American Fiction (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – A novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.

My Take – Indeed, we live in weird times, even though society is becoming more accepting of minorities, it is also unintentionally marginalizing them by continuing to perpetuate stereotypes.

Marking the feature directorial debut of writer-director Cord Jefferson, known for his work on Master of None and The Good Place, the film acts as a response to the rise of social movements like #BlackLivesMatters which often focus on traumatic violence and provide white liberals with an outlet to empathize with suffering.

Adapted from Percival Everett’s 2001 novel Erasure, the film is without a doubt one of the most entertaining comedy-dramas released in recent times, that too with a big heart and an empathetic core. Elegantly walking the line between absurdist satire and family drama, this is a clever send-up of how the broadness of Black culture has gotten reduced to cliché. A brilliant satire and commentary on a society that has twisted things to the point where no one knows what to say or how to say it.

Sure, the basic idea is not entirely original, but the delivery is brilliant and often hilarious. It’s not slapstick by any means. As the laughs are sprinkled on the top of a thoughtful plot. The film’s display of irony makes it an intriguing watch and reflects our current state as a society.

It helps that the cast’s amazing chemistry and perfect interactions elevate the viewing experience, with Jeffrey Wright, who has being nominated for his role at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards, particularly delivering an authentic and impressive performance that perfectly embodies his character.

The story follows Dr. Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright), a highly intelligent African-American upper-class writer and professor in Los Angeles, whose is known for writing good-quality literary fiction, but his books sell poorly. Even his latest manuscript has been rejected for not being “black enough”. Put on leave following some controversial interactions with students, Monk heads back to Boston, to meet his mother, Agnes (Leslie Uggams), and sister, Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross), and attend a book convention.

At the convention he comes across Sintara Golden (Issa Rae), a popular African American novelist, who despite a very polished educational background has written a novel that utilizes stereotypes that Monk detests. Frustrated, he decides to write a trashy satire of such books, under the pseudonym, and orders his agent, Arthur (John Ortiz), to submit it to publishers.

To his surprise, a major publisher agrees to pick it up for a hefty price. In order to maintain his pseudonym, he even assume the identity of a wanted fugitive as part of the backstory for marketing purposes. However, the increasing success of the book leaves Monk with conflicted feelings that create difficulties in his relationships, including his brother, Cliff (Sterling K. Brown) and a new girlfriend, Coraline (Erika Alexander).

The film stands out as a well-written gem, offering a multi-layered narrative, addressing societal stereotypes along with deep subplots exploring family dynamics, sexuality, self-discovery, and the challenges of aging parents. On one level, it unfolds the drama in a high-achieving family from the perspective of Monk, an inhibited, closed-in personality who has trouble exposing himself to others. On a second level is the razor-sharp satire of White preoccupation with African American stereotypes.

One of the things that the story does well is to balance the humor and satire with the actual drama taking place in Monk’s family. Monk’s frayed relationships give the film its heart – particularly with his siblings. He has an easy time with his older sister, a doctor at a women’s clinic. However, an unthinkable tragedy forces him to rely on the family’s black sheep, his brother Cliff is on the outs with his family once his wife leaves him after finding him in bed with another man.

While Monk accepts him, their increasingly ill mother does not, making her care something Monk has to deal with alone. His only refuge is a sweet relationship he begins with his mother’s neighbor, Coraline, but his raging ego and insecurity threaten to derail that, too. The film’s strength is undoubtedly in its storytelling.

It does a fantastic job showing the audience not only the expectations that white audiences have about what qualifies as Black literature but also how sometimes those in the minority can also become beholden to those expectations. It emphasizes the importance of showcasing a variety of black stories rather than constantly focusing on the slave narrative.

Seen through his perceptive, Jeffrey Wright’s performance as the permanently grumpy, curmudgeonly Monk to carry the film along. Wright has never been better than he is here, with him often quite funny as the buttoned-up, cynical and depressed Monk. We see him come to life a bit as he flirts with Coraline, but Wright plays him as a man who will always be his worst enemy, as he can’t let go of the fact that other people perceive things differently than him and that he’s not always right.

Sterling K. Brown brings a sense of humor and emotional depth to the character. Another standout performance comes from Tracee Ellis Ross who shares a charming on-screen chemistry with Wright. In other roles, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, and Adam Brody add layers to the film’s narrative. On the whole, ‘American Fiction’ is a clever and well-crafted satire bolstered by Jeffrey Wright‘s superb performance.