A One Mann’s Movies Film Review of “American Fiction” (2024).
Not due out until February 2nd, I got to see “American Fiction” as a pleasant surprise this week, thanks to it being a Cineworld “Secret Cinema” showing (where you don’t know what the film will be before it starts). And it’s a great one to catch, having been garlanded with multiple nominations for the forthcoming Oscars.
“Secret Screenings” tend to get a few walk-outs, particularly if the film is horror-related or has sub-titles. But that didn’t apply to this film. Thus, I was gobsmacked that we had 16 walk-outs last night. There was just one couple at the beginning as the film title came up. But then another 14 over the next 45 mins. I wanted to shake them and say “What are you doing? This is brilliant!!” Because “American Fiction” has already got a placeholder slot in my Films of the Year 2024 and earns my rare 5 stars (with no dodgy cancer jokes to prompt me knocking a half star off!)
“American Fiction” is fully released in the UK on February 2nd 2024. Go and see it!
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Thelonious Ellison (Jeffrey Wright), known as “Monk” to his family, is an author of serious published novels. But he is unable to get new work accepted: his publishers want his books to be “more black”, like the streetwise books of his rival Sintara Golden (Issa Rae). When his circumstances demand more income, he is forced to bend his morals to try to get a money-making hit.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language, violence, drug misuse”).
Talent:
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Issa Rae, Raymond Anthony Thomas.
Directed by: Cord Jefferson.
Written by: Cord Jefferson. (Based on the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett.)
Twitter Handle: #AmericanFiction.
Running Time: 1h 57m.
“American Fiction” Film Review:
Positives:
- My last film at the cinema was “The Holdovers” – a proper ‘grown up’ movie with a great story, great actors and great dialogue. What a treat then that I can say exactly the same about the very next film I see. Because “American Fiction” is delightful storytelling that made me laugh multiple times as well as delivering genuinely moving moments. The more that poor Monk struggled against the racial stereotypes of his existence the more that he gets sucked under the surface. The arc of the publishing-based story is wonderfully predictable. But it is a delight as you see it come to pass!
- Jeffrey Wright is brilliant in the lead role. We start in very similar “Holdovers” territory, with Wright playing a cranky college professor. (As this is ‘present day’, he doesn’t get away with such behaviour like Paul Hunham did! He is forced to take an unwelcome “leave of absence” in Boston.) Wright has such a wonderfully expressive face and delivers his lines in such a deadpan way, you can’t help but laugh. (I was reminded of “Fallen Leaves” in this respect). He’s just been nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, and justly so.
- Also Oscar nominated in a supporting role is Sterling K. Brown as Monk’s gay brother Clifford. And he is teriffic. But I can’t really fault any of the supporting cast in the film who gel together just beautifully.
- Also (also) Oscar nominated is Laura Karpman’s jazz-oriented score which complements Wright’s generally laid-back character brilliantly.
Negatives:
- The film breaks the fourth wall (well, kind of) in its very amusing finale. It’s the sort of thing that has annoyed me in other films. But for me, here, it just worked. Others though may find the quirkiness trite and irritating.
Triggers
Note that there is a fatal cardiac arrest for a character in the movie. There is also a theme of dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease) within the plot.
Summary Thoughts on “American Fiction”
I seldom give 5-stars out, but I just loved this film. Rarely can I sit in the cinema and be utterly delighted with the story, but for me this was near perfect. It probably won’t win many other Oscars, but I’d love this to win the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Trailer for “American Fiction”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0MbLCpYJPA .
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