EL SEGUNDO HERALD July 12, 2018 Page 13
Entertainment
Reviewed by Katrena Woodson,
Teen and Young Reader Librarian,
El Segundo Public Library
This week’s book review is one for all
the young readers interested in American
History or anyone who was left wanting to
know more about the Revolutionary War
after watching Hamilton. One Dead Spy is
the first graphic novel in the New York Times
Bestselling “Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales”
series by Nathan Hale.
One Dead Spy is about Nathan Hale -- the
patriot who was executed in 1776 at the
beginning of the Revolutionary War. The
story opens with Hale awaiting execution at
the gallows, but he is shown the future of
America and proceeds to tell the hangman and
the British officer all about it. Hale makes a
great narrator for the years 1775-76 considering
he crosses paths with the likes of George
Washington, Henry Knox, Benedict Arnold
and General Howe among other heroes and
villains of the American Revolution. The
author uses these interactions to inform the
reader about key events such as the Battle
of Bunker Hill, the Boston Massacre and the
Declaration of Independence. This series is
an innovative approach to history that is sure
to be a hit with readers from ages 8 to 12.
The author infuses the story with equal parts
of humor and menace. The illustrations are
very cartoony in nature. They remind me of
something one might have seen in the Sunday
Funnies. Personally, I love the illustrations and
think that they are excellent – and that they
really add to the overall appeal of the series.
The El Segundo Public Library offers
access to its collection of titles in a variety
of formats, including traditional hardback,
e-books and books on CD. To check out One
Dead Spy by Nathan Hale, or any other title
on your to-read list, please visit the library to
apply for your library card, or please contact
the reference staff for further assistance. •
Film Review
Sorry to Bother You is a Crazed
Comedy by Newcomer Boots Riley
Ryan Rojas for www.cinemacy.com
Sorry to Bother You may sound apologetic…
but as a directorial debut, it’s every bit as
brash, ballsy and bonkers as any movie I’ve
seen. First-time filmmaker Boots Riley’s
satirical and zany comedy, which is set in
an alternate present-day Oakland, portrays a
young man of color who takes a telemarketing
job and -- in an effort to increase his
sales -- literally adopts a “white dialect”
to speak to his customers. This could have
been the extent of where the movie settles,
to explore this concept more thoroughly,
but Riley’s unbridled creativity continues
to seep in and we find that this storyline is
just the beginning.
Lakeith Stanfield plays Cassius “Cash”
Green, a young man whose objective is to
line his pockets with a little extra money.
After starting the new job as an entry-level
telemarketer, he takes the advice from senior
co-worker Langston (Danny Glover) to adopt
a “white voice” (voiced by David Cross) in
order to connect with his customers during
cold calls. In hilarious fashion, when
Stanfield opens his mouth, Cross’ voice is
overdubbed and the movie has fun inserting
a “square dialect” into Stanfield’s soulfully
visual performance. It’s this sort of playful
comedy that makes Sorry to Bother You a fun
time, and its comparison to a Spike Jonze
and Spike Lee lovechild are accurate.
Boots Riley is equally interested in
fostering a message of activism in addition to
the investment of strong comedic elements.
Cash realizes that his newfound success
comes at a price when his growing status
puts him at odds with his lesser established
co-workers. It gets to a point where Cash
must decide to cross a picket line made up
of his bohemian girlfriend Detroit (Tessa
Thompson) and best friend Squeeze (Steven
Yeun). The decision of who chooses to assist
him in getting to work each day creates an
emotional hardship that he weighs against
his large paycheck.
All of this is put on the highest stage when
Cash rises in the ranks to become one of the
telemarketing agency’s best employees and
into the inner circle of the company’s CEO
Steve Lift (Armie Hammer). This is when
a dark secret that the company is harboring
comes to light. The film ends with one of
the most head-spinning twists that would be
less fun to spoil here, even though it could
use a little more editing in its final act before
it makes you do a double take.
Sorry to Bother You is commanding. It is
either making you laugh or making you think.
Riley does a very good job pulling in all
elements, specifically the production design
by Jason Kisvarday in which everything is so
detailed that it creates a visually rich movie.
The ensemble cast does well. Stanfield carries
the movie on his back, Thompson delivers
another fierce and unwavering performance,
Armie Hammer has fun as the crazy CEO,
and David Cross and Patton Oswalt’s “white
voices” are a huge part of the laughs. Sorry
to Bother You will find success with audiences
willing to have a good time and entertain
new visual thoughts. The film was picked
up by Annapurna Pictures after making its
world premiere at Sundance this year for a
reported seven figures.
105 mins. Sorry to Bother You is rated R
for pervasive language, some sexual content,
nudity, and drug use. Now playing at ArcLight
Hollywood. •
Sorry to Bother You, Courtesy of Annaspurna Pictures.
Ryan Rojas.
Check It Out
One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale.
One Dead Spy
by Nathan Hale
Katrena Woodson.
“You cannot open a book without learning something.”
– Confucius
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ESSB from page 12
to get the pulse of the community, saying
that she didn’t want to vote “Emilee Layne’s
opinion,” but rather for what is the consensus
of the citizens. She said that she is ready to
go out into the community and sell the need
for the $92 million bond ask.
Garza noted what he termed “compelling
needs,” but said that by having such a large
dollar amount ask, he feared that “we might
lose some support.” He had mentioned at the
June 26 meeting that he hoped the bond amount
could be scaled back, but he ultimately went
along with his fellow Board members in voting
for the resolution. “I will defer to the community
and let the community decide,” he said.
The Board next tackled information pending
action items, including consideration of
an agreement with El Camino Community
College that, if implemented, will have a
goal of “developing seamless pathways from
high school to community college for career
technical education or preparation for transfer.”
Moore then noted upcoming events on the
District informational calendar, which include
a “Peek at the Pool” event on July 19 that will
allow interested community members to check
on the progress being made on the construction
at the El Segundo Aquatics Center on Douglas
Street as the work continues -- heading toward
a hoped-for grand opening in September. She
also mentioned that anyone interested in running
for the open Board positions needs to
file their paperwork by Aug. 10.
Moore then gave her report, voicing her
gratitude to all who had worked on the revision
of the LRFMP and the bond resolution draft.
The District will be “dark” for seven weeks,
with the next regularly scheduled School Board
meeting calendared for Tuesday evening, Aug.
28 at 7 p.m. •