Jeffrey Wright absolutely shines in American Fiction, leading an ensemble, all-star cast that is anchored by stalwart Tracee Ellis-Ross, Leslie Uggams, Erika Alexander, and actors Sterling K. Brown, Keith David, and Issa Rae. The movie satires Black stereotypes and tropes. Wright plays an author who writes fiction and creates multi-dimensional characters outside the traditional drug pusher, rapper, baby mama, deadbeat dad, etc., arcs. However, his books aren't selling, no matter how intelligent, well-written and life affirming they are. Learning another Black author has a best seller that seemingly panders to these very Black stereotypes, Jeffrey Wright's character, named Thelonous Monk, decides to write a book, called My Pafology. The book magnifies those very said traditional Black stereotypes and pokes fun at them by leaning into them. Assuming everyone would recognize these over-the-top Black characters as buffoons, he soon learns that the joke's on him. The white publishers LOVE the book, comment on how REAL its characters are and offer him a large advance to publish it. At first opposed to publishing the book, Monk slowly changes his mind. His agent pressures him to view the book as not selling out but diversifying his "brand" - similar to the Johnnie Walker label selling Red, Black and Blue liquors to satisfy its different audiences. He reluctantly relents, only after agreeing to publish it under an alias and to change the book's name to an expletive. The movie follows Monk as he is conflicted about publishing the book, deals with a death in the family, maneuvers his mom's Alzheimer's diagnosis, juggles a budding romance, and re-establishes a relationship with his estranged brother. The book is eventually published and soon tops the Bestseller's list. He is awarded a literary award and the book is optioned as a movie. This is a very intelligent look at how Blacks are reflected in the media. I highly recommend this movie and give it 9/10 rating.
Review of American Fiction
