As far as tentpole films go, Sinners (writer-director Ryan Coogler’s fifth feature) is a refreshing instance of a release that retains both broad genre appeal and enough of a sociopolitical subtext to keep discussion going among its more brainy/artsy audiences. This is not an easy combination to handle, and it is assuring to see such a film perform well at the box office; although the following weeks will have to generate similar performances in order for it to break even, what with its high production costs. I will not be surprised, however, if it ends up turning a profit, as word-of-mouth hype will undoubtedly help pack the auditoriums. I saw it this past weekend, and while I wasn’t looking to be blown away (the trailer, on top of being a spoiler-fest, did not prime me to expect anything more than the sort of star-studded genre concoction with “Something More To Say” that’s all the rage these days), neither was I expecting it to be as solid as it was, balancing out its over-the-top elements (which are fun, it should be said) with a script that takes its time, and fleshed-out character dynamics that nicely layer what is, on the whole, an entertaining shoot-’em-up vampire flick. […]