Sinners

 

Score:  A-/B+

Directed by Ryan Coogler

Starring Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, Hailee Steinfeld, Delroy Lindo, et al

Running time: 138 minutes

Rated R

Long Story Short: Sinners is a period drama/horror picture, the brain child of writer and director Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther).  His talent is on full display in illustrating an enterprising duo (both played by Michael B. Jordan) pushing through the challenges of Depression-Era Mississippi to open a bar.  Things get much more intriguing as they get closer to their dream, through both phenomenal music and nighttime terrors.  The dots don't all connect as perfectly as you might hope, but it's still an original, entertaining and well-made movie.  Highly recommended.

Twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Jordan) have returned to the Mississippi Delta in 1932, having tired of their lives in Chicago and craving a triumphant return home.  They decide to open a new bar with the last of their money, and their plan to strike gold is to employ the best musicians in the area: blues pianist Delta Slim (Lindo) and singer (Pearline), and a secret introduction, their young cousin and guitar prodigy Sammie (Caton).  The twins assemble a strong staff around them and celebrate with a packed-house opening night.  However, the joyful music attracts more menacing neighbors, and the innocent party soon takes on more deadly stakes.

Sinners is an enjoyable genre mashup, both period drama and horror, that features impressive music and visuals.  I had even less idea of what to expect from this than most movies; all I knew was that it was partly a horror movie, which I usually avoid, but I was drawn in by director Coogler and its high critics scores.  The movie ends up focusing primarily on the drama and relationships of developing the new bar, with the horror coming in relatively late.  I most enjoyed the dramatic parts, of course, although it was a bit frustrating not being able to tell where it was all going (a sense that was not helped by characters' hard-to-understand Southern accents).  The horror element is interesting at first, too, especially when it's tied directly to the drama, but it builds to a disappointingly standard action climax.  Lifting up all parts of the movie - featuring an especially excellent dream/hallucination-like scene near the middle - are the music and the visuals.  Great blues music is played by Delta Slim, Pearline, and Sammie.  We get samples of it as they are forming the bar, then fully unleashed on opening night.  Even the bad guys also have some pleasant music, though they use a very different musical style.  The cinematography and  visuals are also great, though more subtle for the most part (except, again, for the standout middle scene and as the horror ramps up).

The acting in Sinners is very strong overall, with a rich cast of a variety of characters.  Jordan has a lot of charisma and screen presence as always, although his persona - which is identical (to me) between the twins - is basically his standard tough/cool guy.  Caton's Sammie is the more interesting character to me, with good acting, great musical performance, and a more complex, conflicted personality - music isn't the only thing in his background.  All of the supporting characters are good, and I especially liked Lindo's Delta Slim and a Chinese couple with a small but distinctive role.  It was interesting to watch the details and difficulties of setting up the bar, with not only racism but the Depression to deal with; the twins are strong and savvy, but it's still not easy to recruit their talent, secure supplies, and land a location.  While watching I had a growing sense that Sinners was akin to Get Out, in producing a clever metaphor for the racial challenges of the time and place.  Instead, Sinners is more straightforward with its presentation of racial struggle.  While there is an interesting mystical element, it is tied more to the music; I feel it could have also tied in more strongly (and artistically) with race, too, if the action/gore was held in check and instead further develop character relations.  Although maybe I just missed it - I intentionally did not read anyone else's review yet!  But even if I did, I still found it to be a very good, well-made and entertaining movie.

***

Sinners is yet another original (aka, not a sequel or part of an existing franchise) that I've seen this year, which is an encouraging trend.  Especially when it's made by a proven filmmaker like Ryan Coogler, I jump at the chance to see these in the theater.  I admit that I didn't like it quite as much as what the stupendous reviews on Rotten Tomatoes suggest (98% from critics and 97% from audiences!).  That could be due partly to my aversion to horror, partly to my comparing it to Get Out.  But really, it's nitpicking.  I'm glad to see that it is doing well at the box office, hopefully encouraging studios to make more movies like it (not the specific topic/genre, but 1) creative original ideas, and 2) led by talented filmmakers).  With April almost over, that means it's almost time for summer movie season.  That surely means more sequels and franchise fare, but I'm mostly OK with that: particularly with a Marvel-version of Suicide Squad, a new Pixar, the final Mission Impossible, and a rebooted Jurassic Park.  Until next time!

* By IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77948449

Warfare

Score:  A-

Directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland

Starring Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, et al

Running time: 95 minutes 

Rated R

Long Story Short:  Warfare is among the most unique and striking war movies I've seen, as well as one of the best.  It is a realistic-as-possible recreation of a small scale battle for survival fought by a Navy SEAL platoon during the Iraq War.  While it lacks the ra-ra triumphalism of many war movies, it is incredibly tense and gripping as you watch this very intimate and real fight for survival, and it shows the SEALs' courage and sacrifice vividly.  Highly recommended.

A re-enactment from the Iraq War, the events of Warfare take place in November 2006, depicting a platoon's experiences during one mission of the Battle of Ramadi.  A team of Navy SEALs is stationed in an Iraqi family's home in order to provide cover and surveillance for other military units.  However, the enemy discovers them and they themselves become the target of a large, harrowing attack.  Warfare shows the full battle, with all its moments of terror, bloodshed, courage, and heroism.

