Sorry to Bother You: film review by Gordon Stamper, Jr.
The year 2018 has been a strong year for independent films, and Sorry to Bother You continues the trend. It resembles Office Space or a more profane extended episode of The Office in its first hour, satirically examining the drudgery of having a telemarketing job. Yet its unpredictable fantasy-type resolution and surreal touches throughout the film set it apart from anything recently on screen.
Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) needs a job, and gets it at a run-down (at least on its lower levels) telemarketing company with the help of his friend Salvador (Jermaine Fowler). He's living in his uncle's (Terry Crews) garage, and has a starving-artist type girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) who twirls promotional signs for a living when she's not doing art shows or performance art. Cassius would like to quit his job, but owes back rent for his dive apartment and his uncle may lose his house. He endures ill-conceived pep talks from his supervisors and calls for unionizing from his instigator friend Squeeze (Steven Yeun).
But something catches Cassius' imagination: the opportunity to be a Power Caller. There is the promise of better things to sell, much more money to earn, and a golden elevator to take you to their higher-floor habitat. A sharply dressed, eye-patched man (Omari Hardwick) taking that elevator everyday adds to the intrigue. And a veteran caller (Danny Glover) gives Cassius a tip to reach the top floors--find his "I don't care white voice" to improve sales. He does, and the rest is a surreal trip mixed with angry satire of worker exploitation.
What makes Sorry to Bother You so unique is writer/director Boots Riley's cinematic framing of the big ideas and fearless satire. Telemarketing calls are depicted like Cassius is talking in the customer's space, whether they are eating, sitting on the toilet, or having sex. The manic CEO of their biggest client (Armie Hammer) is a drug-taking, propoganda-producing fiend demonstrated by his crazy visual proposition to make billions on the backs of slave labor. His Swiftian proposal makes Dr. Moreau look rational, and Hammer's manic performance adds comedy to the darkness.
The blend of comedy, satire, a talented cast, and a sci-fi ending that few could guess accumulates into a must-see for the adventurous moviegoer. It's not perfection, but the originality and dark humor of Riley's film is a worthy addition to this year's growing number of solid independent films by young filmmakers.
My rating: ***1/2 out of ****.
Annapurna Pictures presents Sorry to Bother You. Rated "R" for language, suggestive humor, sexual situations, and violence. Written and directed by Boots Riley. Starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Terry Crews, Armie Hammer, Danny Glover, and the voices of David Cross, Patton Oswalt, and Rosario Dawson. Playing locally in AMC Theaters, Hobart and Schererville.
What makes Sorry to Bother You so unique is writer/director Boots Riley's cinematic framing of the big ideas and fearless satire. Telemarketing calls are depicted like Cassius is talking in the customer's space, whether they are eating, sitting on the toilet, or having sex. The manic CEO of their biggest client (Armie Hammer) is a drug-taking, propoganda-producing fiend demonstrated by his crazy visual proposition to make billions on the backs of slave labor. His Swiftian proposal makes Dr. Moreau look rational, and Hammer's manic performance adds comedy to the darkness.
The blend of comedy, satire, a talented cast, and a sci-fi ending that few could guess accumulates into a must-see for the adventurous moviegoer. It's not perfection, but the originality and dark humor of Riley's film is a worthy addition to this year's growing number of solid independent films by young filmmakers.
My rating: ***1/2 out of ****.
Annapurna Pictures presents Sorry to Bother You. Rated "R" for language, suggestive humor, sexual situations, and violence. Written and directed by Boots Riley. Starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Terry Crews, Armie Hammer, Danny Glover, and the voices of David Cross, Patton Oswalt, and Rosario Dawson. Playing locally in AMC Theaters, Hobart and Schererville.
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