Review: Sorry to Bother You
Indie films are fantastic. While mainstream Hollywood is beating the same dead horse it's beaten for the last few decades (e.g. A Star is Born was first made 81 years ago!), the indie scene is where the creative and innovative films get made. Unfortunately they rarely get seen. I think social media helps get the word out for new films, but if you aren't following the right people, you still may not hear about interesting little gems that are hitting the market.
I was lucky enough to follow at least one right person who made me aware of the film Sorry to Bother You. After reading a bit about it, watching the trailer, and seeing the talent involved, I decided it was something I really wanted to see.
The story is about Cassius "Cash" Green, played by Get Out's Lakeith Stanfield, who gets a telemarketing job. His first day there, he learns about the power sellers and how they have their own private elevator. But his initial attempts to sell don't go over well. The film drops him physically into the lives of the people he's calling, no matter what they happen to be doing at the time, as he tries to talk them into buying encyclopedias. It's both hilarious and cringeworthy. After repeatedly getting turned down, he gets advice from a coworker (played by Danny Glover) that he would do better if he used his "white voice".
Cash accepts the advice and his career skyrockets. As he's on the verge of getting promoted to power seller, several coworkers, led by The Walking Dead's Steven Yeun (RIP Glenn 😢), band together to get paid (since they work on commission, they get no money if they make no sales). Cash is an integral part of this revolution because if the top seller walks out, the company really takes a hit.
But Cash needs cash. He wants to get a better place for himself and his girlfriend (Tessa Thompson). He needs to pay rent to his uncle (Terry Crews). And he needs a sweet new ride. So Cash caves and takes the promotion over his friends. This leads to a hilarious incident that goes viral and follows Cash for the rest of the film.
Cash keeps selling though, despite the fact that what he's selling (I'm not going to tell you) is morally questionable and the company who provides said product is owned by the even more morally questionable Steve Lift (Armie Hammer). The film gleefully flies off the rails into the realm of the absurd at one point, but you are really fine with that at this point.
While bizarre and hilarious, it's also hard to miss the social commentary. The white voice, the company Worry Free that allows people to sign lifetime work contracts for a debt-free life, the willingness of Americans to do practically anything for a few minutes of fame, and the fight for fair wages are all topics that will make you think once you stop laughing and leave the theatre.
In a world of sometimes mindless big-budget blockbusters (not that there's anything wrong with that), it's nice to know that there are people working just as hard to make us laugh and think at the same time. And I really hope films like this continue to get made and find a way to reach a larger audience. It's something this world could really use.
I was lucky enough to follow at least one right person who made me aware of the film Sorry to Bother You. After reading a bit about it, watching the trailer, and seeing the talent involved, I decided it was something I really wanted to see.
The story is about Cassius "Cash" Green, played by Get Out's Lakeith Stanfield, who gets a telemarketing job. His first day there, he learns about the power sellers and how they have their own private elevator. But his initial attempts to sell don't go over well. The film drops him physically into the lives of the people he's calling, no matter what they happen to be doing at the time, as he tries to talk them into buying encyclopedias. It's both hilarious and cringeworthy. After repeatedly getting turned down, he gets advice from a coworker (played by Danny Glover) that he would do better if he used his "white voice".
Cash accepts the advice and his career skyrockets. As he's on the verge of getting promoted to power seller, several coworkers, led by The Walking Dead's Steven Yeun (RIP Glenn 😢), band together to get paid (since they work on commission, they get no money if they make no sales). Cash is an integral part of this revolution because if the top seller walks out, the company really takes a hit.
But Cash needs cash. He wants to get a better place for himself and his girlfriend (Tessa Thompson). He needs to pay rent to his uncle (Terry Crews). And he needs a sweet new ride. So Cash caves and takes the promotion over his friends. This leads to a hilarious incident that goes viral and follows Cash for the rest of the film.
Cash keeps selling though, despite the fact that what he's selling (I'm not going to tell you) is morally questionable and the company who provides said product is owned by the even more morally questionable Steve Lift (Armie Hammer). The film gleefully flies off the rails into the realm of the absurd at one point, but you are really fine with that at this point.
While bizarre and hilarious, it's also hard to miss the social commentary. The white voice, the company Worry Free that allows people to sign lifetime work contracts for a debt-free life, the willingness of Americans to do practically anything for a few minutes of fame, and the fight for fair wages are all topics that will make you think once you stop laughing and leave the theatre.
In a world of sometimes mindless big-budget blockbusters (not that there's anything wrong with that), it's nice to know that there are people working just as hard to make us laugh and think at the same time. And I really hope films like this continue to get made and find a way to reach a larger audience. It's something this world could really use.
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