Dirty Computer (film)

Dirty Computer is a 2018 dystopian musical science fiction film.[1][2] It serves as a visual companion to Dirty Computer, the third studio album by Janelle Monáe. Billed as an "emotion picture", Dirty Computer tells the story of android Jane 57821 and her struggles as she "attempts to break free from the constraints of a totalitarian society that forcibly makes [her] comply with its homophobic beliefs".[1] The film was produced by Wondaland, Monáe's multimedia production company, and was directed by Andrew Donoho and Chuck Lightning, with the music video portions of the film directed by Donoho ("Django Jane"), Lacey Duke ("I Like That"), Alan Ferguson ("Crazy, Classic, Life", "Make Me Feel"), and Emma Westenberg ("Pynk", "Screwed").

Dirty Computer
Directed by
Written byChuck Lightning
Story by
Starring
CinematographyTodd Banhazl
Edited by
  • Taylor Brusky
  • Andrew Donoho
  • Deji Laray
Music by
  • Wynne Bennett
  • Nate "Rocket" Wonder
Production
company
Wondaland
Distributed by
Release date
  • April 27, 2018 (2018-04-27)
Running time
49 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Cast
  • Janelle Monáe as Jane 57821
  • Tessa Thompson as May Apple #53 / Zen
  • Jayson Aaron as Ché
  • Michele Hart as Virgin Victoria
  • Dyson Posey as Cleaner #1
  • Jonah Lees as Cleaner #2
  • Angel Blaise as Computer
  • Lori Dorfman as David Bowie
  • Alexis Long as BMX rider
  • Miesha Moore as Black Girl Magic Dancer
  • Oliver Morton as Scream Police
  • Jannica Olin as Dirty Computer
  • Marlo Su as Dirty
  • Alex Wexo as Scream Police
  • Andi Yuma as Punk

Analysis

Dirty Computer was described as a film that explores "humanity and what truly happens to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness when mind and machines merge, and when the government chooses fear over freedom" in a press release announcing the release of the director's cut.[3] The film explores several hallmarks of identity and expression, including gender, personhood, race and sexuality, as well as several motifs commonly found in science fiction films such as androids, dystopian government, and memory erasure.[4][5]

Release

Dirty Computer had a cross-channel premiere on MTV, BET, and their sister channels on April 26, 2018, one day before the release of its companion album.[6][7] The film was then made available on YouTube at midnight EST to coincide with the release of the album. YouTube also held a special screening on April 27 at their YouTube Space facility in Los Angeles. The event, which was recorded and later posted on YouTube, featured ushers dressed as the 'Cleaners' from the film, and concluded with a Q&A session with Monáe.[8]

On February 1, 2019, Wondaland released a director's cut of Dirty Computer that added an additional thirteen minutes of interviews with Monáe and the picture's creative teams.[3] The extended cut is available to stream exclusively via Amazon Prime Video and Qello.[3]

Critical response

In a review of the film, Tim Grierson of Rolling Stone called Dirty Computer a "timely new sci-fi masterpiece", noting that the "dazzling" and "visually arresting" release is "filled with sterling electro-pop from the [album], but its dense thematic nods to sci-fi landmarks aren’t meant simply as fun spot-the-reference Easter eggs".[4] In a positive review for Thirty, Flirty + Film, Cate Young wrote that the film and its companion album "complement each other perfectly", adding that the two work together to "create a new synergistic, world in which revolution is demanded as a means to survival and the lives of black queer people are central and will be defended ... what Monáe created here is a feminist statement of intent, and it should be celebrated."[9] Stephen Abblitt of Medium called the short film "a stunning, provocative culmination of, or conclusion to, a decade-long science-fictional aural exploration by Monáe of love, identity, sexuality, revolution, time travel, and androids".[2]

References
  1. "Janelle Monáe: Dirty Computer". Radio Times. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  2. Abblitt, Stephen (October 4, 2018). "Film review: Dirty Computer [Emotion picture]". Medium. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  3. Hartshorn, Tori (February 1, 2019). "Janelle Monáe Reboots DIRTY COMPUTER With New Director's Cut". Broadway World. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  4. Grierson, Tim (April 27, 2018). "Why Janelle Monae's 'Dirty Computer' Film Is a Timely New Sci-Fi Masterpiece". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  5. Rao, Sonia (April 30, 2018). "Unpacking the meaning of 'Dirty Computer,' in which Janelle Monáe finally gets to be herself". Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  6. "Janelle Monae's 'Dirty Computer' Film to Premiere on MTV and BET". Variety. April 20, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  7. Patterson, Adreon (April 20, 2018). "Janelle Monae's Dirty Computer: An Emotion Picture Set to Premiere on BET and MTV Next Week". Paste. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  8. "Janelle Monáe "Dirty Computer" Screening at YouTube Space LA". BC Live Productions. 10 August 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  9. Young, Cate, Millman, Zosha (June 18, 2020). "Issue #7: The Queer World Order". Thirty, Flirty + Film. Retrieved March 2, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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