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Sorry to Bother You
2018 112 min United States of America R 18+
★7.3
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Comedy
Director: Boots Riley
Trailers
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Description
In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, black telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success – which propels him into a macabre universe.
Budget:
$3.2M
US Gross:
$17.49M
Worldwide:
$18.2M
Starring
LaKeith Stanfield
Actor
Tessa Thompson
Actor
Jermaine Fowler
Actor
Awards
Sundance Film Festival 2018
— Grand Jury Prize (Drama)
Saturn Awards 2019
— Best Science Fiction Film
Key opinion
Sorry to Bother You is a highly inventive, surrealist satire that uses absurdist comedy to critique capitalism, labor exploitation, and racial dynamics. While its bold tonal shifts and bizarre narrative turns alienate some viewers, most critics praise Boots Riley’s distinctive authorial vision and the strong performances of the lead cast.
| Acting | The core ensemble, led by Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson, delivers commendable and strong performances that ground the film's increasingly bizarre world. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes striking, inventive, and visually stunning cinematography that successfully elevates the director's bold social commentary. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay effectively balances sharp, insightful satire on corporate greed and racial identity with an unapologetic, surrealist absurdity. | |
| Pacing | The narrative's abrupt transition into extreme, polarizing genre-bending in the second half creates a stark divide between those who embrace its surreal provocation and those who find it disjointed or nauseating. | |
| Ending | The film's ambiguous and unconventional conclusion leaves viewers split, with some appreciating the room for interpretation and others finding it underdeveloped or merely adequate. |