Film Review: Sorry To Bother You

Boots Riley’s satire Sorry To Bother You is inventive, thought provoking, and tremendous fun.

Cassius Green starts a new job as a telemarketer. After not having much luck, he is given some advice that propels his career forward – to use his white voice on calls…

Writer-Director Riley takes aim at everything with Sorry To Bother You, with employment rights, corporate speak, television, viral fame amongst the targets of his ire. The prime focus, however, is capitalism. Riley skewers the system in a way that is both amusing and resonant. 

The narrative takes its cue from Faustian myth, positing a young man who is tempted by the allure of wealth and power. What could have been rather a straightforward story is moulded into something far more compelling, thanks to Riley’s inventiveness. The premise of a call centre working finding success when he uses his ‘white’ voice is a strikingly honest appraisal of race and perception in America. The filmmaker satirises the system which upholds these values, whilst making a wider statement on the ills of capitalism and its effect on the working classes. 

At a certain point it seems as if Sorry To Bother You is going to be a show Cassius getting deeper into the system, before providing a redemptive arc. Whilst the narrative may loosely follow a traditional pattern, the final third is anything but ordinary. The spin might be absurdist, but it works ever so well given the film’s tone. 

Dialogue in the film is great at times. There is plenty to laugh at, even if the film gets serious at times. The protagonist has sufficient depth, and from the amusing interview at the beginning, he is someone for the audience to root for. Detroit is both love interest and a well crafted character in her own right. Lakeith Stanfield offers a great performance as Cassius. His delivery is on point, and reactions seem perfect. Tessa Thompson and Danny Glover standout among the supporting cast. Armie Hammer is most amusing in his caricature role. 

Riley is not afraid to target the system in Sorry To Bother You. The fact that he does this in an accessible, creative, and amusing is testament to Riley’s skill as a filmmaker.

Sorry To Bother You is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2018.

Previews: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Trailer, More!

Plenty in this week’s preview of coming attractions, including the new Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse trailer, Fahrenheit 11/9, and more…

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Trailer

Here is the latest Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse trailer. The film is produced by The LEGO Movie‘s Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, and features a mix of computer-generated and hand-drawn animation. The cast includes Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is set for release in UK cinemas on 12th December, with previews on the 8th and 9th December 2018.

Fahrenheit 11/9 Trailer

Michael Moore returns with a political documentary on the 2016 US presidential election. Fahrenheit 11/9 sets its sights on the Trump era, with filmmaker Moore asking how America got to this point. Fahrenheit 11/9 will be screened at the BFI London Film Festival, and will be released in UK cinemas on 19th October 2018.

On The Basis Of Sex Trailer

Above is the trailer for On The Basis Of Sex. The film is based on the true story of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who led the fight against gender discrimination. It stars Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer, and is directed by Mimi Leder. On The Basis Of Sex will be released soon.

Sorry To Bother You Trailer

Sorry To Bother You finally has a UK distributor and release date. The film, directed by Boots Riley, the film is about a telemarketer who discovers a magical key which leads to material glory. Starring Lakeith Stansfield and Tessa Thompson, Sorry To Bother You will be screening at the BFI London Film Festival and hits UK screens on 7th December 2018.

Rocket Man Trailer

Here is the first look at Rocket Man, the story of Elton John’s early years. The film stars Taron Egerton as the musician, as well as Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, the film count Elton John among its executive producers. Rocket Man is set for release in May 2019.

LFF 2017 Highlights Part 1

It is just about half way through the BFI London Film Festival, and there have been some great films shown. Here are some LFF 2017 highlights from the first week of screenings…

LFF 2017 Highlights – Unmissable

Call Me By Your Name

Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name is undoubtedly one of the most romantic films of the year. Starring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chamalet, the film offers wonderful storytelling, beautiful imagery, and great performances. READ MORE

Mudbound

Dee Rees’ Mudbound is a film with heart. The screenplay has a poetic quality, and is ably backed up by Rees’ directing and performances from the talented cast. READ MORE

Brigsby Bear

Dave McCary’s feature debut perfectly balances comedy with a sweet and sincere tale. Brigsby Bear is very, very funny without diminishing its dark premise. Co-writer and star Kyle Mooney stands out in particular. READ MORE

LFF 2017 Highlights – Best of the Rest

Spoor

Agnieszka Holland’s wonderful Spoor blends mystery and comedy with a thriller to create a rather memorable film. With a great central performance from Agnieszka Mandat, Spoor is a very enjoyable film. READ MORE

