Sinners
Sinners straight up is a cinematic masterpiece. I would say I place this one in the same category as a Kubrick film with its all around quality in every aspect of the filmmaking craft. The story was rich and compelling with its metaphorical nature of societal racism and the vampiristic ways cultures in American society have clashed especially with treatment of black culture, the acting was superb, especially with Michael B Jordan playing the best set of twins I've seen put to film that he legitimately feels like two people with the nuances in his performance that run the majority of the time of the film.
The cinematography is top notch with the extensive use of cameras and lighting to invoke the moods and show the juxtaposition of the battling forces between the cold moonlight and the warm light of the sanctuary setting in the barn along with the use of natural lighting with the sun and the moon to illuminate and darken the characters to tell the visual story of who they are more than having them tell you anything directly.
The editing, in the action and musical scenes especially with the love scene which brings everything together to transport you to a sense of ecstasy and heightened reality of the paradox that exists in the relationship shown. And the directing with the selection of so many shots that make this film the most feel like a modern Kubrick work with so many shots feeling like art that would be seen in a museum. Not a scene goes by without at least one to two spectacular shots that feels like watching a Kubrick film.
Not to mention, the music is next level from the delta blues vibes to the surreal love theme working perfectly with all other film aspects allowing the scene mentioned to immerse you in the scenes' beauty and mystery. Ludwig never ceases to amaze with his compositions and I feel he's only getting better and better with every new film he works on. This makes me even more excited to see what he has in store for The Odyssey this year.
Another interesting experience with this film was how one of the main things drawing me to want to watch this was its horror story but through half of the film none of this is addressed and it's just a realistic coming of age story. The realism of the story sucked me in so much by the time the vampires showed up I was like oh yeah this a horror story and it made me even more excited to see where it goes from there with the world that was established so well in the first half of the movie. This one is an instant favorite for me and one I definitely plan to revisit from time to time and I recommend to all film lovers to experience because it is a unique experience that I can't sing the praises of enough.