Sorry to Bother You takes place in an alternate version of Oakland, California and follows Cassius “Cash” Green (Lakeith Stanfield) as he ascends the corporate ladder by discovering the secret to a successful telemarketing career — using his “white voice”. However, once he makes it to the top, he realizes there is more at stake than ever before.
There won’t be any spoilers in this review, but I really cannot stress enough — nothing will prepare you for what this film has in store. I wish I were kidding, but I was completely blindsided by the film’s wild twist.
First time writer and director, Boots Riley, definitely has a crazy yet brilliant imagination. And in this movie, Riley surely makes his mark on the world of filmmaking.
The story itself tackles an array of topics including class, race, and capitalism and focuses on Cash’s moral quandary: Is money more important than being humane? Is “selling out” worth it? Should we always stay true to ourselves and our causes?
I honestly was enthralled with the film (especially Tessa Thompson’s intriguing performance as Cassius’s artsy girlfriend, Detroit), despite its imperfections and lack of fluidity.
However, the big WTF twist that takes place more than halfway into the film was not for me. It was a little too extreme and distracted slightly from some of the more important messages.
Final Thoughts: Sorry to Bother You is unapologetic, surreal, hilarious and utterly ambitious. It is a very love-it or hate-it sort of film with a twist that will stick with viewers for a long…long…time.
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