This Movie Just Shattered My Top 5 Of All Time—And I Can’t Stop Thinking About It

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Man, listen. My top five favorite movies of all time haven’t changed since high school.

Just in case you’re curious, these are some of the films that made it to my all-time favorite list:

1. “Apocalypse Now” – one of (if not) the best war movies ever made.
2. “Taxi Driver”
3. “Big Trouble in Little China”, which I’ve watched more than any other film.
4. “Total Recall”
5. “Adaptation”

There have been several films that have found a place in my top 20, and even in my top 10, but none have managed to break into my top 5 since then.

Until I recently watched the sensational film by Ryan Coogler titled “Sinners“, it had been occupying the sixth position on my list of favorite movies. However, after seeing this masterpiece that’s currently dominating the box office, I find myself needing to rearrange my ranking. Either I move “Adaptation” up to number 6 or push “Total Recall” into the fifth spot, as “Sinners” has now firmly established itself among my all-time favorite films. This is why:

Oh, and some spoilers up ahead. You’ve been warned.

I Simply Cannot Stop Thinking About It

I have a deep affection for music, and I’m particularly fond of vampires. I also find Black history captivating, even its difficult aspects. Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld are two actors I admire greatly. But let me tell you, my love extends beyond these favorites to the captivating series called Sinners. I’m enthralled by every aspect of it – the cast, music score, cinematography, storyline, and direction. In fact, I can’t pinpoint a single element that I don’t appreciate about this movie, which might explain why I keep pondering over it.

In our top-rated review of “Sinners,” my coworker, Eric Eisenberg, couldn’t decide if he adored it more for its crime elements or its horror aspects, and I completely concur. In fact, I watched the movie with my spouse, and when I casually mentioned that it was meant to be frightening, she took it lightly and replied, “Alright,” but later on, around a quarter of the way through, she looked at me with tears in her eyes. “You said this was supposed to scare me, you didn’t tell me it would make me furious.

She mentioned a part of the film where Delroy Lindo’s character recounted a tragic incident involving his friend and the KKK, which made me understand that, similar to Eric, it was difficult for me to classify this movie within a particular genre at that point.

This film skillfully blends numerous genres, creating an entirely distinctive work within the realm of American cinema. At its core, it shares similarities with certain aspects of Korean cinema, as both can exhibit a tendency to defy traditional genre boundaries. For instance, movies like “Parasite” demonstrate this trait by encompassing elements of dark comedy, thriller, and horror in a single production.

There’s something truly captivating about this movie, as I find myself appreciating each individual element, while also being impressed by the overall cohesion. Even my all-time favorite film, “Apocalypse Now,” has aspects that I’m not a fan of, including the extended version, “Apocalypse Now Redux.” However, it seems that I won’t find anything to dislike in “Sinners” upon rewatching it. Every detail, even the smallest, feels essential to its entirety.

I Don’t Think I’ve Ever Seen A Movie Where The Music Was So Instrumental To My Overall Enjoyment

Since I took on the role of fatherhood, my movie-watching experience has transformed significantly. Some cinephiles might not approve, but often, instead of listening to the soundtrack, I prefer to read the captions (you know, similar to individuals who frequently opt for subtitles when watching films).

As a devoted cinephile, you might ponder my peculiar viewing habits. Here’s the deal – once my little ones are tucked asleep, only then do I get my movie time. With a film like Anora, brimming with countless F-bombs and audible sounds that could wake the dead, it’s not an option to crank up the volume for fear of waking the kids. So, to maintain peace and quiet in the household, I usually settle for movies with the sound either very low or muted altogether.

Prior to having kids, I didn’t find many films where music or sound effects were so crucial that their absence would significantly diminish the viewing experience. For instance, 2001: A Space Odyssey and the Star Wars series stand out as examples where sound plays a vital role. Similarly, Reservoir Dogs, There Will Be Blood, and most of Hitchcock’s films also rely heavily on sound. Generally speaking, sound adds to the movie-watching experience, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s indispensable for the storyline.

