Sinners

Original Rating: 4.5/5 Original IB Level: 6+ I knew from the moment I first saw this, that I needed a re-watch. It wasn't because the film was bad, or that I found it boring, but rather I knew it was the type of film I'd enjoy even more a second time around. And guess what? I was right. With the Oscars coming up tomorrow night, and only one nominated film left for me to see, I thought I'd revisit 2025's Sinners, considering I'd seen it something like seven months ago and seem to have less and less recollection of it as time goes on, and because it would give me a second chance at taking notice of all the details, big and small, that make this film as phenomenal as it is. So, I'm gonna try to go through the nominations this film has recieved at the 98th Academy Awards that I think it should win or is close to winning and just explain my thoughts on how much this film deserves that award. First off, Best Original Song: now for a long time this award season, I've been rooting for *Kpop Demon Hunters to take the trophy home for 'Golden', because as much as I maybe didn't want to admit it, it's an incredibly catchy song that is probably the best part of the film, and yet, I never thought to revisit Miles Caron's 'I Lied To You'; if I had, I would've realized that Sinners* is far more deserving of this award than any other nominee in the category. It isn't just Caton's mature and gravitas-filled voice and Ludwig Göransson's brilliant composition that makes this song the perfect choice but also what it represents. The whole scene surrounding this song is probably my favourite scene from this whole film for how it bends the ideas of time to explore the influence of Black culture in music throughout the decades. It's an impactful scene that uses music to explore and present Black culture at its core and doesn't shy away from shattering our ideas of what this film is trying to say on a broader scale. Second, we have Best Score. What do I even say for this? I've been at a loss of words for Ludwig's genius ever since I first listened to his score for 2023's *Oppenheimer*, but I never thought that he'd be able to achieve something even more precious and diverse than that. Of course, he proved me wrong within just two years with the score for this film. It blends together so many different styles of music including blues, jazz, Irish folk song, hip hop, reggae, and countless other mini-genres to create a cacophony of sounds filled with so much cultural significance, it feels impossible for one man to do so much. Thirdly, we have Best Cinematography. Now, I'll be honest, ever since I saw *Train Dreams, I've been rooting for it to win this award because it really is just a miraculously filmed movie, but after this rewatch of Sinners, my opinion has been changed. Ryan Coogler does so much with the cinematography here, lighting scenes in perfect light ratios and moods and tones, using only the best IMAX quality to make this film, and using different shots so perfectly that I can't pick any other film for this award to go to other than Sinners*. Now, we come to the biggest turn up of all, Best Actor. This debate between MBJ or Timmy winning has been going on ever since MBJ won SAG this year and to be honest, I really didn't get the hype. I think I'd just forgotten what his performance was really like and so I kind of shunted him from the race. But revisiting this film has really put me in a real pickle because on one hand, I think Timmy's performance is the best performance of the year and he totally deserves it, but goddamn is Michael B. Jordan just sensational in this. He genuinely brings such a slight but perfect difference in his performance of his two characters, and actually brings a comedic and sentimental side to both of them, so much so that I actually teared up during one scene. It's a really hard pick this year, but is it outrageous to say that I'll be rooting for both of them? Because I will be, that's for sure. The penultimate award... Best Director. I've been saying Ryan Coogler should win this award months before the nominations were even announced and nothing has changed since. If anything, I'm just more sure of it now than ever. Coogler hasn't made a lot of films in his career so far, but that's besides the point because all he needs to win this award is a good fucking movie, and be definitely has that. He's such a talented yet down to earth creative who empowers the Black community in a way no one has done since Spike Lee probably. He's incredibly careful and meticulous with his scripts and his understanding of the characters he writes and somehow finds a way to be humble throughout all of it. He doesn't really want an Oscar because to him, the journey and opportunity of making cinema is the award, but I think that's exactly why he should get it. Finally, we have Best Picture. I might not have said this just a couple of hours ago, but even though *Marty Supreme and Hamnet are both 5 star films that are my favourites of the year, I'll be rooting for Sinners* tomorrow night. Not because it's better than these other two films because in my opinion, it isn't, but because this film deserves to win. It deserves to win for the Black community, it deserves to win for the cultural significance, it deserves to win for the phenomenal and layered writing, it deserves to win for the therapeutic and perfect music, and most importantly, it deserves to win because of its message at the core, a message that makes this movie timeless in nature. Wow. I'm so glad I decided to rewatch this film because I really didn't know just how much I was missing out on when it came to this film. It was even better than the first time around and I wish this film the best luck tomorrow night at the Oscars. Y'all Klan? Nominated at the 98th Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Score, Best Original Song. 2025 Oscars 2026: Best Picture Nominees Ranked IB Level: 7- 4.5/5 **14 March 2025 chymp**