There is simply no one doing cinema quite like Boots Riley.
His debut film Sorry to Bother You turned a very simple premise into a world of science fiction and magical realism, yet it was still a world that was familiar and much resembled our own. If you haven’t seen it, you should absolutely drop what you’re doing and go watch it. It should go without saying that his unique lens and storytelling thrilled me, and I was absolutely locked in for any of his future projects.
I Love Boosters, like Sorry to Bother You, is a film full of magical realism. Following the Velvet Gang, a group of boosters based in Portland, the film follows them as they square off with fashion designer Christie Smith. Like his first film, it’s difficult to truly describe what a Boots Riley film is about because so much of it is the experience of watching. The artist’s choices are bold but methodical, all carefully chosen to support the characters, ideas, and world of the film. So while the premise is simple, describing it with only words is overly reductive.
Critics of Hollywood’s recent color grading trends will be delighted by I Love Boosters. Every scene is bursting with color. Riley himself did numerous interviews talking about the purposeful use of vibrant colors and praising the film’s cinematographer Natasha Braier and the custom lenses created just for the film. The film’s world is almost cartoonish, but it works to highlight the critiques of the fashion industry as a whole. This isn’t the garish and goofy looks of Wuthering Heights, it feels like a natural extension of the film’s themes.
Under the surface of this movie is the intentional and bold messaging. While I’ve seen a lot of confusion about certain scenes popping up online, the political ideology this film espouses is obvious. Its main target is the fast fashion industry, highlighting the theft of designs from minority designers, unethical labor practices in developing countries and workers’ rights for retail employees. Simply put, if you watched this movie and found yourself asking, “Why is the building Christie Smith lives in literally crooked?” then maybe you need to find a different movie. Media literacy and all that.
I have to mention this film’s incredible ensemble cast, but especially the three leads: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and Taylour Paige. All have had recent success in their own right, but their dynamic is electric. At no moment do you doubt their characters, in spite of the absurdist moments. They make these moments feel normal and right at home, and keep the film’s energy high even in its quieter moments.
In short, this movie is a masterpiece. It’s a colorful, bombastic world with a clear story, great characters, and some truly jaw-dropping moments. Boots Riley has never disappointed me as a director, and at this point, I don’t think he ever will.
The official ScreenAge Newsletter has arrived! Subscribe to receive a semi-regular round-up of all our exclusive content, including reviews, editorials, Top 100 lists, and more! C'mon, we know you want to venture further into the Wasteland with us!