In contrast to the general rule, this movie makes an exception featuring sinners. This is because the music in this film serves not just as a soundtrack, but as a narrative. The blues, deeply significant during the depicted era, plays a pivotal role. Moreover, it’s not merely the genre itself that matters, but the cultural symbolism attached to it for people of that time. Being a creation of African-American culture, the blues resonates profoundly throughout this film, reflecting the Black experience portrayed in the movie.

As a cinephile who’s seen countless films, I must confess that only a select few, like perhaps Disney’s magical masterpiece Fantasia, have had such a profound impact on me as Sinners does. The movie’s soundtrack is so integral to its narrative that it feels as if the story would crumble without it. This is an extraordinary achievement, given my extensive experience with films that boast vibrant soundscapes before the arrival of my children.

These Are My Favorite Vampires. Ever

In his outstanding article, my coworker Ryan LaBee discusses why vampires functioned as the “monsters” in Sinners, and how they served as a complex metaphor. I wholeheartedly concur with his points, yet I also perceive the vampires from another angle. In this film, I don’t consider them to be inherently evil characters. Absolutely not.

To put it simply, these characters can be seen as a collective yearning for unity and camaraderie. It’s intriguing that the lead vampire, Remmick, portrayed by Jack O’Connell, is of Irish descent, given the historical prejudice and discrimination faced by the Irish upon arrival in this country. However, it’s important to note that in this film, the vampires mirror marginalized groups like Black, Indigenous, and Asian individuals, as they are outsiders. Yet, unlike real-world racial issues, the vampire society appears to be colorblind, welcoming all who wish to join. The only requirement is an open heart (and home).

Indeed, “joining” implies a profound sacrifice, as it seems no one desires to transform into a vampire. Yet, once they do, they engage in shared activities like dancing, singing, and even develop a collective consciousness. At one instance, Stack expresses his frustration when his brother, Smoke, tries to keep them apart, stating that Smoke lacks “insight” or understanding of their unique bond.

Indeed, when they transform into vampires, they do lose a significant aspect of their original selves. However, this transformation also seems to bestow upon them a fresh sense of purpose and individuality, as demonstrated even in the post-credits scene. This observation has led me to view these vampires less pessimistically, considering that they are not merely following orders, but forging their own identities.

As a movie enthusiast, I often find that vampires are a familiar trope, not typically open to extensive analysis compared to, say, zombies. But these particular bloodsuckers have such depth and skillful writing that I’d happily engage in a lengthy debate with anyone over their intricacies (and even pondering whether to side with them isn’t entirely out of the question). Set against the backdrop of 1932 Mississippi, where the KKK poses an even more formidable adversary, this aspect adds another layer to the narrative, making for a fascinating watch.

It Is, Quite Simply, One Of The Greatest Movie-Going Experiences I’ve Ever Had

Is there something truly intriguing you’d like to hear about? Frankly, I can’t remember being in total agreement with a theater audience as much as I was during the performance of “Sinners“.

In this film, when the vampires finally meet their end, I must admit, it wasn’t a moment of triumph for me, and I don’t believe it was for the audience either. There were no jubilant shouts, no applause, and certainly no one voicing, “You deserved that!

Did you notice when the audience cheered? It was when Smoke exacted his revenge on the KKK members at the end of the movie. To be honest, although the vampires were terrifying, self-centered, and demanding, they didn’t seem like the real enemies. Instead, it seemed that Jim Crow was the true enemy, and the people I went with seemed to think so too, without explicitly saying it.

The music resonated deeply with the viewers too. They were bobbing their heads, tapping their feet, and seemed genuinely captivated, much like myself. In truth, I can’t remember another film where the entire audience was so enthralled by the screen, and it created a strong bond between us. It felt as if we all shared a unique moment, which indeed we did.

Because of all these points and many more, “Sinners” has made it into my top five all-time favorite films. What’s your take on it? Have you watched “Sinners” recently? I’d be interested to know your opinion about it.

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2025-05-03 18:09