This is one wacky movie that puts out a lot of messages based on what was going on in Oakland, California in 1987. The film is constructed in four chapters with overlapping characters that intertwine and ultimately cleverly connect. The movie has a similar feel to many Quentin Tarantino projects in tone and bloody violence. Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel, Half Nelson) with Anna Boden (Half Nelson) create a sort of nostalgic, but brutal love letter to the East Bay taking off on what was going on at that time.
This is weird, funny, brutal and bloody, but the writer/directors allow the cast to also play their parts with a nod and a wink that let’s the audience in on the joke. This creative production uses a lot of music, special and visual effects plus some animation that pop up unexpectedly in each of 4 chapters.
The film uses Psytopics, a special program of powerful mind, body, and spiritual phenomena that manifests itself in the film with a green aura and light that infuses the user with powers they need in moments of crisis, stress and violence. There are green blooms of light, many times coming from eyes but also lighting up objects including trains, buses and more. When you see that green light, it’s a clue things are about to get wild.
Narrator and Oakland native and rapper, Too $hort delivers many of his lines as a love letter to the city and its people throughout the film. The first chapter, “Strength in Numbers” startles right out of the box at a Berkeley punk rock club where the young crowd is attacked, yet again, by the local skinhead Nazis subjecting whoever they come across with horrific violence. Mind you, the sign on the door says, “No Racism, No Sexism, No Homophobia, No Drugs, No Alcohol, No Violence.” Directors Fleck and Boden follow two young 20-somethings all too familiar with what’s coming, Tina (Ji-young Yoo) and Lucid (Jack Champion).
In Chapter 2, “Don’t Fight the Feeling” two young, attractive females scoop ice cream during the day and dish rap at night. Entice (Normani) and Barbie (Dominique Thorne), known as are apprehensive of taking on well-known rapper master Too $hort (Demario Symba Driver) in a battle at the local East Bay spot, Sweet Jimmie’s that night. When they walk in and on stage in front of a huge hostile crowd they’re worried. Look for the green glow in the scene and get ready for some heavy duty rappin’.
Fleck and Boden change the tone in “Born to Mack” putting Clint (Pedro Pascal) in the lead as a debt-collector who leaves his very pregnant wife in the car on what he hopes will be his last job. But this segment is filled with tragedy because of what Clint has done in the past and you will see if he can get past this messy situation.
The latest act is “The Legend of Sleepy Floyd”, set during the May 10,1987 NBA playoff game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers where Eric “Sleepy” Floyd (Jay Ellis) was on fire scoring 29 points in the 4th quarter. This is where evil cop, The Guy (Ben Mendelsohn) shows what a supreme sleaze bag he is. Be prepared for a cartoonish and bloody gore-fest that pulls all the characters together.
Stay for the credits for some cool cameos, 1987 style breakdancing, and much-needed fun after the violence you’ve just seen. We weren’t sure watching this film if there was going to be any kind of a payoff. The intertwined characters and overlapping stories were confusing throughout, but Fleck and Boden surprised us with their cast and creativity exceeding our expectations.
Lionsgate 1hour 46 minutes R
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