By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 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 When his latest unpublished work struggles to get publisher interest, a frustrated Ellison pumps out a cliché-ridden novel that pander to all the black, urban stereotypes you can think of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“