Two Oakland movies getting buzz in debuts at Sundance
Oakland takes center stage in two buzzed-about movies debuting at the Sundance Film Festival.
“Blindspotting,” an edgy comedy starring and co-written by Oakland native Daveed Diggs (a Tony Award-winner for “Hamilton”) was one of the famed festival’s opening night screenings Thursday. Diggs told the Associated Press the film was drawn from his experiences growing up in Oakland and by what is going on there now. It focuses on an Oakland man who is trying to finish out his probation period without getting into further trouble, as he and his friend deal with gentrification, racism, police violence and more. “Blindspotting” was cowritten by and co-stars Diggs’ longtime friend and collaborator Rafael Casal. It was directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada, marking his feature film debut.
The film drew generally positive reviews. Variety called it “the most exciting cinematic take on contemporary race relations since ‘Do the Right Thing,’ ” while Los Angeles Times writer Tre’vell Anderson praised its response to #BlackLivesMatter and the financial pressures plaguing cities like Oakland.
Meanwhile, the feature film debut by Oakland musician, activist and filmmaker
Boots Riley is slated to premiere today at Sundance.
“Sorry to Bother
You” is described as a sci-fi comedy set in a present-day (but very strange) Oakland in which a telemarketer (Lakeith Stanfield) achieves sudden and baffling success at work. Tessa Thompson and Armie Hammer (as the company’s orgy-loving CEO) co-star. The New York Times called it one of five movies to watch at the festival.
Riley is best known as a rapper and activist who fronts the politically minded hip-hop group The Coup (his longtime collaborator in that group, Pam the Funkstress, recently died).
Oakland residents might remember seeing Riley and his crew filming scenes for “Sorry” in the city’s downtown over the summer.
No word on any distribution deals or schedule for either “Blindspotting” or “Sorry to Bother You.”
Oakland films have made a splash at Sundance before. “Fruitvale Station,” Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed movie about the killing of Oscar Grant by a BART police officer, premiered at Sundance in 2013. And “The Force,” Peter Nicks’ documentary about the Oakland Police Department, debuted at the festival last year.