Wonderstruck

Todd Haynes’ adaptation of Brian Selznick’s novel is the right kind of whimsy. Transporting the audience to the New York of the 1920s and 1970s, Wonderstruck features some great performances. READ MORE

Ingrid Goes West

Aubrey Plaza shines as a social media-obsessed young woman in Ingrid Goes West. Matt Spicer’s debut is achingly contemporary and a lot of fun. READ MORE

Loving Vincent

Loving Vincent blends technical achievement with an engaging narrative. Marvel at the hand drawn animation in the style of Vincent Van Gogh, whilst learning about his final days. READ MORE

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

Noah Baumbach delivers yet again, with the brilliantly The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected). The film features an enviable cast, and includes Adam Sandler’s best performance for years. READ MORE

The BFI London Film Festival runs from 4th-15th October 2017. See the full programme here.

Film Review: Call Me By Your Name

Call Me By Your Name manages to balance the tricky task of being simultaneously romantic and realistic. Luca Guadagnino’s film is brilliant.

Elio spends every summer with his family at their summer house in northern Italy. They are joined by his father’s graduate student, Oliver. He is a handsome and confident young man, who grabs Elio’s attention…

Based on the novel by Andre Aciman, Call Me By Your Name is beautifully written and endlessly engaging. The film blends a coming of age story with a classic romance. The film has a universal quality which will resonate with a diverse demographic. Set in the early 1980s, the film does deal with the difficulty in expressing same-sex attractions. Whilst this plays a role, the emphasis is on a burgeoning love story.

Guadagnino manages to get the tone right throughout the film. The film is incredibly romantic, with its picturesque setting, its beautiful protagonists, and its endearing love story. Yet at the same time, the film feels realistic. This is especially true of Elio, in his adolescent awkwardness. It works well that viewers are positioned with this young protagonist. His longing, his tentativeness, his emotion are all recognisable for anyone who has been in love, at whatever age.

The characters in Call Me By Your Name are given sufficient depth and nuance. Oliver’s arch is particularly pleasing to watch, for the most part at least. Elio, meanwhile is talented and inexperienced, nervous and exuberant. Armie Hammer is well cast as Oliver. The actor is authentic and perfectly pitched as the handsome smart and charming newcomer. Timothée Chamalet is brilliant as Elio; he plays the character with such sincerity. Michael Stuhlbarg gives a great performance also, with a stand out scene later in the film.

Part of the film’s beauty is in its telling of the story, the relationship develops gently, with plenty of moments of affection, nervousness, and humour. Call Me By Your Name just might by the most romantic film of the year.

Call Me By Your Name is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2017.

Previews: The Killing of a Sacred Deer Trailer, More!

Plenty to see in this week’s preview of coming attractions, including The Killing of a Sacred Deer trailer, Goodbye Christopher Robin, and more…

The Killing of a Sacred Deer Trailer

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is the latest film from Yorgos Lanthimos. Director Lanthimos follows The Lobster with this horror-thriller. The film stars Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell, and Barry Keoghan. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is out in UK cinemas on 17th November 2017.

IT VR Experience

Adjust your headsets for this frightening journey into the world of IT. This VR experience gives a flavour of the film, which is based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel. It is pretty scary! Starring Bill Skarsgård, IT floats on to UK screens on 8th September 2017.

Goodbye Christopher Robin Poster

Here is the latest poster for the upcoming Goodbye Christopher Robin. The film is about the real life relationship between author A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin, whose toys inspired the world of Winnie the Pooh. The film stars Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, and Kelly Macdonald. Goodbye Christopher Robin is set for release on 29th September 2017.

Call Me By Your Name Trailer

Based on the novel of the same name, Call Me By Your Name is a drama from director Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash). The film is about an Italian-American teenager whose head is turned when a twenty-four year old intern comes to stay with his family for the summer. Starring Armie Hammer, Timothée Chamalet, and Michael Stuhlbarg, Call Me By Your Name hits UK screens on 27th October 2017.

The Death of Stalin Trailer

The Death of Stalin is the latest film from writer-director Armando Iannucci. The film is a dark comedy which takes place in the days after the collapse of Soviet leader Stalin. The film features an enviable cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Paddy Considine, and Andrea Riseborough. The Death of Stalin is out in UK cinemas on 20th October 2017.

Film Review: Free Fire

After the disappointing High-Rise, Ben Wheatley impresses with Free Fire. The film is contagiously fun.

