Bodied (Joseph Kahn, 2017 / 120 mins) A progressive graduate student finds success and sparks outrage when his interest in battle rap as a thesis subject becomes a competitive obsession
Date/Time: Nov 19 2017, 9:30 pm to 8:15 pm
Vancouver, The Rio Theatre | Event calendarCost: $13.00
Find tickets: here
In his third feature film, director Joseph Kahn (perhaps best known for his work crafting music videos for up-and-comers like U2, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Eminem and Britney Spears) dives headfirst into an explosive “safe space” where the art of battle rap and PC-culture literally collide, triggering a hip-hop infused satirical tsunami that brilliantly captures the temperature of our current socio-political climate. Produced by Eminem and written by Torontonian Alex Larsen (aka Kid Twist), the film deftly navigates controversial and timely issues surrounding cultural appropriation, gender politics, class, systemic racism, and various social injustices via the lead character, a white male grad student (Calum Worthy) on the hunt for battle rap legitimacy. With Anthony Michael Hall, Jackie Long, Shoniqua Shondai, Charlamagne The God.
TIFF Midnight Madness Audience Award 2017, Fantastic Fest Audience Award 2017
*Director Joseph Kahn, writer Alex Larsen (aka Kid Twist), star Calum Worthy and special guests TBD in attendance for the Western Canadian Premiere of Bodied on Sunday, November 19. Thanks to our friends at King of the Dot Vancouver for co-presenting this screening.
“The most subversive movie about hip hop ever made, one of the most exciting modern portraits of race relations period, and a daring assault on white liberal privilege that checks it from the inside out.” (IndieWire)
“Joseph Kahn and cinematographer Matthew Wise shoot each clash with tons of whip-pans and other swift camera moves to amp up the energy level, like we’re watching FIGHT CLUB without the beatings (although there are a few of those as well).” (Hollywood Reporter)
“Even if you have no interest in rap battling, BODIED will suck you in and send you spinning with the battles. You’ll love seeing words used as weapons, and you’ll never stop considering the wounds they inflict.” (Collider)
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