, have returned to town after some years away in Chicago. (Clarksdale is one of several places where early blues pioneers like Robert Johnson are said to have "sold their souls to the devil.") … [N]ow back home, they're flush with cash and booze and eager to set up a new venture: a juke joint.
They purchase an old sawmill from a white man who insists he's not a Klan member (sure) and then set about enlisting everyone in their circle to help make their dream a reality in just a few hours. … This includes their young, fresh-faced cousin Sammie (exciting newcomer Miles Caton), a preternaturally gifted guitar player with a low, buttery voice that evokes a man at least three times his age; old-timer (and lush) bluesman Delta Slim (the ever-magnetic Delroy Lindo); and Smoke's longtime love Annie (Wunmi Mosaku, a powerful presence), the community's Hoodoo conjurer. Everyone gets more than they bargained for.” —Aisha Harris, NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour
I wanted to go in somewhat blind. But once I left the AMC, my eyes still wide and heart racing, I was ready to tear into all the media bits and pieces. I’ve highlighted a few reads below. I’m sure there’ll be more to come. Do read on, that is if you’re OK with spoilers.
“Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler and a Dozen Years of Collaborations” — The New York Times
“‘Sinners’ Is a Virtuosic Fusion of Historical Realism and Horror” — The New Yorker
“‘Sinners’ is More Than Enough to Chew On” — The Ringer
“Autumn Durald Arkapaw Is the First Woman DP to Shoot in IMAX — with ‘Sinners,’ It’s 65mm on Steroids” — IndieWire
Quick “fun fact” that I read about the directors of photography (DP) on all five of Coogler’s feature films: they’re all women.
Fruitvale Station and Black Panther — Rachel Morrison
Creed —Maryse Alberti
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Sinners- Autumn Durald Arkapaw
WATCHED:
Well, we kind of covered this, right? You know what I’ve watched this past week that has consumed me, but here’s the official trailer anyway!
Then there was this fascinating watch from Kodak with Coogler talking teaching about film formats in motion picture photography. It runs about 10 mins but you’ll feel like you earned college credit at USC’s School of Cinematic Art after watching it.
BUT I also watched this tour of Lenny Kravitz’s grand Parisian townhouse as he opened his stunning home to Architectural Digest. Fine! I watched it twice. Can you blame me? The house is stunning. Also: How is Lenny aging in reverse? This man is 60 years old. SIXTAAAY! Like I’ve long said, I think he’s a vampire or involved in some other Faustian bargain. (You know I had to bring it right back to Sinners. Either love me or leave alone!)
HEARD:
This interview with New Yorker staff writer Jelani Cobb and Coog (at this point we’re at Coog + Bladesy levels) on The New Yorker Radio Hour was great. And at 22-minutes, it’s a good listen for your next walk or laundry folding moment.
Coogler gets emotional during this chat when he talks about meeting, getting to know and be mentored by the late John Singleton and Spike Lee. It’s touching, hearing the sincerity and meaning beneath his words about the iconic directors.
Also—yep, you guessed it! Since seeing the film last weekend, I’ve been listening to the “Sinners Official Playlist” on Spotify, too.
Last thing on Sinners (for now!) and the music featured. There is an incredible scene in the juke joint that needs to be studied. It’s rich and bold and glorious. Without giving away too much, I’ll just drop this visual as a no-context spoiler. A little IYKYK wink.
Ernie Barnes, The Sugar Shack, 1976, acrylic on canvas, collection of William O. Perkins III and Lara Perkins. © Ernie Barnes Family Trust
