By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.2 cats | 4.25 cats
Director: Cord Jefferson
Starring: Erika Alexander | Jeffrey Wright | John Ortiz | Leslie Uggams | Tracee Ellis Ross
Year: 2023
Running time: 117
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23561236/reference/
Michael says: “Jeffrey Wright plays Thelonius ‘Monk’ Ellison, a distinguished academic and writer of literary fiction who decries the popular trend of best-selling books about the black experience – usually involving single moms, gangs, and police shootings – in Cord Jefferson’s expansive new adaptation of a 2001 novel. When his latest unpublished work struggles to get publisher interest, a frustrated Ellison pumps out a cliché-ridden novel that pander to all the black, urban stereotypes you can think of and submits it to a large publishing house under a pseudonym. When that publisher falls all over itself to obtain the rights to this book, so begins a pointed critique of pop culture.
“Jefferson handles this aspect of the story well, but where the film stumbles it’s the layering of Ellison’s complicated family on top of it. There’s too much going on, and while some of the family stuff is good, including some excellent performances, it takes away from the heart of the story. Also, in the biggest misstep, Ellison’s brother is a newly “out” incredibly stereotypical homosexual, snorting ketamine, bringing go-go boys in speedos home to the family beach house, etc. I would like to think Jefferson is doing this intentionally to echo what he is railing against with ‘the black experience’ but unfortunately, it’s a little too clumsy for that excuse.
“Still, overall, it’s got some strong acting, nice direction, and great use of Boston-area locations. It was the darling of TIFF this year, but I must admit I saw better films. 3 ½ cats“
Jeff says: “A bit different from Michael’s opinion, I went into the movie thinking I was going to see a broad parody. The parody was there, it just wasn’t the main point. Instead, what I saw was a more personal story, a man coming to terms with himself and his family, and I found it compelling, warm, and really funny. Like Michael, I did find the brother’s character problematic in the same way he did, but, especially, the relationship between Monk and his sister was finely drawn and deeply felt. The side romance between the housekeeper and security guard added another little bit of joy. 4 cats.”
Diane says: “I just saw AMERICAN FICTION again, after having shelled out the big bucks to see the premiere in Toronto—and voting for it as People’s Choice, which it won. With that full house of favorably disposed festival-goers, I howled with laughter. The tone, the wide-ranging plot and satire, the absurdity and deadpan humor, all tickled my brain.
“I saw it at TIFF because I’m a fan of Percival Everett, whose novel this film is adapted from. Everett is a prolific writer across many genres, and his books—like those of the main character here—are published by small imprints and university presses.
“Yesterday, I wanted to see if I liked the film as much as I had in September. I did, although I missed sharing laughs and energy from a large and racially diverse audience. Jeffrey Wright is excellent as the lead, a writer whose work keeps getting pigeon-holed into African-American literature. He keeps just the right temperature of the character’s arrogance, humor, emotional distance, and inner rage.
“In Toronto, director Cort Jefferson said his first feature is ‘a love letter to Black artists.’ He lamented the ‘poverty of imagination as to what Black life looks like,’ contrasting the breadth of Jewish life in film, from ‘SCHINDLER’S LIST to ANNIE HALL.’
“Note to fans of AFIRE: AMERICAN FICTION shares a couple of its thematic propositions—compare and contrast.”
“5 cats.”