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Dr Peter Y Chan's avatar

I wonder... And I am genuinely curious... What your view on music in general is? Not specific genres or anything. But I do wonder if how much that scene resonates is related to at what level people feel music? I had friends in high school who had deep, emotional reactions to music and would feel compelled to just get up and dance and get lost in it.. The sort of people who could trip and hallucinate to music without the need for drugs. People who were always saying "feel the music, man."

I was never one of those people.

I might be talking out of my ass, but my suspicion is that this scene probably speaks to people in that former category the most.

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Liam Mathews's avatar

That’s an interesting observation, and I think you’re right that it’s a thinking vs. feeling thing. I love music, and I actually agree with the thesis of the scene, that music can communicate across time and space. It’s really just that the Funkadelic guy jarred me out of the moment lol.

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jeffkahrs's avatar

I mean I thought it was brilliant but it was a gamble and I can see it not payoff for all

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Liam Mathews's avatar

Yeah, I think I'm in the minority on this one. Oh well.

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jeffkahrs's avatar

Doesn't make you wrong.

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Liam Mathews's avatar

If I didn’t like the last scene, I’d be wrong.

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Rob Thomas's avatar

I don't agree, but you are definitely taking a big swing with this opinion and I appreciate that!

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Liam Mathews's avatar

🙏

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Dave Baxter's avatar

My brain scrunched up when the scene started, like “wait, is this scene…doing what I think it’s doing?” and then “Do I LIKE that it’s doing this?”

I love that it was such a standout different scene, even from the rest of the movie, and I ultimately decided “yes, I love this, it’s bizarre but awesomely so.” Does it “take you out of the movie”? 100%. At least it unavoidably will the first time we see it. That’s what truly new things DO. That’s how you know they’re something authentically different - our brains have to switch off autopilot and grapple with it. I think sometimes we forget that this is what we claim we want out of cinema. Not every new thing will be beloved by every person, of course, but again, it’s the doing of the thing that matters most.

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Liam Mathews's avatar

Great comment, thank you. You're making me wonder if I watched Sinners again, maybe I would love this. Because you're right, it's SUPPOSED to take you out of the movie. It really is doing something truly bold. I'm looking forward to revisiting it.

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Aurelie Chazal's avatar

Haha I haven't seen Sinners yet but knew exactly which scene you were talking about from reading and listening to reviews. Weirdly this scene makes me want to see Sinners even more 😂

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Liam Mathews's avatar

Definitely see it, if only to participate in the cultural moment.

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Bryce Young's avatar

I couldn’t disagree more-but that’s the beauty of hot takes!! 😂This was the perfect scene to capture the middle of the movie and an outstanding display of merging genres—and I’m an absolute sucker for a oner.

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Liam Mathews's avatar

Yeah, the technique of the scene is undeniably impressive.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

I was confused when the guy from Funkadelic showed up and even laughed a little, but I don't remember disliking the scene. There was a overall surreal quality in the last half of the film, but I enjoyed it.

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Liam Mathews's avatar

Yeah, this is the first scene where the surrealism comes in, and it comes on a little too strong.

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James Lees's avatar

It definitely felt a bit jarring at first but I just went with it. Can totally see your point though.

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Jason Allison | A Second Act's avatar

We need to get you a Letterboxd account.

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Liam Mathews's avatar

I have one, I just always forget about it.

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