Film Review: ‘American Fiction’ is a Terrific Mix of Scathing Satire and Deeply Human Family Emotions

There are a lot of reasons why American Fiction has been amassing fans since it surprisingly blew the roof off of the Toronto International Film Festival this year. For me, I think the reason, above all else, is that we never get this sort of work anymore. Beyond that, even, it’s an incredibly specific yet ultimately universal story. Anyone will get something out of this movie. It’s hardly just inside baseball, even if some knowledge of the industry will lead to more chuckles. It’s just an impeccably made film. Believe the hype, folks. This flick is certainly among the cinematic highlights of 2023.

American Fiction is not just a scathing satire. It’s not just a showcase for brilliant character actor Jeffrey Wright. It’s also an emotional, funny, and downright moving character study/family drama. The laughs are big, especially during the satirical moments. However, it’s the deep well of emotions, as well as its beating heart, that sets this one apart.

Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison (Wright) is a frustrated novelist and college lecturer. When his latest book is met with indifference, his agent Arthur (John Ortiz) explains that the public isn’t looking for highbrow nature of his work. Annoyed and fed up, he’s also heading out of town to see his sister Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross) and mother Agnes (Leslie Uggams). The former is a weary doctor, while the latter is showing early signs of dementia. When a tragedy occurs, Monk is at the end of his leash. Thinking about how mainstream entertainment in the literary space is currently obsessed over a certain type of experience from African-Americans, he decides to give them what they want. Under a pen name, he writes the most lowbrow and offensive work he can think of. Sending it to Arthur, he demands it be shopped around, despite being warned it could blow up in their faces. Instead, it’s an instant sensation.

While Monk is dealing with the fallout of secretly being the hot new author on the block, he’s handling family affairs. His brother Clifford (Sterling K. Brown) has come to town, and his own respite is the slow-brewing relationship he’s developing with neighbor Coraline (Erika Alexander). I’ll never spoil where things go from here, but the family dynamics are completely relatable, while the satirical literary elements go even further than you might expect, with hilarious results.

Jeffrey Wright leads a great ensemble and does career-best work, but he’s not alone in turning in a terrific performance. Erica Alexander, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Leslie Uggams all make the most of their supporting parts, with Ross especially making quite the impact, while Sterling K. Brown is excellent, playing against type. Wright is definitely the star, however, and he plays the role with a weightiness that makes the comedy even funnier, as well as the drama hit even harder. It’s the finest work he’s ever done, which is really saying something. He makes Monk a prickly yet lovable, while always complex, character. In addition to the aforementioned John Ortiz, supporting players here include Adam Brody, Keith David, Issa Rae, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Raymond Anthony Thomas, and more.

Filmmaker Cord Jefferson walks a very precarious tightrope here in his directorial debut. Had he leaned too far in the satirical direction, he would have blunted the impact of the family dynamics. On the other hand, had it been mostly character work, the satire would have seemed tacked on. In adapting the novel Erasure, Jefferson finds the perfect cinematic story here. When it’s funny, it’s very funny. When it’s emotional, it strikes a chord that anyone in the audience can relate to. He trusts the viewer to not just follow him on this journey, but to have a good time while doing so. I can’t wait to see what Jefferson does next.

Awards-wise, American Fiction is a definite player. The precursor season will dictate how far it goes, but look for major contention in Best Picture, Best Actor for Wright, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Jefferson. Someone from the supporting cast could certainly make noise if the film becomes a threat to win Picture, but for now, those categories are where the movie will definitely try to make its bones.

American Fiction is one of my favorite films of the year for a reason. It works on all levels, which is terrific, but while doing so, it also manages to be wildly entertaining. I’m not certain how much the Academy will fall for this movie, but regardless of Oscar attention, it should have your attention. This is something special.

SCORE: ★★★1/2