Warfare is a gripping, well-made war movie that focuses on a sense of authenticity in depicting a small piece of a larger battle in the Iraq War.  The main director is Mendoza, who was himself part of the SEAL team (played in the movie by Woon-A-Tai).  His skill and unique perspective on the military and the battle itself combined with Garland's extensive film experience allow for both a very authentic experience as well as one that is very artistic and compelling, both visually and emotionally.  The plot and details are based entirely on the individual SEALs' memories; because of conflicting memories due to the trauma of battle, some interpretation/compromise was necessary.  That plot is tightly focused: other than brief scenes of the SEALs pumping themselves up at their base and a nighttime stealth entrance to the Iraqi neighborhood, it all takes place in virtually real-time - inside the commandeered home and just outside it.  While there is plenty of "action", it's not like even some of the most realistic-seeming other war movies: the SEALs are not superheroes, and you don't see them mow down bad guys like video game characters.  The SEALs are very skilled and well-trained, but they appear to shoot mostly to keep the enemy occupied or at bay.  Some gruesome injuries are suffered, but its filming is not overwhelming (and I'm squeamish).  The level of detail in the medical care for these injuries, and details to other functions like surveillance, communications, etc., are quite impressive and immersive.

Warfare is also a very well acted movie and benefits as well from great skill in filmmaking fundamentals from pacing to cinematography.  There are a few semi-recognizable actors (Poulter, James Gandolfini's son) but it's mostly no-names, which I think was a good choice.  They all do a very good job in a mix of more "casual" scenes (still on duty but show more personality shown-typical young male stuff as well as subtle tics, etc.) with the intensity of the action and being on alert/under duress.  We get only glimpses of each character, but it's still enough to make them distinctive and human, and make us fully concerned for their safety.  The tension in the movie just keeps ratcheting up, from the beginning to the end, although there are also smaller ups-and-downs in intensity - a little action, followed by quiet, etc. - making the 90 minute running time all the faster and more compact.  Warfare is a great tribute to the veterans of the Iraq War, it seems to me: the movie doesn't comment on the politics of the war, one way or the other, but focuses on the brotherhood of the SEALs - their courage and skill under fire, but even more so their unwavering devotion to each other, imperiling themselves to help their buddies without hesitation.  The overall message I take is that war is messy, chaotic, and extremely dangerous and destructive; we should take great care before waging war, and keep the individual troops as our priority when we do.

***

Warfare is a unique little gem of a movie that I'm glad that I got to see in theaters.  I'd say I was surprised by it, not knowing about it until I saw it in my theater's showtimes, but that seems to be the default these days (because of less/different marketing for movies than in the past, and my looking into upcoming movies less).  Combining a seasoned, versatile director in Alex Garland with a veteran of the battle itself (and developing filmmaker himself) in Ray Mendoza was a great idea and resulted in a compelling, watchable, and illuminating movie.  Hollywood, to its credit, does seem to be releasing more original movies this year - but unfortunately, audiences have not rewarded them with good box office results so far.  The runaway hit so far this year is... a (poorly-reviewed) video game-based movie.  Sigh.  C'mon, everyone, get out to the theaters!  I will definitely be going back again soon, for another original getting great reviews: Sinners.

* By http://www.impawards.com/2025/warfare_xxlg.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78619575

One of Them Days + Novocaine

     

Mini-Reviews: One of Them Days + Novocaine

One of Them Days

Score: B+

Directed by Lawrence Lamont

Starring Keke Palmer, SZA, Katt Williams, et al

Running time: 97 minutes

Rated R

One of Them Days is a buddy comedy in which two good friends in LA go on a day-long adventure to reclaim their stolen rent money.  The movie reminded me of a number of other silly, over-the-top comedies from years past - with the notable difference that this one stars two young black women (instead of two straight white dudes) and highlights (well, surely also exaggerates) their community and culture.  That made for an enjoyable, refreshing change of pace for me.  Both lead actresses do a great job: both are quite distinctive, at times even (entertainingly) flamboyant.  They are flawed, to the degree that you sometimes wonder how they've made it even as far as their modest lots in life, but also very sympathetic, hard-working, and ultimately good human beings.  The bright, sunny LA environment keeps the mood up, even as the movie shows the challenges of their neighborhood, from a (literally) falling to pieces apartment to a ruthless (and hilarious) payday loan center to the pair's many desperate attempts for cash from any source.  There are lots of funny supporting characters, from Katt Williams's hilariously "helpful" homeless man to Janelle James's (from Abbott Elementary) hapless nurse to the diverse, close-knit group of other residents at the apartment building.  The jokes don't always land, but this comedy has its heart in the right place and, once you get past some of the (intentionally) cringe-inducing antics, you come to love the characters.

Novocaine

Score:  B/B+

Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen

Starring Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, et al

Running time: 110 minutes

Rated R

Novocaine is an action comedy whose main hook is that the lead, a mild-mannered banker, is aided in his improbable action rescue attempt by his inability to feel pain.  The movie follows a pretty standard plot and structure, with a short (but well-done) intro of Nathan's (Quaid) normal life followed by the plot trigger - a bank robbery gone wrong - after which Nathan goes on his mission, increasingly willing and able to use more violent means to defeat the bad guys and save the good guys.  Still, the movie does a better, more subtle and interesting job fleshing out Nathan's real life than most other movies in this genre, illustrating aspects from his everyday challenges because of his condition to his job to his relationships.  The action isn't too ridiculous, either: Nathan is not a natural fighter by any stretch, instead relying on his ability to shrug off tremendously painful injuries.  A number of those wounds made me wince and look away - a job well done by the filmmakers, actors, and staff, but not so gruesome that it's sadistic or nightmare-inducing.  In the end it's not a movie likely to stick with me for long (although its actual ending is also well done) - it's certainly not an action classic in the making.  But, short of being an awards-worthy movie or genre staple, this is exactly the kind of movie that I've been craving to see in theaters, and I'm glad that I did.

* By http://www.impawards.com/2025/one_of_them_days_xlg.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78204780

 * By Infrared Pictures / Safehouse Pictures / Circle of Confusion / Paramount Pictures - IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78586924