Amidst the insanity of 2023’s awards season, there were a lot of flicks that stood out ahead of the pack. From thoughtful dramedies about an American toy icon to the typical Oscar fair, there were clearly a lot of movies to root for. But easily the most underappreciated gem of them all was writer/director Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, an adaptation of Percival Everett’s book Erasure which didn’t hold back any punches when it came to its spitfire cultural commentary. Finally, after its glorious Best Adapted Screenplay win at this year’s Academy Awards, this satirical masterclass arrives on Blu-ray thanks to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. And while there’s much left to be desired when it comes to this bare-bones disc, there’s still a lot to celebrate within this physical media release.
L-R: Erika Alexander as Coraline and Jeffrey Wright as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison in writer/director Cord Jefferson’s AMERICAN FICTION. An Orion Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Claire Folger. © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
For those unaware, or who haven’t read EoM Senior Critic Hunter Heilman’s initial theatrical release review, American Fiction centers around Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright), a writer/college professor whose immensely thwarted with his current life. From being frustrated over competing Black authors exploiting negative stereotypes in their best-selling work to dealing with his mother’s (Leslie Uggams) failing health and other family drama, Monk finds himself at a fork in the road of what to do next. But when he begins to jokingly write a fake memoir that plays into what white publishing companies want from Black writers, Monk’s prospects begin to take an unexpected turn. The film then follows Monk as he tries to juggle this bizarre new success with both his personal and love life, all the while struggling with his own moral compass in regards to his new book.
L-R: Tracee Ellis Ross as Lisa Ellison and Leslie Uggams as her mother Agnes in writer/director Cord Jefferson’s AMERICAN FICTION. An Orion Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Claire Folger. © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
While many others have said it before, American Fiction is simply a tour de force in every cinematic way. It takes the commentary within landmark films like Hollywood Shuffle (1987) and dips it into a can of mature, modern paint that will never lose its shine nor importance. Between Cord Jefferson’s (Watchmen) storytelling talents and the entire ensemble (including the incredible Sterling K. Brown (Supernatural; Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.)) giving some of the best performances of 2023 (and beyond), this movie genuinely is a treasure to behold. But at the center of its brilliance is Jeffrey Wright (The Batman; Casino Royale), an actor who has deserved his flowers for over 30 years.
Writer/director Cord Jefferson on the set of AMERICAN FICTION. An Orion Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Claire Folger. © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
In the mind of this writer, Wright has a range that far surpasses many of his more well-known peers. From his wit-charged comedic skills to his most subdued dramatic work, he is one of the few performers who can play anything thrown his way without batting a lash (or dropping his signature glasses.) So, it’s an absolute dream to see him not only take center stage, finally, in a film of this quality, but even more so, to be perfectly paired with a talent like Cord Jefferson, who feels like he was destined to work with Wright in the first place. Together, these two are an unstoppable cinematic force that wraps audiences around their finger with their unfiltered vulnerability and bold artistic choices.
L-R: Issa Rae as Sintara Golden and Nicole Kempskie as Sintara’s moderator in writer/director Cord Jefferson’s AMERICAN FICTION. An Orion Pictures Release. Photo Courtesy of ORION Pictures Inc. © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Even with all that being said, what truly makes American Fiction such a significant piece of filmmaking (and something worthy of having in physical media form) is the way in which Jefferson creates a culturally relevant satire and a compelling family drama all in one singular film. In the hands of any other person, the balance of the movie’s various narrative threads could have become a well-intentioned mess. Yet, with Jefferson’s sharp writing and direction, he confidently interweaves Monk’s wild journey in a way that never stops being informative, challenging, and entertaining on a universal level.
L-R: Sterling K. Brown as Cliff Ellison, Jeffrey Wright as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, and Erika Alexander as Coraline in writer/director Cord Jefferson’s AMERICAN FICTION. An Orion Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Claire Folger. © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Unfortunately, this Blu-ray release doesn’t match the heights of American Fiction. Sure, the picture and sound quality are perfectly fine, but for a film as inventive as this one, it deserved some equally impressive bonus features. What if there had been a featurette discussion between Cord Jefferson and someone like scholar Jacqueline Stewart on the history of Black cinema? Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if there was a commentary track by the entire cast? What about an interview with Percival Everett on his thoughts on his book being adapted to film? Clearly, all of these ideas (and many more) could have been fantastic additions to this Blu-ray, but maybe these are the things Criterion dreams are made of.
Sterling K. Brown as Cliff Ellison in writer/director Cord Jefferson’s AMERICAN FICTION. An Orion Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Claire Folger. © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Regardless, American Fiction is a film worthy not only of your time, but also of gaining a place on your home media shelf. It’s a movie that challenges its audience with the kind of thoughtful, hilarious commentary that should be studied in film school. It is also a film that’s best enjoyed without knowing any of its amazing twists and turns going in (particularly its finale). But most importantly, this movie discusses the complicated layers of Black media depictions in ways that are both contemporary and ahead of its time. And from the perspective of this white writer, American Fiction should be required viewing for all movie lovers (and human beings) out there.
Available on Blu-ray June 18th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Amazon MGM Studios American Fiction webpage.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Recommendation
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