"Sorry To Bother You opened nationwide. Was dope. Y'all See It?"
I wanted to wait until near the weekend to talk about it, because I feel like you should know as little as possible about it walking in, because that was the only movie I've seen in years that I would trot out the old "rollercoaster ride" analogy for LOL
The premise of a Black dude balling as a telemarketer after mastering a white voice was hilarious enough but HOLY SHIT did the director (Boots Riley of The Coup) ride that concept to the wildest execution ever LOL
4. "Anybody trying to stand for something in this system should be able" In response to Reply # 0
to relate. I'm not a huge fan of comedies, but I got down with this. It used a bit of absurdity to tackle a serious concept, and I can appreciate that. This was the 2nd movie I've seen in a row where the reality of Black people trying to survive or escape poverty was used as a catalyst for people doing things they didn't necessarily wanna do or wouldn't otherwise do (The First Purge was the other). I appreciate that, because it's real. However, this movie was able to incorporate that and still make it fun to watch and actually competitive with any "white" comedy out there in terms of quality. Nothing was sacrificed for the message with this movie. That's hard for alotta people to pull off, so big salute to Boots for this. I thought is was very well done.
On another note, the melding of fun with a message really put me in the mind of The Coup's music. Songs like "BabyLet'sHaveABabyBeforeBushDoSomethinCrazy" or "Show Yo Ass" or a myriad of other joints they've done. It seems Boots has just gotten really good at that concept overall.
10. "Yup Boots has perfected mixing comedy with social commentary" In response to Reply # 4
It's been his style with The Coup for 25 years now and he used all that experience to good effect here, while adding some wildly surreal elements to take it over the top.
5. "Tessa Thompson said something in line with ur "Surreal Black Art" post" In response to Reply # 0
"I always wanted to make a film that hung out in the space of magical realism. So many of the films I love sort of use that filmically, and for whatever reason, there are just never any black or brown people in those narratives, so I just always assumed that I would never get to make a film like that, and then this came along and was kind of what I've always wanted to do"
11. "The only thing I'm mad at is that Boots beat me to it" In response to Reply # 5
Putney Swope is also awesome in that regard, but with (honorary down) white director Robert Downey Sr at the helm, so technically not a Black film (although that and Akeelah and the Bee are basically down enough to get a pass from me ha-ha).
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Mon Jul-16-18 05:45 AM
7. "My nephew joked that is read a long ass episode of ATL" In response to Reply # 0
Not that it’s a bad thing...
Can’t wait to see it.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
9. "there is a twist that is too weird for even ATL and also.." In response to Reply # 7
...the political subtext in Sorry is deeper than anything I've seen on ATL. But I do see the comparison, especially with folk struggling to make it and how the surreal is subtly inserted into scenarios that are commonplace. If you like Atlanta, you will definitely like Sorry To Bother You
13. "really great...fucking problematic pacing and editing though" In response to Reply # 0
upfront: I loved the whole movie
with that out of the way I really REALLY hated the flow and pacing of the story.
First half was a commentary on classism, race and capitalism
second..err, last quarter of the film was a surreal horror film shoe horned into the movie.
The movie went from "ah yeah, this is hitting ALL the correct notes" to "wait, what the...WHAT THE FUCK" and not in a good way.
The transition was jarring
the more I think about it, I kind of wished the special effects were practical and referenced 80s horror - you know the stuff where its so fucking over the top it's at once comical and scary?
14. "Armie Hammer played the TechBro a little too well" In response to Reply # 0
shit was unsettling lol
Sure some of the film hits you over the head. But there's way more to love here than critique
The costumes and set designs: 9/10 The portrayal of Oakland on-screen (speaking as an Oakland resident): 9/10 The soundtrack: 10/10 The montages: 11/10
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Wed Jul-18-18 11:54 AM
21. "Is he related to Katt Williams? " In response to Reply # 16
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
the general message is "dont assimilate, shit can get crazy for you"
I didnt get the art gallery (Last Dragon) scene until I realized it was satire of how weird some of those women can be
there was also a message about how much corporate America fears (black) rebellion, "nigga shit" fully conveyed how much white people are obsessed with black culture and the most popular TV show in the world showed how stupid America is getting
it creatively tied a lot of ideas together better than Spike Lee has done in a while
I dont think I would see it again, Im just glad none of it was really traumatic
20. "I support it, but I do find it not GREAT" In response to Reply # 0
It's GOOD. It has IDEAS.
