Review: ‘Freaky Tales’ a worthy salute to Oakland’s creative energy

Anyone who longs for the ‘80s will gobble up Anna Boden and East Bay-born Ryan Fleck’s “Freaky Tales,” a berserk quartet of VHS-like tales that celebrates Oakland’s raucous vitality and creative spirit (which is so high the city registers in the Kendrick Lamar/Drake feud).

The duo behind “Half Nelson,” with Ryan Gosling, and a clutch of other low-key indies along with the big-budget “Captain Marvel” with Brie Larson wave their freak flag high over 1987 Oakland, where some green matter sprung from a spiritual practice juices up the residents. The result is one of the most enjoyable, if insane, times at the movies this year. And do see this one in a theater: It should be experienced with a crowd.

The wild tales (the title comes from a from a song by iconic East Bay rapper Too $hort) interlock with each other and take us on one rollercoaster ride after another. The opener features two Oakland punk teens (Jack Champion and Ji-young Yoo) and some of their rebellious friends kicking the bejesus out of neo-Nazis outside of the 924 Gilman Street club. It then zips over to a rap showdown between besties Entice (Nomani) and Barbie (Dominique Thorne) — who work at an ice cream shop where they fend off sleazy advances from a corrupt cop (Ben Mendelsohn) and Too $hort (played by East Bay rapper Symba).

From there, it bounces over to shady debt collector Clint (Pedro Pascal) performing his final job, which goes awry, and includes a classic exchange in a video store with a clerk (Tom Hanks), a shining moment that’s kismet for movie lovers. The finale finds Golden State Warriors star Sleepy Floyd (a well-cast Jay Ellis) finding no rest after he makes a shocking discovery just after a 51-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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“Freaky Tales” isn’t designed for the uptight viewer who isn’t willing to go with the crazy flow, but should you fully embrace its passionate love for all things Oakland and ‘80s-era filmmaking, music and sports you’ll be in cinematic heaven. It certainly shot me up there.

Contact Randy Myers at [email protected].

‘FREAKY TALES’

3½ stars out of 4

Rating: R (violence, language, racial comments, some sex and nudity)

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Ji-young Yoo,
Angus Cloud

Directors: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes

When & where: In theaters April 4.