3 Arts Entertainment
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American Fiction
Once you go full black, you ain't never going back!
A novelist 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.
- Original title
- American Fiction
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- $16,000,000
- Revenue
- $22,483,370
r96sk
Jun 4, 2024 · via TMDB
Great movie! This only solidifies my desire to view more, if not all, of Jeffrey Wright's filmography, such a fantastic actor to watch. In this he is no different, he is outstanding all the way through. Not that he is by any means the only strong performer, because Sterling K. Brown is also superb. Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Uggams impress, too. There are a range of emotions to be felt throughout, the film entwines humour into events supremely well - it's much more amusing than I was expecting, especially given what happens early on. The latter is part of the sadness that constantly rears its head as well. No matter what, though, it is all seamlessly put together onscreen. One scene in particular actually had me welling up, which is extremely rare for me; mentioned it before, unimportant long story short: I can't help but look at movies as fiction, so my brain just doesn't associate real physical emotions with films. Anyway, the scene is with Cliff (Brown) and Lorraine (Myra Lucretia Taylor). Proper touching! Every now and then a film manages to break through! Probably a character flaw and all that but it is what it is. Fwiw, proof of the rarity is that the only other time I remember a film making me well up for real was, randomly, 2014's <em>'Two Days, One Night'</em> a few years back with an (relatively) equally non-major scene with Timur Magomedgadzhiev. 2022's <em>'The Whale'</em> did come very close, mind! Back on track... I remember hearing positives about <em>'American Fiction'</em> when it came out and thankfully it delivered; 'twas unfortunate that it didn't line-up with me to watch it at the cinema on release, though. But hey, I belatedly have it logged. A quality picture!
hamfaceman
Mar 14, 2024 · via TMDB
This movie was decent.
CinemaSerf
Feb 8, 2024 · via TMDB
Jeffrey Wright is great in this satirical look at all things hypocritical and exploitative surrounding "blackness" in the USA. "Monk" is the short-tempered writer-cum-lecturer whose behaviour gets him put on indefinite leave by his university and sent to Boston! That's where his family live and where we get our first introduction to his sister "Lisa" (Tracee Ellis Ross). Now she's got the measure of her curmudgeonly brother and as they spar we start to see elements of his deeply-buried humanity emerge. Maybe he's not the man we first thought, and that depth of character becomes more evident as we meet his mother whose Alzheimers is causing confusion and distress. A tragedy strikes which forces "Monk" to re-address his own life choices, his relationship with his recently gay brother "Cliff" (Sterling K. Brown) and of his need to raise the almost $7,000 per month it will cost to ensure the best care for their ailing parent. His latest attempt at getting published failed. His agent "Arthur" (John Ortiz) telling him that his books just weren't black enough. He must be more like "Sintara" (Issa Rae) who writes books about 'real' African American people and their stereotypical ghetto language and experiences. He loathes the very essence of stuff like this, and so - in a fit of pique - cobbles together a novel called "Pafology" which he disdainfully sends off. To his bemused disgust, he is offered a lucrative seven figure sum - useful for the medical bills - and then, even more to his chagrin he meets film producer "Wiley" (Adam Brody) who wants to pay through the nose for the screen rights! Conflicted or what? He needs to look after his mother but his principles are abhorred by what he sees as a selling out. This scenario is only made the more ridiculous when he is asked to judge a prestigious literary award - and his now renamed best-seller is nominated! Cord Jefferson uses the brother's storyline as an engaging diversion - a broke plastic surgeon recently divorced and coming to his homosexuality late, but enthusiastically, in life. There's also his neighbour "Coraline" (Erika Alexander) to whom he takes a reciprocated shine - but can he make that work? It's genuinely laugh out loud at times as we see the frustrations of this man play out. It swipes at the superciliousness of an industry that is essentially not about culture or tradition: it's all about money and perception. The shallow things he despises. Will he come clean? Can he actually grow up a bit, too? Well that's skilfully dealt with in the gem of an ending! This is a cleverly conducted and innovative film that provokes thought and laughter in equal measure and showcases a talented ensemble effort well.
