Continuing my countdown of last year’s best films…
Best Films of 2025
#2. Sinners
Before Ryan Coogler’s Sinners came out last spring, I read a review with the writer/director in which he called it his most personal film yet. That seemed odd given that it appeared to be a straight-up vampire genre movie.
He explained that his debut, 2013’s Fruitvale Station, was documenting the true story of a young man killed by a police officer, so it was ultimately that man’s story and not his own. Creed was an offshoot of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky. And the Black Panther films were part of the Marvel machine. This one came entirely from him.
In that context, his comments made sense. But it was still just a vampire movie, right?
Wrong.
Sinners eventually gets to the vampires, but it starts out as a movie about brothers, about music, about forbidden love, about chasing your passions. It’s a rich and sensual portrait of the Depression-era South and a group of people from disparate cultures and backgrounds who make a life there.
Twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by the excellent Michael B. Jordan) have returned to their Mississippi hometown to start a juke joint for the town’s Black community. They recruit their cousin Sammie (newcomer Miles Caton), a wickedly good guitar player, as the entertainment. The film’s first hour depicts the build-up to the juke joint’s opening night.
That extended set-up is so warm and charming, I could have watched a whole movie about the juke joint. The arrival of the brothers’ love interests (played by Wunmi Mosaku and Hailee Steinfeld) adds a layer of lusty romance, and when Sammie starts playing the blues, the film sweats and shines like an extension of Steve McQueen’s glorious Lovers Rock.
When the vampires do show up, they are as interested in sucking the blood out of Black culture as Black bodies, and the film takes on added metaphorical weight. The fact that the head ghoul is an Irishman who faced his own form of persecution back home makes things even thornier.
The chaotic bloodshed that follows isn’t quite as deftly handled as the dramatic beats. Coogler doesn’t (yet) have the facility with an extended action sequence of a Steven Spielberg or James Cameron. But he steers the film to a moving, deeply satisfying conclusion that leaves a lump in my throat every time I see it.
Sinners might make history this weekend and become only the second horror film to win Best Picture (the first was The Silence of the Lambs in 1991). Even if it falls short, it is already a modern classic, a movie that will have cultural and artistic significance for generations.
It’s proof that often the most personal art is also the most universal.
And leave where I was born
I cut a stout blackthorn
For to banish ghosts and goblins
A brand new pair of brogues
To rattle over the bogs
And frightened all the dogs
On the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Well, in the merry month of May, from me home I started
Left the girls of Tuam were nearly broken-hearted
Saluted Father dear, kissed me darling mother
Drank a pint of beer, my grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born
Cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblins
Brand new pair of brogues, rattlin’ over the bogs
And frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol le-dah
In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight next morning, bright and airy
Took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinkin’
That’s the Paddy’s cure whenever he’s on for drinkin’
To hear the lassies smile, laughin’ all the while
At me curious style, ‘twould set your heart a bubblin’
Asked me was I hired, wages I required
‘Til I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol le-dah
In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city
Then I took a stroll, all among the quality
Bundle it was stole, in a neat locality
Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin’
Enquiring for the rogue, said me Connaught brogue
Wasn’t much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol le-dah
From there I got away, my spirits never failin’
Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailin’
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, played some funny rigs
Danced some hearty jigs, the water ’round me bubblin’
Off to Holyhead, wished meself was dead
Or better far instead, on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol le-dah
The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it
Blood began to boil, temper I was losin’
Poor old Erin’s Isle, they began abusin’
“Hurrah me soul,” says I, shillelagh I let fly
Galway boys were by and saw I was a hobblin’
With a loud “Hurray!” joinin’ in the affray
We quickly cleared the way on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol le-dah
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol le-dah
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol le-dah
Meet Me In Montauk 
Great review! I’ll be rooting for Sinners to have a good Oscar night
Love this review! I agree that learning Ryan Coogler’s deeper connection to the musicality of the film with his uncle being a blues artist made an already stellar film even more resonant. This film came out early last year and didn’t face stiff competition to become my favorite. However, as more great movies came out it still stood out above the herd!
I hear your critiques about the action sequences and while they may not be as captivating as Avatar: Way of Water, I still found them more than satisfactory. I also don’t think the vampire fight scene would’ve been more effectively served by flashy camera work or whatever elements you feel a Spielberg or Cameron would bring to it to elevate it. I think the dramatic moments interwoven throughout this sequence such as Delta Slim’s sacrifice or Grace’s burning atop her lost husband are what make this piece of the film so compelling.
I’m on the edge of seat watching the twin on twin fight that’s for sure!
That being said, as you pointed out it’s the music and the character and world building that really sets this film apart and, in my opinion, earns it best picture of the year and certainly my favorite!
I totally agree Daniel and feel the same way. It’s my number one! And now I know what Clay’s number one will probably be 🙂