I also believe the devil, like in the film, knows when you feel most free and aims to infiltrate and disempower you. The most recent example of that we saw this week was Variety reducing Sinners value to “profitability remains a ways away” instead of praising it for topping the box office with a $61 million global debut or its rich, original storytelling. Despite receiving similar numbers to other white-led projects that the publication have hailed as unequivocal successes, Sinners’ box office win was delivered with a caveat. Variety didn’t lead with the fact that Coogler made a rare deal with the studio to receive ownership of the film after 25 years (in fact, this move has been criticized as “dangerous” and the potential “end of the studio system” instead of applauded as smart business). Nor did they make a grandiose deal about how the film is shifting what an IMAX audience looks for in regards to industry standards.
