Ryan Coogler’s Sinners hasn’t even hit theaters yet, but it’s already shaping up to be a major success. Critics have described the director’s latest work as “beautiful,” “fantastic,” and a “f—g banger.” However, he isn’t the only one getting praise. During a recent interview with Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning crew, Coogler openly applauded the performance of his longtime collaborator, Michael B. Jordan, in the film.
“It’s the best he’s ever been,” Coogler said. “As someone who has seen him be really good a lot up close, this one was different. It’s a different type of performance from him. I’m really proud of him. The characters are very dynamic. He brought a life to these guys that I think will impact culture.”
Jordan plays the roles of both Smoke and Stack, twins in a small southern town in the 1930s. Attempting to put their troubled pasts behind them, Smoke and Stack return to their hometown. However, things quickly turn south as evil forces turn their lives upside down.
Coogler and Jordan have worked together several times in the past, producing films such as Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther. However, Sinners produced a new challenge for the actor-director duo. In preparation, Jordan worked with a dialect coach, developed different walking styles for each character, and frequently met with real-life twins who loosely inspired elements of the film.
“Twins are unique individuals,” Jordan explained to Darden. “They’re not like other siblings. They have a psychic-like connection [It’s almost like a] spiritual connection. [While I was] doing the research, I got a chance to meet a couple of Ryan’s friends, [who are] twins, and hear their stories as kids. [I learned about] things they would get into and the experiences [they had]. They’re kind of like celebrities. [They] walk around [and] people stare at [them as if] they’re not sure if they’re looking at the same thing or not. They had this draw to them that we wanted to bring to the brothers, [Smoke and Stack].”
Coogler and Jordan stopped by Hot 97 as part of their press run before the film’s New York premiere last week. For the general public, Sinners, starring Coogler and Jordan, will debut in theaters on Friday, April 18.
