The movie was incisive, genius, and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I loved how they used elements of fantasy and magical realism to satirize our society. I think I read an article two years ago that called it heavy-handed, which dissuaded me from watching it then. That was a terrible decision. The movie doesn’t try to be subliminal. The main character is Cassius Green, for “cash is green.” It just about tells you what it’s trying to say. It’s not about you feeling special for figuring out the puzzle.

One part that especially resonated was when Cash crossed the picket line, telling his friend that he supported his cause, but it had nothing to do with him after his promotion. I could see myself in that. I support people fighting for their rights from afar, but as someone with little to fight for, I don’t engage in their struggle. I’m content to do my part and uphold the status quo.

The movie also takes a dig at reality TV shows that basically involve humiliating poor people for prizes. I thought this was really important. I used to watch a lot of Ellen, and I think about how often she’d given someone in need $10k, and film their emotional response, their tears for ten minutes. She’s helping, but it feels predatory. We implicitly want them to play our game for the money, we want them to perform, to jump up and down, so we can feel good and think about occasional generosity and not why this person should be in such a desperate state to begin with. I guess.