By now, many of you have seen Ryan Coogler’s latest cinematic masterpiece, “Sinners”. I saw the film roughly a month ago, and I am still thinking about it. I am still mulling over the acting, the music, the visuals, the costuming, the dialogue, and the overarching themes of what it means to be free. As a Black American, I often think about the concept of freedom and about the idea of ever truly being free in a land my ancestors cultivated over several centuries. I think about what it means to be a citizen in this nation and whether my humanity will ever truly be seen and respected. Coogler tackles these hard questions and more in “Sinners,” and I felt truly blessed to experience the film in the cinema.
I won’t give away any spoilers, but Michael B Jordan plays twins Smoke and Stack. About seven minutes into the film, I forgot I was watching one actor play two different characters. I must admit, I don’t think I give Jordan the respect he deserves as an actor and someone who continues to sharpen his craft with each role. I also love that Coogler and Jordan are forging a director/actor partnership that we’ve seen with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro as well as Spike Lee and Denzel Washington.
Anyone who knows me also knows that I think Delroy Lindo is one of the greatest actors to walk this earth. Many may remember him in Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” and “Crooklyn” (or that club scene in “Da Five Bloods”, but I digress). The level of attention and detail in every small facial flinch or minor intonation in his voice transports the viewer exactly where he wants us to be. I do hope this film finally shows the world what so many of us have witnessed in his brilliant portrayals for decades.
As I reflect on why this film is resonating with so many, at this particular moment in time, it is because it’s largely, unapologetically Black and unflinching about the beauty Black folks have created on this soil and the cruelty they have also experienced on this same land. Picking cotton from sunup to sundown, but also creating loving families and relationships while doing so. The passing of a chain gang and then the reminder for them to remember to keep their heads held high and remember their dignity and humanity. This movie is a love letter to Black people past, present, and future. It connects Black people to lands and worlds (and others) in ways we have not seen in cinema.
I love to see this movie surpassing expectations and movie goers seeing it multiple times, and bringing new friends to help them discuss and dissect. It’s clearly Ryan Coogler’s moment, and I’m just pleased we get to witness and celebrate it.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of book “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream” and is co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.