The people want better for this world. A sentiment that seems to have trickled through the different films I’ve seen so far at LFF. Your problem is my problem, somewhere else, on the other side of the world.
I Love Boosters follows Boots Riley’s debut feature film Sorry to Bother You, clearly cementing a signature feel of his films. Bright, bold, absurdist and highly critical of capitalism. Riley’s criticisms of our current system are present in his work, but as l someone who frequently broadcasts his activism, it’s something that goes beyond the screen. He has something pressing to say, and I Love Boosters does too.
Keke Palmer stars as Corvette, a young budding designer who looks up to fashion mogul Christie Smith, played by Demi Moore. As money runs low and opportunities fail to materialise, she steals clothes and sells them at a discount—the perpetrators are labelled ‘boosters’. She lives in a chicken shop, in a way that’s both ridiculous and grim, and shares many ‘boosting’ endeavours with her best friend Sade (Naomi Ackie) and Mariah (Taylour Paige). At its heart, this is a relatable story about wanting to pursue your dreams and goals but being weighed down by exploitative forces. This being 10x times harder as a black women who has undeniable talent but has designs robbed and repurposed without any credit.
Filled with action and randomness, it is likened to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, except it features these remarkably fierce women of colour. Notably, it shares the same charm, weirdness, and outrageous humour. Seeing underrepresented women in action sequences was an unexplainable feeling; it’s insane to think this is not the norm and we’ve been robbed of these untold, unique stories.
What lets this film down despite its compelling concept is that it felt drawn out; especially in the final act, where so much is going on, it gets slightly convoluted. It does the best it can to set up new rules implemented into this world, but in such a tight time frame, the ‘big bad’ defeat feels slightly rushed. It becomes difficult to keep track of how the ‘super-device’ they discover can eliminate some of the problems, including workers suffering harsh conditions in a sweatshop. With such bizarre and eccentric characters, it takes away from them, which is what makes the film so strong in the first act.
Where it does excel is in how it looks. Natasha Braier’s cinematography is wild, with bursting neon-bright colours and visually intriguing shots of the characters, such as the classic Spike Lee dolly shot. It would also be criminal to omit the fashion, which makes up a large part of how great this film looks. After all, the booster would not be a booster without it. We are graced with a range of outfits and hairstyles from the more toned-down couture pieces to the extravagant feathered garments. It almost feels like a video game with unlimited options and variants. You never quite knew what you were going to see next in this film, and that made it worth your while.
Revolution and banding together are at the heart of this film. The different women are able to come together and offer solace in trying times. Even when they disagree, they see one another, and this ultimately leads them to take action on a wider scale. Once the world begins to unite, voices will be amplified, and it will be harder to ignore the general discontent. Revolution for one is revolution for many.
I Love Boosters is released in Uk Cinemas October 30th
