While it might seem strange that director Ryan Coogler’s Sinners features a “Thank You” credit to Christopher Nolan, the movie’s unusual filming style explains this. By the ending of Sinners, any moviegoer could be forgiven for failing to pay close attention to the credits. Director Ryan Coogler’s dazzling blend of music, drama, supernatural horror, and action might be his most explosive movie yet, so Sinners is likely to leave many viewers dazed by the end of its 138-minute runtime.
However, those who do pay close attention will be paid handsomely. Not only does Sinners have a post-credits scene for viewers who stick around, but there is also a nod to an entirely unexpected filmmaker. Coogler has not been shy about his inspirations while making the movie, which defies easy genre categorization thanks to its elaborate musical sequences, violent horror scenes, and tragic dramatic plot. The director surprised some readers by admitting that Puss In Boots: The Last Wish was one major inspiration, but is another director whose work earned them a “Thank You” credit.
Christopher Nolan Gave Ryan Coogler Advice On Filming Sinners With IMAX Cameras
The Sinners Director Sought Out The Director’s Expertise While Filming
Blockbuster legend Christopher Nolan receives a “Thank You” credit at the end of Sinners, a decision that might surprise some viewers since The Dark Knight director didn’t directly work on the movie. However, Coogler did shoot the movie on 65mm film, and he got advice from both Nolan and Nolan’s wife and producing partner, Emma Thomas, both of whom have extensive experience with large format pH๏τography. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sinners “Combined Ultra Panavision with Imax pH๏τography in an effort to be immersive.”
Coogler said Sinners was “A love letter to the experience of watching an exhilarating movie in a packed house full of strangers,” and both the wild vampire movie and much of Nolan’s work fit this ambitious description.
Viewers who have seen the most impressive sequences in Sinners can affirm that these attempts paid off, and this was thanks in part to the advice Nolan provided. Many of Nolan’s most memorable movies were sH๏τ in IMAX, including both The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. In the same Hollywood Reporter interview, Coogler said Sinners was “A love letter to the experience of watching an exhilarating movie in a packed house full of strangers,” and both the wild vampire movie and much of Nolan’s work fit this ambitious description.
Christopher Nolan Has An Expansive History With IMAX
Interstellar, Tenet, and Oppenheimer Were All Filmed On IMAX
In an era where even mega-budget blockbusters like Wicked are often accused of looking flat and over-lit, Coogler’s decision to rely on 65mm and IMAX makes a lot of sense. So too does the director seek out Nolan’s advice, as the director has a lengthy history with IMAX. Not only has Nolan consistently filmed with these cameras for over a decade, but he has also championed the format more broadly as an industry figure.
Of all of Christopher Nolan’s movies, Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Oppenheimer, and the upcoming The Odyssey were all sH๏τ in IMAX. This made Nolan the go-to person for Coogler to get advice from while shooting Sinners, thus justifying that surprising “Thank You” in the movie’s credits. For all of the many surprises contained in the runtime of Sinners, it shouldn’t shock any viewers to learn that Ryan Coogler thanked the format’s outspoken champion Christopher Nolan after shooting on IMAX.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