In Boston in the late 1970s, Justine brokers an arms deal between two gangs. The deal is set to take place in an abandoned warehouse. What should be a simple transaction turns into something else entirely…

Writer-director Ben Wheatley and co-writer Amy Jump have created a very entertaining film with Free Fire. The pair keep things simple with the set up. The premise is basic, functioning to get the characters into a controlled environment. Very little of the action takes place outside of this setting.

With a simple premise and an almost one-room setting, the emphasis of the film has to be on the script and the characters. Wheatley riffs off the 1970s gangster films with Free Fire. The film has the style of gangster films of this era, and functions as something of a homage to the genre. Characters are quickly established, and the protagonists are given enough depth to engage viewers. The script, meanwhile, is frequently funny throughout the duration. The humour mixes character-driven jokes and wit with slapstick incidents. As is Wheatley’s way, humour is mixed with goriness for some black comic laughs.

Aerial shots early on in the film work well to establish the setting. At later stages, however, the camera work is sometimes too dizzying to figure out what is going on. One song in particular is used to great effect. Sharlto Copley is wonderfully humorous as Vern. He is the stand out character in the film. Elsewhere, Armie Hammer shows his comedy chops, and Cillian Murphy instils some much needed dryness. Sam Riley and Bree Larson are also decent.

Free Fire is a gangster comedy which does the job of entertaining its audience throughout. A very enjoyable film.

Free Fire is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2016.

Film Review: The Birth of a Nation

Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation is a compelling drama that does not shy away from the realities of its narrative.

Taught to read the bible as a young boy, Nat Turner grows up to be a literate slave. When his owner Samuel falls on hard times, he accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves…

Based on the true story of Nat Turner, writer, director and star Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation tells the story of an uprising for slaves in Virginia. The film’s focus is on Nat, and thus functions as a biopic, albeit with poetic license. The film charts Nat’s progression from young boy to preacher, from mild man of God to freedom fighter.

Given Nat’s position as preacher, it is unsurprising that religion plays a large part in the film. Parker crafts the film like a biblical parable, with all the main players taking archetypal parts. But beyond this, Parker draws his main characters very well. Nat’s progression is depicted with realism. The change in him, caused by what he sees around him, appears naturalistic. The coupling between his experiences and what he reads in the bible is conveyed very well. Likewise, the change in Samuel is depicted acutely. Parker eschews one-dimensional characterisation here. Samuel is a layered character, not easily categorised.

The Birth of a Nation builds to it’s conclusion in a measured manner. Parker is very much an instigator; depicting incidents which will anger viewers. The film is not brutal in this, however. Although harrowing things take place, Parker does not feel the need to depict these overtly. The implication is there, notwithstanding, often aided by the sound design.

As the film builds to the uprising, viewers may want some catharsis. Some may be disappointed with how the final quarter of the film plays out. However, Parker settles for realism. It may not be the ending the audience root for, but it seems more realistic that events would go a certain way. Parker works in realities. He offers some respite nevertheless, with the final shots. Parker is convincing as Nat, and Armie Hammer does well in his tricky role.

The Birth of a Nation feels pertinent today, and it is a story that should be heard. Parker  makes his mark with this debut feature.

The Birth of a Nation is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2016.

Film Review: The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Guy Ritchie’s film reboot of 1960s television series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is both stylish and entertaining. The film should satisfy those looking for some cinematic escapism.

In the midst of the early 1960s Cold War, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGM operative Illyan Kuryakinare tasked to work together on a mission. The pair must stop a criminal organisation from proliferating nuclear weapons…

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. ticks the boxes in terms of a good spy action movie. Guy Ritchie reboots the television show keeping the 1960s setting whilst updating aspects to give the film a modern resonance. The film begins with a set up that functions well to introduce the main characters, as well as the period setting. Moreover, the action which precedes the main plot gives viewers a good taste of what is to come.

There is enough intrigue in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. to keep the audience engaged throughout. There is a small lull after the opening gambit to allow for exposition, but pacing picks up following this. Action sequences are executed with vim, and are well placed throughout the film. The use of humour works well; The Man From U.N.C.L.E. may have come across as po-faced without this.

The relationship between the two previously opposing agents is a theme that develops throughout the film. The Man From U.N.C.L.E.‘s third main character is a young female mechanic tasked with helping the agents to infiltrate the organisation. From the outset, it is clear that Alicia Vikander’s Gaby is more than just a pretty face, putting her in contrast to some of the minor female characters filmed in a horribly dated voyeuristic fashion. The relationship between the trio however works very well.