But it is clunky, some scenes are overly long, and the length in general is too long.
If I was 10-25 there's probably a BUNCH of new ideas in this film that I wasn't exposed to while watching 'Another Scary movie' type shit.
But as a jaded 40+ it's a little Putney Swope and a little Watermellon Man to me.
I'd say GO SEE IT - and support Boots - but it's not a great movie. It's good, and it takes chances - some of which work well - and some that are ultimately just clunky.
24. "Very glad this exists (and a mild spoiler question)" In response to Reply # 0 Thu Jul-19-18 11:01 AM by Marauder21
There were some quibbles with the last 1/3 or so of the movie, and I feel like Tessa Thompson's character wasn't really given much to do except be a generic love interest in interesting earrings.
But as overstuffed as it sometimes felt, there's absolutely nothing else like it. It hit the intersections of race/late capitalism/media in a way that never came off as preachy or muddled. The performances were great and it had more genuinely funny jokes than any other movie that spends noticeable chunks devoted to the specifics or labor organizing. And as weird as the movie is, I think the shitty call center job is something nearly everyone can relate to in 2018. Stanfield is about to blow up huge.
What do we think was up with Omari Hardwick's nameless character? Was the lack of a name a reflection of how fully he's given himself to the capitalist/slave labor system? That he's basically just a cypher at this point?
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12 play and 12 planets are enlighten for all the Aliens to Party and free those on the Sex Planet-maxxx
but I thought he was nameless because he was pretty much a token and it didn't matter what his individual identity was. He was the only other black employee on that top level and he insisted to Lakeith that they only speak with the 'proper' voice even when he wasn't making sales calls.
I'm hoping the blu-ray release of this comes out with a commentary track that will answer this question.
If memory serves me right, Omari's character even corrected Lakeith's and told him is correct name, which was also edited out, which was pretty interesting; a nameless characters having two names.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
>There were some quibbles with the last 1/3 or so of the >movie, and I feel like Tessa Thompson's character wasn't >really given much to do except be a generic love interest in >interesting earrings.
It's one thing to dislike something, but it's another altogether to just make stuff up. She attempts to keep him grounded through the whole movie. She stands for something even when he doesn't. She actually breaks up w/ him b/c he loses his way. She fights the system alone when he won't do it with her. His relationship with her actually shows how much he's getting swallowed up. She has dreams that we actually get to see her fulfilling. She's loyal, but she's also human. That's the opposite of a generic love interest. 1, your accusation is BS, and 2, do you say this when Black males are generic in Black female led shows? Show us where, b/c I swear alotta yall only start this shit in Black male led movies where the women don't overshadow or nearly overshadow the men, and yall seem to think it's the cool thing to do. I know there's a new contingent of Black women who will cosign you on that, no matter how untrue it is, but there's always the option to have some integrity.
>But as overstuffed as it sometimes felt, there's absolutely >nothing else like it. It hit the intersections of race/late >capitalism/media in a way that never came off as preachy or >muddled. The performances were great and it had more genuinely >funny jokes than any other movie that spends noticeable chunks >devoted to the specifics or labor organizing. And as weird as >the movie is, I think the shitty call center job is something >nearly everyone can relate to in 2018. Stanfield is about to >blow up huge.
I pretty much agree with all that.
>What do we think was up with Omari Hardwick's nameless >character? Was the lack of a name a reflection of how fully >he's given himself to the capitalist/slave labor system? That >he's basically just a cypher at this point?
I would've thought that if they weren't actually saying something that only the audience couldn't hear. Since only the audience is left out, I like Numba's explanation.
37. "Don't know what to tell you" In response to Reply # 35
I thought it was weird to specify she did "everything but" with Steven Yeun's character (because if she had let him put his dick in . . . what?) Her reacting "that's great, I'm happy you've seen the light, but I still can't get back together with you" actually made sense (and is a thing we don't get to see a lot of in movies!) So it was kinda pointless for her to go back on it just because the movie says Cash needs to get the girl. Maybe there was something cut form the final movie, but it seemed sudden.
