"Sorry to Bother You" Movie Review

The first film from acclaimed author, rapper and activist Boots Riley, titled “Sorry To Bother You,” is a brilliantly disturbing satire and one of the most imaginative films I’ve ever had the pleasure of viewing.

The film centers around a black man named Cassius Green, played by Lakeith Stanfield, who lives in his uncle’s garage with his girlfriend Detroit, played by Tessa Thompson, barely scraping up the money to pay rent each month. Cassius desperately needs a job and applies for a telemarketing position at the nearby RegalView company. Once there, he quickly learns if he wants to be promoted and become a “Power Caller,” he needs to learn how to use his “white voice” –– the jarring, dubbed voice of David Cross –– which virtually guarantees Cassius’ success in the telemarketing business. Cassius ascends through the ranks, largely because of his white voice, but faces numerous philosophical and moral dilemmas along the way.

Cassius is making more money in a capitalistic system that had previously failed him, while also distancing himself from his girlfriend, his coworkers, and his own philosophical and moral ideals. From there, the movie gets wilder and wilder, taking twists and turns that audiences definitely won’t expect.

Honestly, “Sorry To Bother You” is a difficult movie to describe. An absurdist dystopian sci-fi satire about the world of telemarketing?

It might surprise you that for all the absurdity on display, Riley’s film is a breath of fresh, imaginative air in today’s crowded cinema landscape.

Much of the film’s brilliance comes from Riley’s social commentary. It’s so biting and radical that it defies simple explanation. Indeed, whole essays could be written about this film’s treatment of race relations, pop culture, corporate greed, code-switching, and the concept and importance of revolution itself.

It’s certainly messy, but that’s part of the film’s beauty. It tackles these subjects, plus many more, in a wholly unapologetic way. Crazy and wild though it might seem, everything in the film has deeper, symbolic meaning.

The film’s characters also help guide viewers through the film’s singular style and rhythm. Cassius is an ingenious anti-hero. Viewers understand his motivations, misguided though they might be, and root for him even as he submerges himself into a hellish world of corporate greed and racism. Stanfield portrays Cassius with an authenticity that keeps his character grounded, even as the situations surrounding him grow increasingly ludicrous and he becomes involved with a cocaine-snorting CEO, scarily played by Armie Hammer.

Cassius’ girlfriend Detroit is also a surprisingly complicated character. A radical artist calling attention to society’s faults and inequalities, Detroit fits right in with the film’s overt messaging, but she’s also flawed, making personal sacrifices to accommodate the world around her.

Also worth noting is Squeeze, played by Steven Yeun of “The Walking Dead” fame. Squeeze’s insistence on rebellion connects to the film’s overall inspiring message to fight against injustice.

And, to complicate things further, “Sorry to Bother You” has been classified as a hilarious comedy by some high-profile critics. Though the film elicited laughs from me throughout, these laughs often turned into gasps. Much of the film is deeply unsettling, bringing to mind Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” in its mixture of humor, horror and social commentary.

But while Peele’s film was more nuanced and perhaps more realistic in certain aspects, “Sorry to Bother You” hits its intended targets with an even more ambitious, fiery force to be reckoned with.

The film is never scared to take concepts and situations to the extreme, but always in the service of commenting on modern society.

The film’s soundtrack is also wholly unique, containing funky beats and bizarre “Twilight Zone-esque” melodies. Along with a few tunes that sound like demented carnival rides, Riley and crew just might have assembled the film soundtrack of the year.

It’s mind-blowing that Riley could create such an incendiary, cinematically rich first film. Artistic, daring, layered, shocking and one of a kind, “Sorry to Bother You” is a timeless film that will, and should be, talked about by serious moviegoers for years to come.

Rating: 5/5 Dollar Bills

(Written for TMN publication, The Index).