In “Sinners,� his bloody new historical blockbuster, writer/director Ryan Coogler feels unleashed in a way he hasn’t been before � and that’s a good thing. Free from the shackles of proving himself, respectability politics and four-quadrant appeal, the “Black Panther,� “Creed� and “Fruitvale Station� filmmaker delightedly revels in what he’s allowed to do within this hyper-sexy, hyper-violent, R-rated vampire movie.
The characters in “Sinners� are as advertised: flawed in a deeply human kind of way. They’ve made mistakes, hurt others, defied social norms, and are grieving, traumatized, horny, driven by money. And that’s just the twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, played in a dual performance by star Michael B. Jordan. It’s 1932, and after seven years learning the gangland trade from Irish and Italian mobsters in Chicago, these World War I vets have rolled back into their Mississippi hometown ready to raise hell with their latest venture, a juke joint stocked with stolen booze.
This is a light and breezy affair with a few unexpected twists, some social commentary that doesn’t entirely land, and it might not have enough staying power for it to be truly memorable. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: 'Clown in a Cornfield' a light, breezy slasher
This flick isn’t a masterpiece, not even a vulgar one, but it’s cheeky and entertaining enough in its giddy hyper-violence, thanks almost entirely to the star turn of Josh Hartnett, who has proven in his recent renaissance that he’s especially great in bozo mode. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: Josh Hartnett saves 'Fight or Flight' from crash landing
Perhaps we don’t need the reminder that our personal relationships with animals are some of the most special and rewarding ones that we can enjoy as human beings, but “The Penguin Lessons� also underscores that our relationships with people are even more important, and that sometimes animals are the best stewards for this particular journey.-- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: A teacher's pet warms the heart in 'Penguin Lessons'