Not touching all of the other "new contingent of Black women/have some integrity" stuff, because it's a really weird reaction to a minor complaint in a movie I liked and it seems like you're really talking to someone else.
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12 play and 12 planets are enlighten for all the Aliens to Party and free those on the Sex Planet-maxxx
43. "beyond that, i just thought there were half hearted attempts (spoils)" In response to Reply # 37
to make the ending not-so-bleak.
i need to check out the interviews i guess
it was a lot with the break out/riot, those two reconciling, and the final vengeance (that part was the least believable to me - you think gates, zuckerberg, or musk would be that exposed?)
i very much believe that there has to be a place for love, community, and personal victories in dire circumstances - and i get that that detroit was encouraging that perspective throughout.
>I thought it was weird to specify she did "everything but" >with Steven Yeun's character (because if she had let him put >his dick in . . . what?) Her reacting "that's great, I'm happy >you've seen the light, but I still can't get back together >with you" actually made sense (and is a thing we don't get to >see a lot of in movies!) So it was kinda pointless for her to >go back on it just because the movie says Cash needs to get >the girl. Maybe there was something cut form the final movie, >but it seemed sudden.
I'm not really understanding why you think the "everything but" bit was weird. Seems like a pretty normal thing that SO's care more if you do the deed. As for her changing her mind, that's just kinda something people do when they really love someone. She also tells him earlier in the movie "Don't listen to what I say, Listen to what I want." So her *saying* she can't get back with him but actually wanting to, makes complete sense. But hey those are your issues. Anyway, these issues don't add up to her "not being given much to do except be a generic love interest in interesting earrings." I guess they could be called story line issues that you have... even tho they aren't problematic at all and all made complete sense.
>Not touching all of the other "new contingent of Black >women/have some integrity" stuff
It didn't need to be touched... just needed to be stated. There were other things there that could've been addressed or answered, but I'm not surprised they weren't.
49. "the 'everything but' part doesn't make her generic (spoilers)" In response to Reply # 37 Tue Jul-24-18 03:09 AM by spirit
More than anything, the "everything but" part said to me that she wasn't gonna just rush into something with a new person right after she had just broken up with Cassius, which further underscores her character's independence and intelligence. How ridiculous would it be for her to start a rebound relationship with Squeeze, even though their politics aligned? Too predictable. It showed she maintained control, even in her relationships, much like she did in her art career.
44. "I thought it was pretty evident that that's what turned him around" In response to Reply # 39
>even the equisapien reveal
He just said "lemme think about it" so the guy would let him leave. That meeting fucked his head up and made him join back up w/ the rebels. That's when he got in "I gotta do something" mode.
50. "It was more complicated than that (spoilers)" In response to Reply # 38
In the background, they had a picture near his bed that showed a character (sorry, forgot who?) getting more and more disgusted with him as he went up the Power Caller ladder. Her leaving him was a big blow, but he didn't change after that. Him confronting his friend and Squeeze out front and being challenged as a sellout was another chink his armor. Then the final push that radicalized him was being presented with Lift's ultimate plan for workers (which I won't even spoil here despite the spoiler tag). And even then, Cassius doesn't transform into a full-on radical until he, well, transforms (if you saw the film, you get it).
46. "Am I the only person who didn't enjoy it?" In response to Reply # 0
Funny though, I thought it was good, and borderline genius in parts, but I don't think I want to see it ever again.
But I'm glad to have seen it once.
You're such pests...now, what is it you want? In your depths of your ignorance, what is it you want? Well, whatever it is you want, I can't deliver because I just don't see it. - Orson Welles
48. "RE: Sorry To Bother You opened nationwide. Was dope. Y'all See It?" In response to Reply # 0
1)I had no idea what I was getting into watching that movie
2) I want to say it was good but it was just too damn weird but, definitely a must-see
3) my husband performed at that club as a regular for quite a few years,and kinda performed "n***** s***" a few years ago there. Additionally he hosted a party in that building homeboy moved to *cues rockwell*
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