“Cinestudio Screens Sinners During Oscar-Palooza: A Review”

Hannah Smith ’26

Executive Arts & Entertainment Editor

On March 10 and 14, Cinestudio will be screening Ryan Coogler’s Academy Award-nominated film “Sinners” as part of their Oscar-Palooza film series. Set in 1932 in the Mississippi Delta, “Sinners” tells the story of two troubled twins who return home after living a life of crime in Chicago, only to be greeted by an even greater danger. The film is built on music, ancestral connectivity, and racism in the American South. 

“Sinners” reaches back into ancestry while looking firmly towards the future, creating an almost spiritual experience, especially in moments like the “I Lied to You” scene. The character Sammie, played by Miles Caton, performs this song which destroys the fabric of time, bringing the history of music and dance together in one room in one of the most well-crafted, beautiful scenes I’ve seen in recent cinema. Not only is the scene visually striking, Caton’s musical ability is incendiary. The moment he sang his first note, chills ran through my body and I’ve been listening to the soundtrack on repeat ever since.

Coogler fills “Sinners” with beautiful establishing shots that immediately place the audience within the world of the film. These shots do more than show geography. They establish mood and time. Each frame grounds the narrative in a tangible reality while also hinting at the history embedded within the environment. Even when there are dozens of vampires filling the screen, I never doubt for even a moment the legitimacy of the film. Everything is set in reality and truth, something that can be really difficult to do within the genre of horror.

Central to the story are the characters Smoke and Stack, both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan. Rather than feeling like separate roles, the two characters operate as continuations of one another, different halves of the same whole. Their personalities diverge, their choices differ, and yet there is an unmistakable thread linking them together. They mirror one another in subtle ways, reflecting different paths that could emerge from the same origins.

Jordan’s performance is remarkable in how seamlessly he embodies both characters. There is no confusion about who is on screen at any moment, not because the film relies heavily on visual tricks, but because Jordan brings a distinct personality to each role. Smoke and Stack share a foundation, yet their differences feel deeply personal. Jordan captures both without exaggeration, allowing their individuality to exist alongside their shared essence.

Another great performance comes from Delroy Lindo who portrays Delta Slim. His performance adds much needed comedic relief without ever undermining the film’s emotional stakes. Lindo brings a warmth and charisma to the character that makes every scene he appears in feel slightly brighter. Despite all the pain and devastation seen in the film, he maintains a level of hope that fans out to other characters like Sammie and Smoke.

Wunmi Mosaku delivers another great performance as Annie. She adds a level of ethereality that makes this film so beautiful. Her connection with the world and the people around her are so powerful. Similar to Jessie Buckley’s character in “Hamnet,” Annie comes from the earth and everything she does feels universal and primal. She protects the people she loves with her powers and, just like Delta Slim, adds a level of hope to an otherwise grim story.

Ultimately, Sinners feels like a film that understands the power of art as a bridge between generations. It suggests that the past lives inside us and shapes our voices and how we choose to live. Music becomes the clearest expression of that connection, acting as both remembrance of the past and communion with the past and future.

One line that particularly stood out to me comes from Sammie’s father, the pastor. He claims, “You keep dancing with the devil, one day it’s going to follow you home.” In this moment, he is speaking about Sammie’s obsession with music and how it keeps him from his religious practice. However, I feel it is the perfect logline for the film itself. The Smoke Stack twins play with fire and evil follows them home in the form of eternal vampires. For Sammie, his music is viewed as this evil entity when really it does the same thing preaching does—it is a way to communicate through generations and tell stories. Sammie’s father teaches biblical lessons while Sammie tells the stories of the past, bridging the gap between the past, present, and the future. He sings about disappointing his father, but needing to express himself creatively. He sings about feeling trapped where he is and in his future that has been planned out for him since before he was born. These are relatable stories that transcend time, race and gender. Sammie uses music the same way Coogler uses music in the film, to tell stories and feel connected with the world around him.