American Fiction
American Fiction

American Fiction

2023Movie117 minEnglish

A novelist fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.

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Insights

IMDb7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic83/100
Google Users92%
Director: Cord JeffersonGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

A frustrated novelist, Monk, who writes a highly literary novel, finds himself in a difficult position when he pens a sensationalist, stereotypical Black book as a joke, only for it to become a massive bestseller. The film explores themes of race, identity, and the complexities of the literary world through satire and sharp wit.

Critical Reception

American Fiction received widespread critical acclaim, with praise directed at its sharp writing, satirical humor, and the performances of its cast, particularly Jeffrey Wright. It was lauded for its intelligent commentary on race, identity, and the commodification of Black art.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its intelligent and biting satire on race and the literary industry.
  • Jeffrey Wright delivers a standout performance as the conflicted protagonist.
  • The film successfully balances humor with poignant social commentary.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's humor, sharp writing, and thought-provoking exploration of racial stereotypes and artistic integrity. Many appreciated the clever narrative and the strong performances.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Nominated for 4 other Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright), Best Supporting Actor (Sterling K. Brown), and Best Original Score. Won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Comedy at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film is based on Percival Everett's 2001 novel 'Erasure', which also explores similar themes of identity and literary commentary.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

Great movie! This only solidifies my desire to view more, if not all, of Jeffrey Wright's filmography, such a fantastic actor to watch. In this he is no different, he is outstanding all the way through. Not that he is by any means the on...
hamfaceman

hamfaceman

This movie was decent.
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Jeffrey Wright is great in this satirical look at all things hypocritical and exploitative surrounding "blackness" in the USA. "Monk" is the short-tempered writer-cum-lecturer whose behaviour gets him put on indefinite leave by his universi...
Brent Marchant

Brent Marchant

It’s frustrating to watch a much-anticipated movie that doesn’t quite live up to expectations. Such is the case with writer-director Cord Jefferson’s debut feature. The problem here is that the film tries to tell two stories in one picture,...