Conjuring the Past and Future of Black Music in ‘Sinners'

New York Times

02-05-2025

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Viewers might not expect to see a DJ at a turntable in Ryan Coogler's 1930s-set horror movie 'Sinners,' but in this sequence, the history and future of music collide.
This sequence takes place in a juke joint opened by the twins Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan). Playing for the crowd is Sammie Moore (Miles Caton), performing a song that was written by Raphael Saadiq and the film's composer, Ludwig Goransson.
'Rafael is from Oakland, kind of a local legend where I'm from,' Coogler said, narrating the moment.
The scene starts with Caton's impressive vocals, while cutting to shots of both Smoke and Stack, as well as other characters in the sequence. 'We wanted to use Michael Shawver's editing skills to establish where everybody is and what their stakes are,' Coogler said.
Once all is laid out, the scene flashes back to a conversation between Sammie and another musician, Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), who explains Sammie's skill for the blues and the responsibility that comes with his talent.
'Blues, it wasn't forced on us like that religion,' Delta says. 'No, son. We brought this with us from home. It's magic, what we do. It's sacred and big.'
As the scene returns to the juke joint, we hear a voice-over from Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), a conjure woman. She says that some musicians have the gift to make music so powerful, it can conjure spirits from the past and the future. At this point, in an ambitious tracking shot, various eras of musicians appear in the frame, including an electric guitarist and the D.J. at the turntable.
'We wanted to do it in a fluid, continuous take,' Coogler said. New music elements continue to be introduced along with new forms of dance.
'Aakomon Jones, our choreographer, is changing choreography ever so slightly so that folks still feel like they're in their time, but also outside of it as we get more and more heightened in this moment,' Coogler said.
Read the 'Sinners' review.
Read an interview with Michael B. Jordan and Coogler.
Hear from Buddy Guy, a musician who appears in the post-credits sequence.
Find out about the symbolism in 'Sinners.'
See how 'Sinners' and other movies multiply one actor.
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