Of all the movies to come out in 2018, from Alfonso Cuaron's poetic Roma to Yorgos Lanthimos's biting The Favourite, only two stood out as truly mind-blowing.

One was Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, a blend of extraordinary animation coupled with the best superhero script to-date. It was so good that even pervasive superhero movie fatigue couldn't hinder its buzz. Of course it got nominated for Best Animated Feature.

The other was Sorry to Bother You, the directorial debut of rapper Boots Riley. Watch the trailer below. Then we'll chat.


The story takes place in an alternate version of Oakland and follows Cassius 'Cash' Green (Lakeith Stanfield), an African American telemarketer who discovers that using a "white person voice" makes him extra-successful with sales.

That's all you should know going in. Anything beyond that could ruin the surprise.

But trust that we're talking about the most original movie in years — one with a strong, angry, passionate political viewpoint that never speaks down to its viewers. It's a movie that puts you directly into the shoes of a young, poor black man struggling to make his way against the myriad disadvantages heaped on him by white society, all while maintaining an outrageous sense of humor and visual oomph. It's a movie that transcends category, at once comedy, drama, socio-political commentary, and horror, rife with magic realism.

Sorry to Bother You absolutely deserved a Best Picture nod. Lakeith Stanfield deserved a Best Actor in a Leading Role nod for his turn as Cash. But most of all, Boots Riley deserved nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Boots Riley has stated that he's not bothered by the Academy's decision not to nominate because he "didn't actually run a campaign." While that may be true, it's still bullshit.


The Academy Awards are meant to be a celebration of the best movies in a given year, not the ones that spent the most on their Oscar campaigns. A movie like Sorry to Bother You getting left off a "Best Feature" list that includes Bohemian Rhapsody calls the entire endeavor into question.

If one of the best original movies in years doesn't get nominated for any Oscar, why the hell should we care about the Oscars at all?


Dan Kahan is a writer & screenwriter from Brooklyn, usually rocking a man bun. Find more at dankahanwriter.com


POP⚡DUST | Read More...

Now in Theaters: New Movies for the Weekend of January 25

Breaking Down the 2019 Oscar Best Picture Nominees

The John Wick: Chapter 3 Trailer Is Out and It's Fucking Perfect

COLUMNS

BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN | Lady Gaga Hits the Big Screen

OCTOBER 5th-7th | What's coming to theaters this weekend?

Singers-turned-actors are lighting up the cinema this weekend.

In Popdust's column, Box Office Breakdown, we aim to inform you of the top flicks to check out every weekend depending on what you're in the mood to enjoy. Looking to laugh? What about having your pants scared off? Maybe you just need a little love? Whatever the case may be, we have you covered. Take a peek at our top picks for this week…

The Hate U Give

Based on a best-selling book, a young girl has to balance living between her mostly black neighborhood and attending school with affluent white peers. When she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer, she is thrown into the middle of the arguments between communities. She will have to find her voice, be brave, and stand up for what she believes to be right.

Purchase Tickets for The Hate U Give

PG-13 | Running Time 2hr 15m | 20th Century FOX | Director: George Tillman Jr.

Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, and more!

Keep ReadingShow less
FILM & TV

Saturday Film School | 'Sorry to Bother You' Isn't Really That Sorry

Boots Riley's Directorial Debut is Wild, Uncomfortable, and Unforgettable.

Annapurna Pictures 'Sorry to Bother You'

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the uncanny metaphor both films explore, that is, the way black and brown bodies are seen as disposable and, as Riley's ending scene shows, mutable.

Keep ReadingShow less
FILM & TV

BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN | Save some crimes this holiday weekend

JULY 6TH-8TH | What's Coming to Theaters this Weekend?

indiewire.com

The big guy this weekend at the box office is actually quite small.

In Popdust's column, Box Office Breakdown, we aim to inform you of the top flicks to check out every weekend depending on what you're in the mood to enjoy. Looking to laugh? What about having your pants scared off? Maybe you just need a little love? Whatever the case may be, we have you covered. Take a peek at our top picks for this week…

Keep ReadingShow less
FILM & TV

BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN | What's coming to theaters this weekend?

JANUARY 12th - 14th | Stories with heart and humor take over the cinema

PROUD MARY - Official Trailer (HD)

Bears breaking the law, teenagers finding solace in church, and a son who just wants a little love from his father round out our top picks for the movies this week.

In Popdust's column, Box Office Breakdown, we aim to inform you of the top flicks to check out every weekend depending on what you're in the mood to enjoy. Looking to laugh? What about have your pants scared off? Maybe just need a little love? Whatever the case may be, we have it.

Take a peek at our top picks for this week...

Keep ReadingShow less