"American Fiction," (2023) Review

 

Jeffrey Wright delivers a beautifully nuanced performance in "American Fiction," a film that cleverly satirizes the commodification of marginalized voices while offering a bittersweet portrayal of an artist grappling with the redefinition of his integrity.

Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, played by Wright, is a respected author and English literature professor. However, his impatience with his students' cultural sensitivities jeopardizes his academic standing, and his latest novel struggles to find publishers who claim it "isn't Black enough." Returning to his hometown of Boston for a literary festival, Monk encounters a first-time author gaining attention for a bestselling book titled "We's Lives In Da Ghetto," a work Monk dismisses as pandering to stereotypical narratives of Black hardship. Simultaneously, Monk's family faces tragedy, requiring care that neither he nor his troubled brother (Sterling K. Brown) can afford.

In a fit of spite, Monk creates a pseudonymous novel embodying every Black cliché he can think of. Submitted to a major publisher by his agent, the novel receives a substantial advance, catapulting Monk into a dilemma as Hollywood expresses interest. Adapted from Percival Everett's novel "Erasure," Cord Jefferson's directorial debut is a wildly entertaining commentary on our society's craving for so-called authenticity. With stellar supporting performances from Issa Rae and Erika Alexander, as well as cheeky cameos, "American Fiction" serves as a timely reflection on the narratives we construct about race, progress, and community.

Directed by: Cord Jefferson

Cord Jefferson is an accomplished American writer, director, journalist, and essayist with notable contributions to television series such as Watchmen, Succession, The Good Place, and Master of None.

Screenplay by: Cord Jefferson

Based on: "Erasure" by Percival Everett

Produced by:

• Ben LeClair
• Nikos Karamigios
• Cord Jefferson
• Jermaine Johnson

Starring:

• Jeffrey Wright
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American actor Jeffrey Wright rose to fame portraying Belize in the Broadway production of Angels in America, earning him a Tony. Her acclaimed performance expanded to the HBO miniseries adaptation, where she won a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe Award.

• Tracee Ellis Ross
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• Tracee Joy Silberstein, known professionally as Tracee Alice Ross, is an American actress. She is best known for starring roles in the television series Girlfriends and Black-ish, having received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the latter
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• Issa Rae
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• Jo-Issa Rae Diop, professionally known as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, and model. Roy was initially recognized for his contributions to the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl.
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• Sterling K. Brown
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Cinematography: Cristina Dunlap

Christina Dunlap has worked as Director of Photography on numerous accredited projects including feature films, television series, music videos and commercials, and has demonstrated her expertise in graphic design

Edited by: Hilda Rasula

Music by: Laura Karpman

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American Fiction Trailer

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