American Fiction, based on the 2001 novel Erasure, follows Dr. Thelonious “Monk” Ellison as he creates a satirical black novel out of frustration with his serious work being panned, but it ends up becoming more popular than he could ever have imagined. The movie is lifted by outstanding performances by Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown, both nominated for acting Oscars.
American Fiction is very good at balancing its political humor with gripping emotional scenes. The story follows an incredibly intellectual author who can’t sell the books he wants to write because they are too complex. He then writes a book that he thinks is garbage but becomes beloved by white people who completely miss the mark.
The movie finds the perfect place with its tone, not being so political that it becomes heavy-handed but goofy enough to have a great time watching. The movie is about how black stories are perceived by white people. There’s a scene where Monk fights with a bookstore employee after he sees his books are in the black literature section, even though the “blackest thing about them is the ink.”
It’s not until he sees Issa Rae’s character’s book blow up and copies her style out of spite: a hyper-stereotypical and satirical black story filled with gangs, drugs, and violence. It becomes extremely popular with white liberals who believe it is a biography of Monk’s fictional persona.
The movie was legitimately funny as well. The jokes really mesh with my type of humor outside of a couple that felt a bit too forced. The pacing of the humor, which is just as important as the jokes themselves, Wright and Brown are incredibly funny and natural no matter what they say.
Speaking of those two, there’s no surprise that they both will be at the Oscars. Starting with Wright, he is just phenomenal. A lot of credit should go to Cord Jefferson for writing and directing the movie, but Wright helped elevate it to incredible status. He is incredibly nuanced in his actions and words and has a truly engaging arc.
Outside of the book storyline, the B-plot is an emotional family drama as Monk’s mother begins showing signs of Alzheimer’s and must move to an assisted living community. Tragedy strikes and Wright is the one who must primarily care for his mother. He becomes incredibly stressed as he must take care of her, and deal with the unwanted success of his new book, all while balancing his other relationships.
Sterling K. Brown was an absolute surprise here. He plays Monk’s brother Clifford who is currently reeling after coming out as gay and being divorced. He delivers some of the funniest “off-the-rip” lines of the entire movie. He also has an incredible heart-to-heart with Monk where he hammers home the theme of opening yourself up to love.
FINAL THOUGHTS
American Fiction is quite good. It balances its political humor with an engaging, emotional story. It is led by an incredible cast from top to bottom who all make this movie one of the best of the year. It is worth the watch, especially if you want to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies this year.
