American Fiction is another movie like Poor Things that has received awards season consideration and is truly deserving. This is, at times, a blisteringly funny film, yet it never loses sight of its poignancy and insight or uncompromising structure.
Jeffrey Wright delivers career-best work as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, an African-American writer and professor. His books are highly praised but unsuccessful because they do not speak to his target audience.
He’s forced to take a leave of absence after some of his classroom methods come under fire. He returns home to his family in Boston. While there, he attends a seminar featuring a woman (Issa Rae) who just published a book that speaks to Monk’s audience.
Monk decides to try his hand at writing just like that and writes a book entitled “My Pafology” and uses the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh as a supposed wanted fugitive to hopefully boost sales. This makes Monk adopt a persona that is diametrically opposed to his real character, resulting in some truly hilarious and quotable dialogue.
While having to deal with publishing agents who want to turn the book into a movie, Monk also has to deal with taking care of his elderly mother (Leslie Uggams) and contend with the rest of his family, including his brother Cliff (Sterling K. Brown) who dodges every opportunity to help out the family. He also finds time for romance with a neighbor (Erika Alexander).
American Fiction was written and directed by Cord Jefferson in his directorial debut. It’s based on the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett. Jefferson has already proven to be a force to be reckoned with as he pens a sharp, witty, multifaceted screenplay. It’s funny when it needs to be and gives authentic moments the gravity they deserve.
Wright has been nominated throughout this awards season, and he just scored a Best Actor nomination at the Oscars. I hope he’s a shoo-in. He takes on a role that is challenging to pull off, but his performance works as he finds the right balance of a character who has insight into what he wants to write but is willing to make reluctant compromises, even at the expense of his true identity.
We get to see this story play out over time, and the more the story unfolds, the more our curiosity is piqued. That’s a bold statement to make for a movie that relies on characters and dialogue as its motivation. Oh, and it’s truly hilarious. Did I mention it was hilarious?
American Fiction is a movie that reminds us brilliant gems need to be discovered. You can judge this book by its cover and know it’s fantastic.
Grade: A
(Rated R for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references and brief violence.)
