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.
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.
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.
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.
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 😂
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.
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.
It was jaw dropping for me. I’m unfamiliar with African music history, I don’t relate to the African experience, but my god did that scene send a shiver down my spine. It was transcendental, taking me along the long road of humanity in just a few minutes. I wish I could experience it for the first time again
The ancestor scene struck me as extremely unmusical. It sounded terrible to listen to, in my ears. Was it supposed to be slightly horrifying? No idea. It seems like a lot of talented musicians on this planet could have made that something wonderful to listen to. A drum circle comes to mind: things shift and tempos change and different drums come to the fore and recede. But it stays musical and the song keeps going. This didn’t do that.
Some people like it. My husband showed me these two scenes. Ugh. I love Celtic music, but I didn’t even listen to the whole dance. So sad that Hulu abandoned the Buffy the Vampire Slayer return…that show was funny, thoughtful, sexy and dark, even when it went off the rails.
Thanks for writing this - I felt the exact same. The rest of the movie was decent enough to watch but that scene had me cringing. I think the people who enjoyed it also probably enjoy dressing up as Wolverine and going to comic con. Good for them to have something they find entertaining, hard pass for me though.
I have a huge emotional connection to music and this scene to me hit it out of the park. Some people don’t think about where and how music developed to what it is today. Seeing the bootsy character to me was a cheering moment. I love parliament, I think PCU was the first time I heard them so I’d have been around 12. Seeing Bootsy portrayed was everything that dude deserves to be honored. Started out with James brown, built his own funk style of bass. I thought the rest of the movie was good, but that scene hit hard.
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.
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.
I mean I thought it was brilliant but it was a gamble and I can see it not payoff for all
Yeah, I think I'm in the minority on this one. Oh well.
Doesn't make you wrong.
If I didn’t like the last scene, I’d be wrong.
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.
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.
I don't agree, but you are definitely taking a big swing with this opinion and I appreciate that!
🙏
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 😂
Definitely see it, if only to participate in the cultural moment.
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.
Yeah, the technique of the scene is undeniably impressive.
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.
Yeah, this is the first scene where the surrealism comes in, and it comes on a little too strong.
It definitely felt a bit jarring at first but I just went with it. Can totally see your point though.
We need to get you a Letterboxd account.
I have one, I just always forget about it.
It was jaw dropping for me. I’m unfamiliar with African music history, I don’t relate to the African experience, but my god did that scene send a shiver down my spine. It was transcendental, taking me along the long road of humanity in just a few minutes. I wish I could experience it for the first time again
The ancestor scene struck me as extremely unmusical. It sounded terrible to listen to, in my ears. Was it supposed to be slightly horrifying? No idea. It seems like a lot of talented musicians on this planet could have made that something wonderful to listen to. A drum circle comes to mind: things shift and tempos change and different drums come to the fore and recede. But it stays musical and the song keeps going. This didn’t do that.
Some people like it. My husband showed me these two scenes. Ugh. I love Celtic music, but I didn’t even listen to the whole dance. So sad that Hulu abandoned the Buffy the Vampire Slayer return…that show was funny, thoughtful, sexy and dark, even when it went off the rails.
Thanks for writing this - I felt the exact same. The rest of the movie was decent enough to watch but that scene had me cringing. I think the people who enjoyed it also probably enjoy dressing up as Wolverine and going to comic con. Good for them to have something they find entertaining, hard pass for me though.
Understandable because that was a moment for US. And what a beautiful moment for us sitting in that theater.
I have a huge emotional connection to music and this scene to me hit it out of the park. Some people don’t think about where and how music developed to what it is today. Seeing the bootsy character to me was a cheering moment. I love parliament, I think PCU was the first time I heard them so I’d have been around 12. Seeing Bootsy portrayed was everything that dude deserves to be honored. Started out with James brown, built his own funk style of bass. I thought the rest of the movie was good, but that scene hit hard.