American Fiction – Movie Review
ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – W (Jeffrey Wright)
Director: Cord Jefferson
Writer: Cord Jefferson (Screenplay)
Writer: Percival Everett (Novel)
Cast
- Jeffrey Wright (No Time to Die)
- Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-Ish)
- John Ortiz (Kong Skull Island)
- Erika Alexander (Get Out)
- Sterling K Brown (The Predator)
- Adam Brody (Ready or Not)
- Keith David (They Live)
- Issa Rae (Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse)
Plot: 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 the hypocrisy and madness he claims to disdain.
Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: American Fiction starts when frustrated novelist Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison (Wright) is forced to take time off work to visit family. He wants more people to read his work and gets annoyed that his race is holding back people from reading his book.
Monk decides to change how he writes and writes a novel considered to feel blacker. He dives into the stereotypes and everything he hates about how the characters are written. However, he isn’t prepared for the success of the novel and struggles with the newfound fame it brings him.
Verdict on American Fiction
American Fiction is a satirical comedy following a frustrated author who decides to write something he hates. However, it becomes an instant success, leading to him needing to keep his identity secret. Even if he must promote the novel taking the weird by storm.
This movie works with the concept that people are used to certain stereotypes in everyday life. It looks to challenge the normal and draw attention to people creating concepts away from what you would expect. This creates great comedy throughout, where Jeffrey Wright brings plenty with his performance. The whole film is filled with laughs from start to finish, poking fun a society and what they expect.
Where to Watch
JustWatch
Final Thoughts – American Fiction is a wonderful satirical comedy.
