I think it's at Sinners is at it's best when it keeps the vampires on the q.t. When they start killing, they have to do that via cheezy special effects. Those take me out of the film, reminding me that this is a horror film. I think this film could be more than that--is more than that. It's about brothers, community, a failure of community, history, etc. That's why I think Let The Right One In (Swedish) is the best vampire film in the last 30 years. It's horror is second to it's story about relationships. The fact that the kids are the lonely weird kid is more important than the fact that Lili is a vampire. We don't even see her kill the bullies. It's artfully executed. More of that kind of art would have been welcome.
SINNERS is the finest vampire movie in at least 33 years
Thinking about the movie some more, I do feel like it went off the rails after the music sequence. It's why I don't think it should have taken the record for nominations, but even in that second half of the movie there were things that were entertaining, and I liked the credit sequences. I actually thought the vampires were a little more on the corny side than the horror side, which is why I said I think the horror elements were a little overstated.
Even after the vampire sequence starts, the movie is still about the relationship between the characters and their cultural histories.
It was, and that was the part of the second half I enjoyed. Smoke struggling on what to do with his brother was still really emotional and gut wrenching.
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And gut wrenching too.
I just noticed the typo, but considering what happened at the end of the movie, that phrase might make a little sense.And gut wrenching too.
Not necessarily. If you're on of those people who enjoys seeing Parker Posey shout ''Hannibal King'' a lot, it's definitely your bag.I do intend to watch it at some point, if only because del Toro directed it. I also know that I should be avoiding the third one.
Like Fredo Corleone, perhaps his character was too nice to nominate. Had Caton been the lead in TRAINING DAY, who the heck knows?
I actually got the Blu-ray for Christmas and finally got around to watching it last night. Suffice to say a second viewing has not dented my enjoyment in the slightest, if anything I think I enjoyed it more this time.
Much as I loved it in the cinema I had felt the first half was a little too much of a slow burn, but dang if this time the whole film didn't fly by.
Also, and it's a weird thing to say about the small screen compared to the big, but I don't think I fully appreciated how gorgeous this film is, nor how well shot (the bit where Lisa walks across the street and Grace comes back is just superb. There's a similar scene in the Juke Joint).
This time I was able to focus a little more on Jordan's performances and damn if he isn't great, each twin has his own distinct personality. The whole cast is just great though.
One new thing I picked up on, the club at the end appears to be called Pearline's
Just love it.
Much as I loved it in the cinema I had felt the first half was a little too much of a slow burn, but dang if this time the whole film didn't fly by.
Also, and it's a weird thing to say about the small screen compared to the big, but I don't think I fully appreciated how gorgeous this film is, nor how well shot (the bit where Lisa walks across the street and Grace comes back is just superb. There's a similar scene in the Juke Joint).
This time I was able to focus a little more on Jordan's performances and damn if he isn't great, each twin has his own distinct personality. The whole cast is just great though.
One new thing I picked up on, the club at the end appears to be called Pearline's
Just love it.
I got a lot more out of it the second time around as well. Knowing the end, I think it was brilliant how all the pieces were set carefully in place over the first hour. Jordan deserves the Oscar for his performance and great acting by the cast all round.
EDIT: My wife thought the brothers were played by two separate actors. She asked me which one was Michael B. Jordan and how they got someone who looked so much like him to play the other brother.
EDIT: My wife thought the brothers were played by two separate actors. She asked me which one was Michael B. Jordan and how they got someone who looked so much like him to play the other brother.
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Sinners was an ok film, but it does not make my top 10...or possibly 20 vampire movies.
Sinners was the #1 movie for me last year. It's one of the best horror/vampire movies I've seen. One of the things that really made it work for me was that it didn't even have to be a vampire movie. Coogler, et. al, did a great job fleshing out the characters and the world building that it could've worked almost as well without any horror. Of course though, the horror angle, put it on another level to me.
I'm extremely happy about all of those wins, especially Michael B. Jordan. I don't wish Coogler had won for directing but Anderson got bith directing and picture. Alas.
Anderson deserved the directing nod. He's been so close to that trophy a few times now.
Sinners got the recognition it deserved and it was cool seeing Brittaney Howard on stage.
Sinners got the recognition it deserved and it was cool seeing Brittaney Howard on stage.
I'm glad it wasn't a complete sweep. It just doesn't seem fun for me when something just grabs ALL the top prizes
I think Delroy Lindo or stellan skarsgård should have gotten the Oscar
Sean Penn will just melt his down once he receives it.
I think Delroy Lindo or stellan skarsgård should have gotten the Oscar
Sean Penn will just melt his down once he receives it.
In my alternate Oscars, THE EXORCIST won all four acting prizes (Chris MacNeil, Regan MacNeil, Father Karras, Father Merrin). In reality it never got above three, and then only rarely for films such as STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and NETWORK.
I guess. I've never been a fan of his films and admittedly I haven't watched this particular one. I'm not saying it was undeserved for those who enjoyed it (although I've seen online discourse regarding its depiction of women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community), but I just wish Best Picture and Best Director was split between them like the screenplay and actor awards were split between them.
Definitely. I just feel like it probably deserved more. But that's just my own bias.
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It's always a little weird to split best director and best film though, I'm not sure what the split is of years when a film picks up both and when it doesn't+. You can of course direct a film well and yet another film is better because of a range of factors.
*Apparently it's around a 75/25 split, and it's probably more likely now that you have 10 best picture nominees but still only 5 best directors
*Apparently it's around a 75/25 split, and it's probably more likely now that you have 10 best picture nominees but still only 5 best directors
MAGNOLIA is quite underrrated. Don't believe the Kevin Smith/Ben Affleck anti-hype. Ribit. Ribit.
Years like 1939 merit such splits. (My alternate verdicts were OZ for Best Pic and MR. SMITH for direction.)
