What defines excellence? That’s a question that I often ask myself. Is it external acknowledgement by the committee? Is it an internal feeling when you know you’ve given it your all? Or being celebrated by your peers, garnering public fanfare, or appeasing the critics? I bring this up in light of the Awards Season being upon us and the perceived snubbing of Sinners and its director, Ryan Coogler.
I loved Sinners and am a fan of Ryan Coogler. He has a gift for telling black stories and humanising his characters, flaws and all, in a way that makes you feel seen, particularly black male characters. When the media labelled Oscar Grant a black threat, he presented a movie that portrayed him as a relatable guy dealt a bad hand, trying to figure it out.
Then you get Adonis Creed and his story of coming out of his father’s shadow to be his own man, a theme that carries into the Black Panther movies. Family is a major part of his storytelling, and you can see it in the consistency of his creative partners. Ludwig Göransson, Sev Ohanian, Hannah Bleacher, Ruth E. Carter, of course, his wife Zinzi and his leading man Michael B. Jordan. They represent his creative community/family. They all seem to ride for each other. It’s what makes him easy to root for.
As fans of his work, that’s what we’ve done and continue to do. Aside from Fruitvale Station, which was an indie film, all of Ryan’s films have grossed well over $100 million. And we’re not talking about purely domestic success. He does global numbers. He’s a gifted storyteller; no one can take that from him, which is why the likes of Disney and Warner Bros. are willing to bet big on him to keep delivering hits. Warner has even promised to sign over the rights to Sinners back to him after 25 years. It’s why everyone’s favourite director, Christopher Nolan, gives him his props continuously. Spike Lee bigs him up. Denzel has shown his excitement to work with him.
Ryan Coogler gets love from his peers, the paying public and has developed a cult like fan base within the black community, all by remaining true to himself. And that will always rub a certain group of people the wrong way. He knows this. We know this. We saw it play out in Sinners through the subtle subliminal coding within Sinners. Check out FD Signifier’s video for a full breakdown.
As for the awards…I’ve watched and followed the Oscars, Golden Globes and the like for years. I’ve seen countless faves get snubbed over politics. These award shows get it wrong more than they get it right. To be honest, this year, I believe One Battle After Another will do well across the board. Sean Penn’s performance was immense. Leo did what Leo does, and Paul Thomas Anderson is the kind of guy to get behind. 30 years in the game, he finally comes good. I wouldn’t be mad at that.
Ryan Coogler is still in the infancy of what will be a long and fruitful career. He’ll get his dues, but he doesn’t have anything to prove to the so-called elites. He has what most would kill for. A diverse, captive audience. An ability to touch people through his craft, while being paid to live out his dream. That’s more than any piece of metal can ever deliver. It’s something we should all remember as we navigate through spaces that don’t want us there. The power is shifting, and they are fighting to hold on.
To bring it home, I’d like to end on this quote from Denzel Washington.
“My mother used to tell me Man gives the award, God gives the reward. I don’t need another plaque.”
-SoulBro
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