Brent Marchant
Dec 25, 2023 · via TMDB
It’s frustrating to watch a much-anticipated movie that doesn’t quite live up to expectations. Such is the case with writer-director Cord Jefferson’s debut feature. The problem here is that the film tries to tell two stories in one picture, one that it does brilliantly and one that could use some serious trimming, because the inclusion of its segments interrupts the flow every time it comes up during the course of the narrative. This tale of a talented but commercially unsuccessful African-American author (Jeffrey Wright) laments the success of a younger peer (Issa Rae) who writes a best-selling “Black” book that he sees as little more than market-pandering rubbish. However, in response, when he does the same under a pseudonym as a means of protest, he becomes an overnight sensation for all of the artistic and readership considerations that he personally despises. He now has to ask himself how can live with that kind of success, especially when the title becomes a runaway juggernaut. As he struggles with this, he’s also faced with a family drama with the death of a relative, managing the future of care for his Alzheimer’s-afflicted mother (Leslie Uggams) and a ne’er-do-well, self-centered sibling who’s reluctant to help out (Sterling K. Brown). Unfortunately, the domestic story thread is overlong and tends to bog down the satirical social commentary/personal integrity aspects of the picture, which are really strong enough to stand on their own and should have been given wider play (fault the screenplay here). Despite its shortcomings, however, “American Fiction” definitely deserves kudos for the performances of its ensemble cast, especially Wright, who turns in his best work here and has garnered a number of awards season nominations already, with more undoubtedly to come. In all, though, this feels like an offering that’s half-baked for what it serves up, which is regrettable, given that, with some shoring up in the writing, this easily could have become a modern screen classic.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Jeffrey Wright
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison
John Ortiz
Arthur
Erika Alexander
Coraline
Leslie Uggams
Agnes Ellison
Sterling K. Brown
Clifford Ellison
Skyler Wright
Brittany
John Ales
Leo
Patrick Fischler
Mandel
Carmen Cusack
Gilda
Issa Rae
Sintara Golden
Becki Dennis
Clinic Receptionist
Tracee Ellis Ross
Lisa Ellison
Myra Lucretia Taylor
Lorraine
Kate Avallone
Woman on Patio
Dustin Tucker
Phillip
Michael Jibrin
Jelani
Michele Proude
Bulger's Nurse
David De Beck
Dr. Bulger
Okieriete Onaodowan
Van Go Jenkins
Keith David
Willy the Wonker
Miriam Shor
Paula Baderman
Raymond Anthony Thomas
Maynard
Greta Quispe
Luz Borquez
J.C. MacKenzie
Carl Brunt
Adam Brody
Wiley Valdespino
Justin Andrew Phillips
Arthur's Intern
Neal Lerner
Wilson Harnet
Jenn Harris
Ailene Hoover
Bates Wilder
Jon Daniel Sigmarsen
Michael Cyril Creighton
John Bosco
Celeste Oliva
Dr. Tiefel
Megan Robinson
Kenya Dunston
Alexander Pobutsky
Kenny
Chhoyang Cheshatsang
Wiley's Assistant
Michael Malvesti
Plainclothes Cop
Samantha Gordon
Gaby (uncredited)
Russell J. Gannon
Man At Book Fair (uncredited)
Emily Kokidko
Student (uncredited)
Cheryl Lee Thorup
Personal Assistant (uncredited)
Jake Swartz
Art Department Coordinator
Jake Swartz
Set Decorating Coordinator
Katherine Castro
"B" Camera Operator
Cristina Dunlap
Director of Photography
Cord Jefferson
Director
Harry McEnerny
Second Second Assistant Director
Ashley Lambert
ADR Voice Casting
Melissa Morris
Casting Associate
Marisa Clayton
Executive In Charge Of Post Production
Michael Bowes
Executive Producer
Percival Everett
Executive Producer
Ram Bergman
Executive Producer
Rian Johnson
Executive Producer
Brett Duffy
Extras Casting
Shayne Hartigan
Extras Casting
Bruce Wayne Gillies
Line Producer
Ben LeClair
Producer
Cord Jefferson
Producer
Jermaine Johnson
Producer
Nikos Karamigios
Producer
Julie Glaze Houlihan
Music Supervisor
Elena Pinderhughes
Musician
Laura Karpman
Musician
Laura Karpman
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Ian Fellows
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Percival Everett
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Oct 11, 2023
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Jun 18, 2024
