Boots Riley’s latest is his wildest movie yet. And his first movie ended with horse people, so that’s saying a lot. I Love Boosters is full of whimsical surreal touches with social and sci-fi themes, so it is a joy to see in the highest quality format.
The 4K UHD boasts the vivid colors of Metro Designers’ monochromatic stores. Even the Chinese factory is multi-colored with all the toxins and fabrics peppered throughout. Surreal practical effects like the rolling ball of bills and Metro’s slanted office building showcase all the textures of the craft. The skinless aliens are motion capture but have a stop-motion effect. And there is still some deep shadow as the factory workers crawl through the air vents.
Riley surrounds the viewer aurally too. Club music and runway music fill the rear speakers, and helicopters fly over outside.
The home video release is loaded with extras. In behind-the-scenes features, you see the low-fi effects blowing wind on the actors, using wires to hold them up on the slanted floor, and the hand-crafted miniatures.
On camera interviews take place on colorful sets too, with each group discussing the characters, themes and practical needs in under 10 minutes. Riley’s commentary cites all his references, and the diversity makes sense, Brazil for the corporate satire and Edgar Wright for the editing. He also calls out the chicken restaurant that forced him to invent a fictional one and how he originally wanted Werner Herzog to narrate the fictional Christie Smith (Demi Moore) documentary.
Riley is also extremely supportive of his cast, encouraging viewers to pay attention to subtle nuances they delivered. So I Love Boosters is a dense, rewarding comedy and the 4K UHD gives you even more to explore.