American Fiction
American Fiction
Starring Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown
Directed by Cord Jefferson
Thelonius "Monk" Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) is an intellectual African American writer and professor, but while his books have received critical acclaim, they don't sell because they're not "black" enough. After attending a book convention where he attends a session conducted by fellow African American author Sintara Golden (Issa Rae), he's more dismayed when she reads an excerpt from her book that panders to Black stereotypes but is met with rousing applause from the mostly white audience.
Frustrated by this, Monk proceeds to write a satirical novel under the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh as a way to stick it to society, but is shocked to find that a publisher wants to publish it - and make a movie out of it. Even when he demands changing the title (from "My Pafology" to "F***" without the "*s"), he's dismayed that not only do the publishers love it, his book is up for a prestigious Literary Award.
This is all done as Monk's personal life spirals out of control. His mother Agnes (Leslie Uggams) shows signs of Alzheimer's. His sister Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross) is tired of taking care of her and wants Monk to help out, and his brother Cliff (Sterling K. Brown) recently came out as homosexual and is dealing with his divorce and living his new playboy life. His only source of comfort comes from Coraline (Erika Alexander), whom he starts a relationship with, but as the lies start piling up, he lashes out at those he loves which threatens to isolate him from everyone in his life.
The Good:
"American Fiction" is a fantastic work of cinema and writing that gives an unflinching, unforgiving look at how we as white people still pander to the Black community by falsely praising everything they do that serves as the stereotypes we think they live in. It shows that we don't typically see the African American community as people who are intelligent and witty, but rather people who were in the slums who have numerous baby daddies, get involved in gangs and drugs, and have shootouts on the daily. Based on the novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett, the film does an amazing job at depicting us as people who don't fully understand the wide scope and range of the Black community, and does so through the lens of Black people who see us as we are - clowns who fall for the simplest ploys because of our collective white guilt.
Jeffrey Wright has the voice that is perfectly fit for this role, offering biting, sarcastic remarks as though they're his original language, and while his character is abrasive, rude, and condescending, you can't help but root for him, because he exposes our hidden prejudices in blatant ways that are downright hilarious. The film had me laughing out loud numerous times, so much so I was in tears a couple of times, and there's no better way to tell a story than through comedy because it lowers our guard and allows us to fully feel emotions that we would be guarded against if it was a full-on drama. Jeffrey Wright was perfect for the role in this regard, as well as offering the dramatic moments that hit us like a punch in the gut.
While the film is a satirical look at how non-African American people see African American people through the African American lens, it's also a deeply emotional family drama that shows us why Monk is the way he is. He's isolated, withdrawn, and closed off to the world, especially when it comes to his family. It's a generic trope that sheds any sense of generality when we meet his family, and understand the deeper nuances that dwell within. His sister is a successful doctor, but struggles with dealing with their mother alone. His mother is beginning to show signs of Alzheimer's which only gets worse as the film goes on. His brother is a playboy homosexual who spends more time on the dating scene than thinking of his children after his divorce. While these are generic generalities, they're told with heartfelt emotion by Tracee Ellis Ross, Leslie Uggams, and Sterling K. Brown (in his first Academy Award-nominated role) respectively.
The deceptiveness of the comedy lowers our guard and allows the story to gut-punch us with this family dynamic, and portrays Monk as a flawed character. He's struggling to keep himself afloat, and pushes away anyone who tries to help him because of how he perceives the world around him. He's been cheated out of a successful career because he's not "Black" enough, and when he lowers his standards to skewer the collective conscious, finds that they fully embrace it and gives him the success he's lacked when he uses his intellect. It's hilarious, but also stings.
The Bad:
The female characters in the film feel second-hand, serving as ways of pushing the film forward instead of giving them their own fully-flushed characters. Lisa exists for exposition about their past. Monk's girlfriend exists for moral support. His mother serves as the emotional heart of the film. Even his mother's caretaker is a caricature of the nurturing maternal replacement. Then there's Issa Rae's Sintara, who does have some decent character moments as Monk sees her as more than just someone who wants to get rich off the stereotypes of their people, but even then she serves more as someone who challenges Monk's philosophies. It's no surprise none of the women in the film were considered for Awards recognition (although I think there could've been a case for Leslie Uggams), while both Wright and Brown were (rightfully) nominated for their roles.
The Summary:
Offering a biting, satirical look at how the white community sees the Black community, "American Fiction" is an excellent dramedy that also focuses on the broken family dynamic told through the lens of a career-best performance by Jeffrey Wright.
The Score: A+
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