Styling in the film is wonderful, with beautiful depictions of the 1960s. Costumes are fantastic, as is hair and make up. The whole film oozes this era, with the split screen and use of titles leaving viewers in no mistake of when The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is set. The film harks back to this era without being a parody.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is successful thanks to its tone and execution. Whilst it does not reinvent the wheel as an espionage-action thriller, the film is very enjoyable.

Stuff To Look At

A myriad of trailers this week, including Far From The Madding Crowd, Cinderella, Aloha, and more…

Far From The Madding Crowd

Far From The Madding Crowd was one of the few books I remember reading at high school. How the names Bathsheba Everdene and Gabriel Oak take me back. This adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s novel comes with good pedigree; it is directed by Thomas Vinterberg and stars Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Michael Sheen. Far From The Madding Crowd is released in UK cinemas on 1st May 2015.

Aloha

Cameron Crowe’s latest Aloha features a stellar cast, including Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Bill Murray, and Rachel McAdams. Bradley Cooper stars as a military contractor who is given the opportunity to return to the site of his greatest triumphs in Hawaii. Aloha is scheduled for release in September 2015.

Cinderella

From the above trailer, it looks as if Cate Blanchett will really shine in Cinderella. As well as, of course, that magnificent-looking slipper. Kenneth Branagh’s update of the classic fairy tale, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, hits UK screens on 27th March 2015.

The Age of Adeline

The premise of The Age of Adeline hinges on an interesting aspect; its protagonist stops ageing at 29 years old. If only that could happen in real life, although granted, it would be a bit odd. Starring Blake Lively and Harrison Ford, The Age of Adeline is released on 8th May 2015.

Mommy

Xavier Dolan’s latest offering is receiving a lot of critical praise. Mommy stars Anne Dorval as a widowed mother tasked with the full-time custody of her son, who has ADHD. Mommy is released in UK cinemas on 20th March 2015.

Trainwreck

Here is the first trailer for Trainwreck. Directed by Judd Apatow and written by and starring Amy Schumer, Trainwreck is about a young woman who doesn’t think monogamy is possible. The comedy will be released on UK screens on 28th August 2015.

Hot Pursuit

Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara are the unlikely double act in Anne Fletcher’s action comedy Hot Pursuit. Straight-laced cop Witherspoon is tasked with protecting Mafia witness Vergara. Hot Pursuit speeds into UK cinemas on 8th May 2015.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Here is the trailer for Guy Ritchie’s update on 1960s television show The Man From U.N.C.L.E.. Set against a Cold War backdrop, the film focuses on a CIA agent forced to team up with a KGB operative. Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is set for release on 14th August 2015.

Focus

Upcoming thriller Focus stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Rodrigo Santoro. Veteran con man Nicky takes on novice Jess and teaches her the tricks of the trade. Focus hits UK screens on 27th February 2015.

Film Review: The Lone Ranger

Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger is sabotaged by its length. It ticks the boxes of action and adventure, but at a cost.

Native American Warrior Tonto tells the story of how John Reid became the Lone Ranger. An idealistic lawyer, John’s fortune changes when he accompanies his Texas Ranger brother in pursuit of an outlaw…

Had thirty minutes been trimmed, The Lone Ranger would have been a much better film. The false endings add to the film’s duration and hinder the actual climax, which lacks the sense of danger and momentum it should have had.

The Lone Ranger‘s narrative has its issues. The incessant need to link all the elements does not work to the film’s advantage. Although the film functions as an origins story for the title character, this does not meant that it should also act as one for other characters.

The screenwriters attempt to add a historical aspect to the story. This works reasonably well, giving the audience a flavour of the time in which the film is set. Nonetheless, some of the messages that the film conveys are laid on thick.

Verbinski’s film combines a number of genres. Whilst the action is well executed, the romance strand adds little to character depth or plot  and should have been omitted. Some of the humour works, other jokes fall flat.

With the pairing of John Reid and Tonto, the film tries to develop a more antagonistic relationship. This is fine, although some of the back and forth could have been removed. The character of Tonto in this incarnation is not as interesting as the writers and Johnny Depp think he is.

Armie Hammer does well in the action hero role. Helena Bonham Carter delivers a good performance in a slight role, despite her high billing. Johnny Depp seems to now think that an unusual accent, strange costume and some odd facial expressions constitutes acting.

It is difficult to see the audience for The Lone Ranger. It is too sanitised for western fans, and paradoxically too violent for young children.