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by Me Again_Archive
How many people who aren't already in line with Sorry to Bother You's worldview leave the film feeling changed by it?? It's mostly an absurdist pop-culture romp that preaches to the choir. Maybe that's what some people need instead of another dumb rom-com or murder movie, but films about the potential hellishness of work are nothing new (from some Chaplin and Harold Lloyd films, and Clair's à Nous la Liberté, to countless others). This is far from being the best one.I think Sorry to Bother You's target audience gets what it's trying to convey, and can see the parallels between its hellish vision of the world and our own reality, which yes, aren't that far apart in places. But it's more of a candy-colored lark than a great statement. As a movie, it's yet another newer film that's trying to be several different things at once and only succeeding at some of them, undermining its impact. As a writer-director Boots bites off more than he can chew. And the film's pacing and tone have problems.Sembène is world famous, yes. And one could argue Black Girl is old hat, being the first proper African feature film ever. But it getting a new transfer and being made widely available is more of an "event" for me than most of what passes for cinema these days. Black Girl says some interesting things about colonialism and people turning a blind eye to the quality of life of those who do their dirty work. It's as relevant now as ever, whether the average person is curious or resourceful enough to watch it or not. But it's also a crackingly good debut feature that's already stood the test of time. I suspect Sorry to Bother You won't age as well.