Sometimes a director’s “one for me” film ends up blowing the “one for them” out of the water.

“Sinners” follows a pair of twin gangsters (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who open up a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi, only to have opening night ruined when a vampire (Jack O’Connell) attacks. Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo also star as Ryan Coogler writes and directs.

I like Ryan Coogler. I think “Creed” is even better than the original “Rocky” (though to be fair, I don’t have any nostalgia for the franchise), and while his “Black Panther” duology isn’t the best Marvel has to offer, they both have style and heart, compared to many cookie-cutter superhero movies nowadays (“Fruitvale Station” is also quite good). The idea of a period piece with a supernatural twist sounds cool but could also come off as goofy or a tonal mess in the wrong hands, but it’s clear after watching “Sinners” that Coogler is one of the most assured directors working today.

I think Michael B. Jordan is a little underrated as an actor. He sometimes can be miscast (like in “Just Mercy”) but in Coogler’s projects he has always soared (I think he deserved Oscar consideration for his work in “Black Panther”). Playing a set of twins here, Jordan gives each their own style and flair, setting apart those that are (in more ways than one) essentially the same person. He has a few moments of humor and swagger, and interacts with other actors uniquely.

I think the two standouts here are Miles Caton as Jordan’s young musician cousin and Jack O’Connell as the antagonist vampire. That this is Caton’s feature acting debut is nothing short of incredible, as he owns the screen from the instant we are introduced to him. He holds his own alongside Hollywood heavy hitters like Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and Delroy Lindo, and to-boot has an incredible voice, thick and dripping in Southern charm. There is one musical sequence in here that had my girlfriend and I both turn to each other at the same time with a “holy-” expression; Caton really is that magnetic.

As our villain, Jack O’Connell is able to have a little bit of hammy fun but he is also a very complex character. Coogler has an underrated ability to write bad guys in a three dimensional way, making the audience at the very least see their point of view and motives and not have them be evil for evil’s sake. O’Connell has one line delivery that made me laugh out loud, and an Irish jig dance sequence that, while a touch goofy and out of place, adds to his character. Delroy Lindo (always a welcome presence) has some nice, tender moments, too, as an aging blues musician.

Going back to that notable music sequence, I think it’s one of those instances where as you’re watching, even for the first time, you know it’s something that will be played and cited for years to come. In less capable hands it could have come off as cheesy or gimmicky, but Coogler has such an eye for cool and ability to omit vibes out of his films that I felt like I was flying during it. There is another music number by Jayme Lawson that I think has a great energy to it, too. Composer Ludwig Göransson (who has worked with Coogler since their days at USC film school and won an Oscar for his incredible work on “Oppenheimer”) combines strings and harmonicas to create a musical score that sounds eerie yet epic, contemporary yet of the time, and it kept making me think back to that of “Killers of the Flower Moon” (an insane compliment).

At times this plays like a Jordan Peele film, combining elements of blockbusters and horror, while using tropes of those genres to offer commentary on topics like race, legacy, the tolls of the entertainment industry, and how music changes and influences through the ages. Things can seem to be lingering at points (the first hour is a lot of set up and just hanging out with the characters), but once we lock into the vampire element it’s a non-stop ride.

“Sinners” is a beautifully crafted movie with so much to unpack, made all the better by me having been blessed to have seen it on 70mm IMAX (there is one scene where the aspect ratio slowly grows and I was so engrossed I was ready to run through a wall). Featuring great music, a detailed eye for period piece authenticity (Ruth E. Carter designed the costumes, so no shock those are great), and assured direction, “Sinners” is a film that is built to last, and one of those that while you’re watching you just know is something special.

Critics Rating: 9/10