American Fiction

American Fiction (2023)

When his mother’s health is on the decline, and the bill lands on his doorstep, proud yet broke author Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison makes the genius decision to literally sell out and deliver a novel under a pseudonym that panders to the masses.

“First rule of sales: Never underestimate how stupid everyone is”. Written and directed by Cord Jefferson (based on the novel by Percival Everett) American Fiction combines the reality of dysfunctional family life, the financial burdens of adulthood and the often hilarious but ridiculous world of publishing and popularity.

Monk, played by the velvet voiced Jeffrey Wright, is constantly battling the conflict between moral and professional integrity and what defines success. As a disillusioned novelist who now lectures at a university, an early confrontation with an offended student establishes his frustration with the current trend of virtue signalling. But life’s demands force him to surrender to cliched prose and racial stereotypes to pander to an audience he doesn’t even want. Jackpot.

There’s a gratifying show down between him and best selling author Sintara Golden (Issa Rae). Is she “selling out” and betraying her own authenticity because she’s successfully telling the stories of others or should she just write about her only about her own experiences?

A thoroughly enjoyable conceit, American Fiction is a satisfying satirical look at consumerism in a post 2020 world giving you lots to think about and plenty of loud laughs.

8 Grandstanding Thumbs Up 👍🏻