The Questlove Show Questlove Salutes Sinners
Mar 25, 2026
A salute to Sinners and the people who made it, with reflections on its long journey and emotional stakes. A deep dive into 70mm projection, lenses, film stock, sound, and lighting that shape how movies feel. Quick detour into Blues music, from D'Angelo to B.B. King’s Live at Cook County Jail.
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How Questlove Spots Award Worthy Performances
- Questlove learned to spot award-ready performances by losing himself in characters, citing Jamie Lee Curtis in Sinners and Robert Pattinson in Good Time.
- He described being fooled for minutes and sometimes rewatching films twice to realize an actor's transformation, explaining his instinct for awards.
Seeing Sinners on 70mm Was a Pilgrimage
- Questlove drove to the El Rey to experience Sinners on 70mm because he treats certain theaters as curated rituals like Tarantino's New Beverly.
- He sat through three showings in a daze after receiving major career news, still absorbing visuals, film stock, sound and lighting details.
Cinematography Shapes Emotional Feeling
- Questlove argues cinematography and the film's look are the primary vehicles for emotional impact, shaping how a viewer feels.
- He praised Autumn Durald Arkapaw and Ernest Dickerson for creating textures and lighting that gave him no technical notes and delivered authentic period feeling.