No Apologies Necessary.
111 Mins. Starring: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Steven Yeun, Danny Glover & Armie Hammer. Director: Boots Riley.
Hello (Lionel Richie voice). Pardon me. I'm sorry to call you at this hour. But my name's Tim Harvey and I review films. And If I could just have a moment of your time, I'd love to tell you about the latest package we at cinemas have on offer for you. 'I'm Sorry To Bother You'. Now let me be Frank. Let's cut to the chase. Here's the coup. Boots Riley of hip-hop outfit The Coup may have just directed one of the greatest, stinging, satirical, gratifying movies of the year...if not the last twelve. Move over 'Black Panther'. This is just as culturally important. Even if it is not a celebration, but a damnation. I trust you've seen Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' right?! Well this is crazier. Get out?! No I'm serious and please don't tell me to get out I'm only talking to you on the phone here (or am I?). Even Boots himself knows that laced up against Mars Blackmon himself, this outruns Spike Lee's most incendiary and influential story yet 'BlackKklansman' and what it has to say about real world racism back then and still to this motherf###### day. 'Sorry To Bother You' has a telemarketing premise. But this dialled up catalyst is more than just a cold call. As our life on the ropes lead Cassius Green wants to see his last name and hit the big time like Ali. So he can move out of his uncles ('Brooklyn 99's' Terry Crews on the folical and funny, one-line form of his life...yep, even more rib-tickling than the tongue of 'White Chicks') garage that doubles up as his apartment, missing rent like it is the old beat up car on the drive. Green finds a new day with a Dolly Parton office job. Now he has a desk too, but has less luck with people letting his voice into their homes than Jehovah Witnesses knocking on your door. I hear Prince had that faith and tried to spread the word, street to street...I guess the jokes on us hey?! That is until he goes full 'Chappelle Show' and puts on his best white voice. Sounding like Troy McClure (you may know him from such things as...'The Simpsons') has had sex with a helium balloon (sorry David Cross of 'Arrested Development's and that meme fame). And once that happens it's all about the George Washington's, as our regular Joe hero lives corperate large but sells out to do so. What does that tell you? Would you? Think fast as their are more questions and answers raised here like the arms of everyone whose going to be up in theirs about it or desperate to add their two cents to a movie that is in a class of its own. Why apologize?! Stuff like this is supposed to court controversy. And the only ones who owe one is those this satire as subtle as the nose as plainly on your face is jabbing bus throwing punches at. And if you can feel that you'll be glad you bothered.
If I was to tell you anymore I'd be spoiling the blaze of a trail this film that you should watch without a clue of a trailer seriously sears in all its hilarity to tears it leaves you with. So why are we still on the phone? Well, let me tell you about some of the people involved. There's the boss Boots, who will now be living the life of Riley after directing something no one has ever done and done this well and dog gone crazy ever...I mean like in the history of the cinema. 'Gone With The Wind' to this storm God damn right now. Don't believe me?! Good! I kind of don't want you to. So you will go see it for yourself. You have to watch this. As a matter of fact forget a money back guranteed. I'll take you myself. Just as long as you don't mind about the snacks. Your wide open mouth won't need any, let alone be able to take all of this. Man! You have no idea how much I want to talk to you about this. This crazy s### is driving me insane. In an inspiringly good way, believe me. So this is why you have to go. And then call me back, before you'll be doing this to everyone else too. You won't love something this strange, but at the same time straight-forward since you took two trips over the seasons to 'Atlanta'. Because this...THIS is America. If not the rest of the watching, woke world. You love Donald Glover right?! More than the only Donald we actually like. This serious singer and songwriter/amazing, acclaimed actor is probably the greatest artist in the world of entertainment right now. Forget Simba, this king has now taken Lando from Billy Dee too in this year of the new born stars. Hell of a 'Solo' gambit Gambino. Well the skinny on this guy stood next to Glover and Danny Glover too (no reason to get confused the 'Lethal Weapon' legend is in the booth here too. Proving he is anything but too old for this shiznit) is leading to the bulk of more meaty roles. And this is in the same year Brian Tyree Henry is having his biggest fall yet with his scene stealing in the Oscar fare of 'Widows', 'White Boy Rick' and favourite by moonlight, 'If Beale Street Could Talk'. Lakeith has already broke out ('Short Term 12', been in 'Selma' and played spirit animal Snoop Dogg ('Straight Outta Compton'). But now the man who from 'The Fifth Estate' to 'The Girl In The Spiders Web' right now, who has even been in an anime adaptation ('Death Note') is really affecting us with his signature anxiety-riddled, but fighter strength inside style. Even more so than the few but sledgehammer touching moments he had of repressed emotion and legendary lines delivered with definition in of course 'Get Out'. Stanfield is about to go around the world (and I, I) like Stansfield on every carpet in Handmaid red. Because this classic fit from the same alternate reality cloth of those features draped in real world, dystopian relevance is right now the funniest and forceful thing you'll see on screen if you look up from the distractions of yours. And Lakeith on an award tour worthy powerhouse performance of every emotion is key. He's just unlocked the big-three vault of his vaunted career. And with this indie this independent talent didn't have to play it safe or sell out to do so.
The only thing as much as an artistic knockout is 'Creed II' star Tessa Thompson. 'Dear White People' she's back! The 'Westworld' wonder and amazing actress has had an 'Annihilation' of a year after she came out the corner of 'Creed' and showed her all singing character. Before becoming the first bisexual superhero with her valiant Valkyrie in 'Thor 3' and we hope (like we do those Korg rumors to be true) after a 'Ragnarok' reunion in 'Men In Black 3', the next 'Avengers' movie. And here this artist with even more of her own agency makes a stand with urgency we all need to get behind or beside right at the same time as she gets back into Creed's corner too. Don't even try and stand in her way...you couldn't if you tried. She heads an incredible supporting cast including instantly recognizable from now, hilarious 'Superior Donuts' star Jermaine Fowler. The 'Power' of Omari Hardwick, muscling up a Slick Rick eye patch, bowler hat and even slicker beard. Growling beneath a Patton Oswalt voice more hilarious than that time he trolled the 'King Of Queens' sitcom cast by standing still and emotionless for the whole scene, even when it moved to the kitchen from the French windows of the living room. Or how about the 'Mayhem' of Steven Yeun. 'The Walking Dead' star being so good at a character that may leave you saying, "pass Lucille"! Everyone comes out Babe Ruth bat swinging. Especially the twin ambitions of 'The Social Network' double-act Armie Hammer. Who after trying to jumpstart classic, reworked franchises like 'The Lone Ranger' and 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' really made an award name for himself in the Italian classic, summer love smash 'Call Me By Your Name', which is now getting it's own sequel. Here he snortingly hilariously takes 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' douchebaggery to a whole new number. But yet after his last afforementioned movie you can't help but still love him. And if that wasn't enough this Forest Whitaker produced movie has even more hidden cameos and gems we won't reveal like the third act reveal that will...you know what, just you wait. Gonzo as f### doesn't do this red flag to injustice, justice. Subversive to society in this maddingly modern day. Taking a run at everything from the workhorse workforce, to the same not so subtle as they think, backhanded racism from white privilege that tried to get a shifting blame clause in the real horrors of 'Get Out', this is something to behold in this day and age. Pressure points in a critical time are pushed like the big, red button you shouldn't touch but you know you want to. Go on! Do you dare. As when it comes to this, that is right on the money. If you can't be bothered to up that ante then you'll be sorry. Because in the end we won't need to thank you for your time. You'll be glad you spent it. You have a good day now. All the best. Goodbye! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Get Out', 'Atlanta', 'Dear White People'.
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