Every year we hear about the big breakout hit at the Sundance Film Festival that goes on to success in wide release. Sometimes the buzz is warranted and sometimes it is all hype for a mediocre film. This year’s candidate is Rick Famuyima’s DOPE which has just debuted an official teaser trailer unlike anything we have seen in a long time.
The coming of age tale is a visual blend of 1980s and 1990s pop culture ranging from video games to music, all of which makes it hard to pin down in this trailer. If you are left with anything after watching this, it is a question as to just what the hell the movie is actually about. Check out the synopsis for more insight.
Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is carefully surviving life in a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles while juggling college applications, academic interviews, and the SAT. A chance invitation to an underground party leads him into an adventure that could allow him to go from being a geek, to being dope, to ultimately being himself.
From this teaser, I cannot tell what era the film takes place in as it shoots from what looks like social media sites to 8-bit video games and retro hairstyles. In either case, DOPE benefits from Pharrel Williams contributing four new songs which will definitely increase the buzz for this movie.
Starring Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Kimberly Elise, A$AP Rocky, Blake Anderson, Keith Stanfield, Chanel Iman, Quincy Brown, Zoë Kravitz, DOPE hits theaters on June 19th.