Review of Sorry to Bother You (2018) by Will D — 20 Dec 2018

Boots Riley's strange and trippy film is set in an askew alternate Oakland where labourers are constantly sold lifetime employments that bear an uncanny resemblance to slavery (or imprisonment) and the hit TV show literally involves people getting hit.

It is here where we find Cassius, played by Lakeith Stanfield (from Atlanta and Get Out), an African-American struggling to make ends meet as he embarks on a new job in telemarketing and finds that the key to success is to adopt a 'white voice' (voiced by David Cross) and soon he is climbing that corporate ladder, leaving behind not only his striking co-workers but also his artist girlfriend who moonlights in an underground resistance group.

This is a visually bizarre and fascinating film that has some truly bonkers ideas and a most original narrative which carries a satirical bite beneath that chucklesome comedic surface. As Cassius is being tempted by status and luxurious rewards, and crosses path with a gamed Armie Hammer who plays his (extremelt white) coked-up CEO, the third act turns into something more fantasy-based and veers closer to films such as Get Out - and it is at this point where I find my willingness to go with the increasingly outlandish flow of the film waning but I still appreciate the amount of imagination and stoner's logic that Riley brings both as writer and director and this urban morality tale is never dull or boring for it.

Just astonishingly weird and surreal. If the film doesn't unravel for you at this point, then add another star to the rating; but for me, I came out slightly befuddled thinking maybe less is perhaps more and wish it has been more disciplined with its many wild and wonderful ideas.