Review by Claire Hoenecke

Sorry to Bother You is an outstanding and original work of film.

Take the racial commentary of Get Out and the anti-corporate sentiment of Fight Club, mix it together, and you have an idea of what the film is like. But even that does not begin to describe the insane and unique nature of the film.

Sorry to Bother You follows Lakeith Standfield’s Cassius Green as he embarks on a career in telemarketing. Over the course of the film, he encounters a strike of telemarketers, a new form of slavery, a strange piece of performance art, and the most shocking twist that I have ever seen in a movie.

This is a film that has to be seen to be believed. It is expertly crafted in every aspect. It’s shots are fascinating but not distracting. It’s transitions are smooth yet still engaging. Each and every member of the cast believes so much in the world of this film that the audience has no choice but to believe in it too.

The filmmakers deal with the complexity of issues such as racism and corporate greed. It does not offer the watered down black and white versions offered up in lesser films such as this summer’s The First Purge. The film takes a clear stand on these issues, but like last year’s Get Out it handles them tactfully and artistically.

That being said, this film is not for the squeamish. It is a brutal film that starts out somewhat normal but turns surreal in the strangest of ways. It’s a divisive film that has sent some viewers back to the box office demanding a refund. Still if you are willing to buckle yourself in and allow Boots Riley to take you on a joyride through his fascinating and sometimes disturbing vision, you will leave the theatre feeling changed. 

Rating: 9/10

Sorry to Bother You is Rated R for pervasive language, some strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and drug use