“American Fiction” is an adaptation of the 2001 novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett and is just as relevant now as it was then.
The movie follows Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffery Wright), an author who can’t seem to get his big break after publishing multiple novels. After his most recent manuscript is rejected for not being “black enough” his frustration reaches a fever pitch and he decides to prove a point. He will write a book under a pen name that utilizes every outdated and outlandish stereotype and trope to create a book that is “black enough” for publishers.
This movie is all around amazing. The performances, story, and satire are all done incredibly well and dig deeper than the surface. Its satire of the modern publishing industry is scathing and shows just how skewed people can be when it comes to trends.
Jeffery Wright as Monk is absolutely a career defining performance and Sterling K. Brown as Cliff Ellison is also a standout. The characters feel incredibly real and the drama surrounding their stories feels grounded. The entire cast bounce off of each other and have great chemistry, it really makes you feel like they are a real family or friends.
The social satire, although exaggerated, doesn’t feel outlandish and the criticisms it makes are very realistic. Some of the interactions feel so tone deaf that they don’t feel real, but after thinking about it it becomes apparent that all of these interactions have happened to a lot of people. Some of the funniest moments are when certain characters are so out of touch with the meaning of their words that they overcompensate and reinforce the stereotypes they claim to hate.
Along with the satire it balances a family drama aspect. Although it doesn’t always perfectly balance it with the satire they still meld well together. The drama by itself is engaging and adds a realism to the movie that grounds it from being purely satire. The jokes from the book storyline and the emotional beats of the family drama are separate for the most part, but they both work together to show who Monk really is and how his family functions.
“American Fiction” is a striking social satire of the publishing industry and is definitely deserving of its Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. Definitely worth your time and an easy recommendation for everyone.
Directed by Cord Jefferson
Starring: Jeffery Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody
Rated R
Runtime: 117 minutes
My Rating: ★★★★½
