Crazy Rich Asians (Movie 2018)

Crazy Rich Asians is the new rom/com movie out this summer based on the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan. The big news on this film has been that it is the first all Asian cast in 25 years since The Joy Luck Club. This cast did not disappoint. We get Constance Wu (Fresh Off The Boat) an endearing female lead. She plays Rachel Chu an American economics professor who gets invited by her boyfriend to go with him to his home country of Singapore for his friend's wedding. Her boyfriend Nick Young is played by newcomer Henry Golding. What I love about his performance was it was not heavy handed. He had a subtle way with the sweetness and charm that really did make him irresistible. But when Rachel gets to Singapore she discovers that Nick is from the one of the oldest, wealthiest families in Singapore. And she is in for a rough time with his family and his friends who think this American woman who has worked for what she has does not belong. Michelle Yeoh is steely as Nick's mother. Gemma Chan as Nick's cousin Astrid is glamorous, at times reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn and you do feel sympathy for her. Stand out comedy from Awkwafina as Rachel's old college friend Peik Lin. Also, great comedy from Nico Santos as Oliver and Ken Jeong as Peik Lin's father. This movie was definitely a postcard from Singapore. This is usually not a location used by production companies but I think that will change after this. The scenery is just beautiful. I hope one day we can get beyond making a big deal out of the fact of whether or not a film is an all Asian cast, etc. Because for myself, I saw beyond that and just enjoyed a wonderful escape into a romantic comedy. It was a very sweet story and yes I teared up at the end.

Sorry To Bother You (Movie 2018)

Now, I have to admit I went into this a little blind thinking it was going to be your run of the mill message movie. I was told that it was about the destructiveness of Capitalism. But the rapper Boots Riley who wrote, directed, and stars in it takes it to a surreal level to make his point. Sorry To Bother You has Cassius Green living in his uncle's garage in Oakland, CA. He's in desperate need to get up from out under and start to make it in this world. He gets work as a telemarketer. He is told that if he can really produce a lot of sales he can move upstairs to the land of Power Caller which is represented by golden elevator doors. Aaahhh Valhalla! But Cassius in the beginning isn't making any sales until another co-worker played by Danny Glover tells him he needs to use a different voice, a "white" voice or as he explains further a business like voice. It all starts to come together and success is at hand. But meanwhile his friends and co-workers are planning a strike to unionize and get more pay. Cassius does get bumped upstairs and leaves his friends to fight for the scraps. However, Cassius finds out moving up is basically selling your soul and this is where the movie really takes a turn into the strange and dark. This isn't a film you go to just for entertainment's sake. It makes you think about society. And whether or not you will agree with Boots Riley there is no doubt there are severe problems in the country and with the economy so the questions need to be asked. And, Boots does it in a funny, creative, thoughtful way.