Fresh Air Weekend: Best Of – 'The Pit' Star Noah Wylie & 'Sinners' Director Ryan Coogler

Release Date: April 26, 2025

1. Interview with Ryan Coogler: Exploring "Sinners"

Overview: Filmmaker Ryan Coogler, renowned for directing "Fruitvale Station," the "Black Panther" films, and "Creed," delves into his latest project, "Sinners." This vampire thriller, set in 1930s Mississippi, stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack. The film intertwines themes of race, faith, and American history within a horror framework.

Key Discussions:

• Choosing "Sinners" Over a Black Panther Sequel: Coogler discusses the gravity of his decision to prioritize "Sinners" over the highly successful Marvel franchise. He explains, "It would have been more of a risk to not make it. The movie was kind of on my heart" (06:14).

• Themes and Inspirations: The film serves as a tribute to Coogler's late uncle James, who introduced him to the blues. Coogler reflects on his upbringing, balancing multiple identities, which informed the film's exploration of dichotomies. He shares, "I was dealing with the feeling of not totally fitting in... It made me very sensitive to themes of identity and the dichotomy as an idea" (08:37).

• Vampires as Metaphors: Vampires in "Sinners" symbolize oppression and exploitation. When asked about their metaphorical significance, Coogler responds, "As I've gotten older... if I can make something true, it's up to the viewer to draw those parallels" (11:12).

• Personal Connection to Blues Music: Coogler recounts his childhood experiences listening to blues legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, emphasizing how music shapes cultural identity. He remarks, "The blues connected people to their humanity. It reminded them that they were human" (16:08).

• Casting Legendary Blues Guitarist Buddy Guy: Bringing Buddy Guy into the film adds authenticity and personal significance, as Coogler narrates their interaction: "He gave it a stamp of approval... he said he should hear me out, and he's in" (18:17).

• Ownership and Legacy: In a bold move, Coogler secured rights to own "Sinners" outright after 25 years, emphasizing the importance of creative control. He states, "I will never own any of these movies. The next movie I'll make, Black Panther 3. I will not own that. Disney will own that. It was time for me to own this" (25:02).

Notable Quotes:

• "I love vampires... they pull from all of that in terms of supernatural creatures." (12:24)
• "It's competency porn... the audience sees that the doctors know what they're talking about." (41:42)

2. Carolina Miranda Reviews Leila Lalami's "The Dream Hotel"

Overview: Contributor Carolina Miranda provides an in-depth review of Leila Lalami's "The Dream Hotel," a dystopian novel that explores themes of surveillance, autonomy, and the human psyche in a tech-saturated future.

Plot Summary: Sarah Hussein, a museum archivist and mother of twins, finds herself unjustly detained by an algorithm predicting her potential for future crimes. The novel portrays her struggle within the "DreamHotel," a facility where brain implants monitor and assess individuals based on their dreams.

Themes and Analysis:

• Surveillance and Autonomy: The book critiques the overreach of technology in personal freedoms, drawing parallels to contemporary discussions on data privacy.
• Psychological Depth: Lalami excels in portraying Sarah's internal conflict and the dehumanizing effects of algorithmic judgments.
• Comparisons to "Minority Report": While similar to Philip K. Dick's work in its premise of pre-crime arrests, "The Dream Hotel" uniquely centers on the protagonist's psychological journey rather than a procedural narrative.

Notable Insights: Miranda highlights how Lalami incorporates various narrative elements—emails, corporate reports, and procedural manuals—to build a comprehensive and immersive world. She notes, "Lalami inserts fragments... which give insight into the systems that keep people like Sarah indefinitely detained" (28:14).

Notable Quotes:

• "As the narrator tells us, compliance begins in the body." (31:22)
• "Inhabiting Sarah's story is to hear the echoes of real people who are held in private immigration detention centers." (32:50)

3. Interview with Noah Wylie: Behind the Scenes of "The Pit"

Overview: Actor Noah Wylie, star of the new TV series "The Pit," discusses his role as Dr. Michael Rabinovich, a seasoned attending physician in a bustling Pittsburgh emergency room. The series offers a raw and authentic portrayal of medical crises and the personal toll they take on practitioners.

Key Discussions:

• Character Development and Authenticity: Wylie describes his character as someone who has been deeply affected by past traumas, reflecting the real struggles of medical professionals. He explains, "He's seen a lot... it's taken a toll on him" (36:26).

• Medical Accuracy and Realism: Emphasizing the show's commitment to authenticity, Wylie praises the involvement of medical advisors like Dr. Joe Sacks, ensuring accurate portrayal of medical procedures and emotional responses. He states, "Our secret weapon is a man named Dr. Joe Sacks... he is meticulous in his attention to detail" (40:48).

• Emotional Storytelling: Wylie shares poignant moments from the series, such as his character dealing with PTSD triggered by the loss of a mentor during the COVID-19 pandemic. He recounts a personal story involving his mother’s reaction to a scene, highlighting the profound emotional impact of the show: "She had her own PTSD reaction... it brought all that up for me" (50:06).

• Casting and Ensemble Performance: Discussing the diverse and internationally cast, Wylie appreciates the fresh talent brought into the series, enhancing its dynamic and realistic portrayal of an emergency room (37:17).

Notable Quotes:

• "We let the sort of symphony of the sound of the procedures in the room be our cadence." (41:42)
• "Compliance begins in the body... the trick is to hide any flicker of personality or hint of difference." (47:21)

Conclusion

This episode of Fresh Air Weekend offers a deep dive into Ryan Coogler's multifaceted approach to filmmaking with "Sinners," explores the chilling narrative of Leila Lalami's "The Dream Hotel," and provides an authentic look into Noah Wylie's portrayal of a dedicated physician in "The Pit." Through engaging interviews and insightful reviews, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricate connections between personal experiences, cultural narratives, and creative expression in contemporary media.

Notable Timestamps:

• Ryan Coogler discusses the risk of making "Sinners": 06:14
• Themes of identity and dichotomy: 08:37
• Use of vampires as metaphors: 11:12
• Personal connection to blues music: 16:08
• Casting Buddy Guy: 18:17
• Ownership and legacy considerations: 25:02
• Review of "The Dream Hotel": 28:14
• Noah Wylie on medical accuracy: 40:48
• Emotional impact of "The Pit": 50:06

This summary encapsulates the pivotal discussions and insights shared by Ryan Coogler and Noah Wylie, along with Carolina Miranda's literary analysis, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of this Fresh Air Weekend episode.