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Reel Review: ‘Sorry to Bother You’
Published
6 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Anna Husted EBS Contributor
The aspect I love most about the science fiction/horror genre is its ability to comment on current issues and the social milieu of our times. “Sorry to Bother You” is really a dark comedy, but in the third act, it transitions into a freaky sci-fi thriller about which I can’t share too much detail in fear of spoiling the plot twists for first-time viewers.
Set in an alternate, dystopian interpretation of present-day Oakland, “Sorry to Bother You” follows African-American Cassius Green (aka “Cash is Green,” played by Lakeith Stanfield) on his journey up the corporate ladder at Regal View Telemarketing, where all employees start out selling encyclopedias. Green and his artist girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) live in his uncle’s garage and barely make ends meet, but it’s still a step up from the shanty towns that populate this Oakland—at least they have a TV and each other.
Green is thankful for his job at Regal View because at least he has work, but he still can’t pay his rent, which would help his uncle from losing his house. He and his co-worker friends, Salvador and Squeeze, decide to stage a walkout until a livable wage is granted to the telemarketers.
Before the walkout, Green finds success after veteran telemarketer Langston (Danny Glover) tells him to use his white voice to make sales to white people. In the midst of the protest, Green gets promoted to the top floor where he finds himself selling slavery, but making enough money to pay rent at his uncle’s house and then some.
On the surface, “Sorry to Bother You” asks difficult questions like can one justify making money at the expense of another human being if it supports those in their personal life? On a deeper level it asks if providing the bare necessities to those at the bottom of a corporation rationalizes how that money is made, no matter how corrupt the practices. The problem with capitalism—and many “isms”—is someone is always at the bottom, no matter how friendly it looks on paper.
“Sorry to Bother You” is meant to make you uncomfortable. From the white voices of comedians Patton Oswald and David Cross dubbed over the black actors, to watching scenes from “I Got the Sh*t Kicked out of Me,” the most popular television show in this alternative universe, to the horrific plot twist toward the film’s end, it’s a movie that shook me to my core.
It made me ask, what racist stereotypes am I perpetuating? Does the throwaway culture of the United States keep some people at the bottom so we can buy the latest cell phone here at the top?
While I laughed a lot at the Terry Gilliam-esque gags and absurdist realism at play in the film, I am haunted by the places it took me and how that hilarious horror story translates to real life.
“Sorry to Bother You” is now playing at Regal Gallatin Valley Cinemas (no, not Regal View).
Anna Husted has a master’s in film studies from New York University. In Big Sky she can be found at the movies at Lone Peak Cinema or hiking up a mountain. When not gazing at the silver screen or watching her new favorite TV show, she’s running, fishing or roughhousing with her cat, Indiana Jones.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
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Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
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Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
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(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd