The Christophers & I Love Boosters

Ian McKellen gives one of his finest performances as a curmudgeonly famous artist in "The Christophers," and he's well-matched in terms of acting skill by Michaela Coel as the young assistant he hires. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano agree that there's a terrific dynamic between these two actors, and they also like how director Steven Soderbergh handles the criminal intrigue in a plot that hinges on art forgery. Although Marie and Mike may be curmudgeons in their own way as they tabulate some of the things that don't quite work for them here, they recommend the film. Our fussy critics also talk about "I Love Boosters." They agree that director Boots Riley's first film, "Sorry to Bother You," is thematically more successful, but they also gleefully acknowledge that there is much to enjoy in this fashion world satire. Keke Palmer, Taylour Paige and Naomi Ackie portray boosters who steal expensive clothes from stores owned by an imperious designer played to the hilt by Demi Moore. The scattershot satire loses focus as it goes along, but the movie is colorful, energetic and just plain fun to watch.