Jeffrey Wright

John Ortiz

Erika Alexander

Leslie Uggams

Sterling K. Brown

Skyler Wright

John Ales

Patrick Fischler

Carmen Cusack

Joseph Marrella

Stephen Burrell

Issa Rae

Nicole Kempskie

Becki Dennis

Tracee Ellis Ross

Myra Lucretia Taylor

Ryan Richard Doyle

Kate Avallone

Dustin Tucker

Michael Jibrin

Michele Proude

David De Beck

Okieriete Onaodowan

Keith David

Miriam Shor

Raymond Anthony Thomas

Greta Quispe

J.C. MacKenzie

Elle Sciore

Adam Brody

Justin Andrew Phillips

Neal Lerner

Jenn Harris

Bates Wilder

Jason Armani Martinez

Michael Cyril Creighton

Celeste Oliva

Megan Robinson

Christopher Barrow

Alexander Pobutsky

Tokunbo Joshua Olumide

Chhoyang Cheshatsang

Michael Malvesti

Samantha Gordon

Percival Everett

Cristina Dunlap

Ram Bergman

Michael Bowes

Rian Johnson

Lenny Payan

Hilda Rasula

Michele Lewis

Kyra Friedman Curcio

Maddy Young

Hannah Offer

Jonathan Guggenheim

Laura Karpman

Jennifer Euston

Rudy Mance

Mandell Winter

Tommy Carroll

Richard Weingart

Alexandra Fehrman

Santino Tartaglia

S.J. Allocco

Wesley Cannon

Tina Ulee

Melissa Morris

Emily Baeza

Xavier Thompson

Michael A. Myles

Daniel Hourihan

Monique Peoples Graham

Ben LeClair

Jermaine Johnson

Cord Jefferson

Nikos Karamigios

Giles Harding

Felicia Leatherwood

Igor Yashin

Matt Yocum

Taylor Armstrong

Hashim Strange

Gianna Sparacino

Sang Kim

Alex Levy

Kayla Mitchell

Ian Yeromenko

Stephen Hartman

Julie Glaze Houlihan

John Vincent Mason

Julia Liu

Alec Roy

Mehrnaz Mohabati

Frankie Ferrari

Katherine Castro

Shadya H. Ballug

Adam Bellao

Chris Analoro

Pavel Nivevskiy

Claire Folger

Jamie Joseph

Kendall Pestana

Mattie Hamer

Brett Duffy

Jill Sacco

Jill Tufts

Felix Giuffrida

Anthony Farenwald

Walter Argo

Sydney Sherrell

Clint Porte

Zachary Heyman

Chris Hebert

Audrey L. Stevens

Jeff Dionne

Tony Ventura

Ian Davis

Andie Turner

Alana Frutkoff

David Becker

Diz Dizio

Tyler Kinney

Lily Raih

Finley Doyle

Emily Conner

John Burke

Candace Masterson

Emilie Toth

Corine Shannon

Augustus Augustus

Chris Sawtelle

Jake Swartz

Julie Hansen

Christopher Conkling

Layla Calo-Baird

Joshua Manning

William O'Brien

Jasper Affonso

Comedy

Drama

American Fiction

T-Street

3 Arts Entertainment

Almost Infinite

United States of America

English

sibling relationship

boston, massachusetts

writing

race politics

satire

alzheimer's disease

dysfunctional family

pseudonym

family drama

lgbt

racial stereotype

dramedy

thoughtful

philosophical

publishing

complex

mother son relationship

race relations

serious

inspirational

black stories

provocative

critical

witty

assertive

bold

complicated

defiant

dignified

empathetic

instructive

scathing

Brent Marchant

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.

CinemaSerf

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.

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 'Two Days, One Night' a few years back with an (relatively) equally non-major scene with Timur Magomedgadzhiev. 2022's 'The Whale' did come very close, mind!

Back on track... I remember hearing positives about 'American Fiction' 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!

Meet Mr. Leigh... The Wanted Fugitive

Oscar Winner Cord Jefferson discusses his film AMERICAN FICTION

Best Adapted Screenplay | 'American Fiction'  | Cord Jefferson | Oscars 2024 Press Room Speech

JEFFREY WRIGHT wins BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards

AMERICAN FICTION wins BEST SCREENPLAY at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards

Cord Jefferson wins the Adapted Screenplay award for American Fiction | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024

AMERICAN FICTION | Directors Close-Up - Full Panel | 2024 Spirit Awards

Oscar Nominee Laura Karpman on the Music of American Fiction | The #DolbyInstitute Podcast

Conversations @ Curzon | Jeffrey Wright on American Fiction and his love for Oppenheimer and docs

American Artist – Featurette

21st Century Family – Featurette

Trailer 2

Bookstore - Official Clip

'American Fiction' with Cord Jefferson, Sterling K. Brown & more | Academy Conversations

Page To Screen – Featurette

Cord Jefferson Thinks We Can Laugh About Race in AMERICAN FICTION | TIFF 2023

Los Angeles Premiere Sizzle

American Fiction( 2023)

Overview

Top Billed Cast

Social

A review by Brent Marchant

Written by Brent Marchant on Mon Dec 25 2023

Media

Recommendations

Facts

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

Keywords