With the much-deserved nominations, the Oscars recognized Sinners as an exceptionally well-written cinematic masterpiece for its deep emotional storytelling, captivating performances by the cast, and sensual songs. Ranging from Best Original Song to Best Production Design, this one-of-a-kind movie earned a couple of hefty categories. 

The production for one was so carefully thought out, plus every aspect of the movie blended in together to express the main message. Similarly, the cinematography perfectly fits the bone-chilling action of this motion picture, allowing an immersive experience through the use of ratios. The sudden shift from a wide shot to an IMAX format greatly enhances the picture’s size and truly immerses the audience into the film. This camera technique is effective when it switches unbeknownst to the viewer, especially in a movie theatre. Christopher Herrera (27’), a student who appreciates the complexity of Sinners, said, “I like how the ratios would switch.” Christopher compliments the fact that ratios “It made the movie captivating,” which proves that “depending on what each scene was portraying,” the proportions do matter. 

Then again, this could not be more beautifully conceptualized without the help of these infamous actors, including Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and more. Herrera added that the actors “Michael B. Jordan, Winmi Wosaku, and Miles Caton stole the show.” He highlighted that a movie cannot be considered an outstanding piece of media without actors who can engage the audience through their powerful display of emotions. Their performance made every emotion feel real, as if they weren’t even acting. Overall, he believed that “acting all around amongst the ensemble was amazing.” Whether it be the actors or the camera work that makes it worth giving it a watch, Sinners is far more than any gothic tragedy. 

The movie begins with the two twin brothers, Elijah and Elias, commonly referred to as Smoke and Stack, living a seemingly normal life. Then, they have to maneuver around Jim Crow laws, in which segregation is still relevant, ultimately being the reason why the community associates with Black culture. Their nephew, Samuel, was given a guitar. However, music was strictly looked down upon because of its dark magic qualities, which then attracted Remmick, a vampire. In an attempt to manipulate the audience in Smoke & Stack’s juke joint, Remmick introduces his Irish jig to complement Samuel’s blues. As expressed in the very first scene in the movie, Sammie entered the church doors with the withered instrument and several injuries. Prior to this event, he was warned by his mother about being cautious of an art associated with the devil. At face value, people fail to realize Sinners’ intentional allegory towards colonialism. For reference, an allegory can be defined as a story that could be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.

Throughout the story, the spread of colonialism is characterized by the growing desire to consume human blood, primarily led by Remmick. Once a population of many people of color, now diminished into people unable to stay true to themselves, often also using lies and deceit to control the former thriving community. It’s helpful to understand the fact that these people are brainwashed. Prior to the attack, they heavily despised the vampires. According to Halimah Abdullah’s article “Sinners and the beautiful struggle to belong and survive,” she brings up a compelling connection between taking advantage of culture and the vampire antagonist Remmick, saying it’s a “parasitic force that saps the souls out of communities.” For context, Remmick attempts to convince Sammie to comply with becoming a vampire through brutal force, killing all of his relatives and family friends until he complies. Abdullah suggests Remmick displayed hospitality in wanting to combine cultures, but in reality, it symbolized cultural appropriation, which is taking one’s culture and adopting it (although explicit to the original culture), while also oppressing a largely marginalized community. 

Although fiction, each scene felt as if looking through the lens of another dimension. Movies like Sinners emphasize being transported into another lifetime, being in 1932. All the costume designs were creatively conjured up according to the time period. Not to mention the surreal saloons, old-fashioned towns, and intense climax that were carefully sprinkled throughout each scene. In essence, Sinners is an emotionally captivating movie that cultivated the path for hundreds of movies to come, including beautifully crafted symbolism, a unique style of setting, and, of course, the emotionally driven storytelling, ultimately living up to its record-breaking title of 16 nominations.