Ticket 2 Ride

This film intrigued me, I thought of seeing it on release, but that went unfulfilled. Recently, looking for a film to stream, we happened upon American Fiction and decided to give it a look.

This 2023 film did not disappoint. This is a bold, funny and clever story, well-acted and executed. American Fiction is one of the smartest and enjoyable films I’ve seen in a long time. That’s my review, but read-on if you choose.

Boldness is not in short supply; but what passes for bold today is usually shock and crude, sensational and dialed-down to brains that do not want to think, consider or drill for brilliance. It’s easy to go for cheap, easy viewer reactions, as disposable as your movie theater drink cup.

American Fiction aimed both barrels at race in America. The target was big, so two barrels were needed to lampoon and spread the humor, that comes fast, and almost too slippery at times to fully appreciate it. A second viewing was required to get what I missed the first time.

Jeffrey Wright portrays Thelonius “Monk” Ellison, a serious novelist, who is high-brow and respected, but not widely read. Wright is a terrific actor and it’s great to see him in the lead. He’s a victim of his own joke, writing a novel that intertwines stereotypical Black life in America, with a voice that tells a very different story. He adopts a pseudonym but has to expand it into a full gangster personality when his book becomes successful and people want to meet the author.

Wright finally gets to step out front. He has played Felix Leiter in recent James Bond films, Beetee in the Hunger Games films, Lt. James Gordon the Batman films, is a semi-regular in Wes Anderson films, and is very in-demand as a voice actor, as he has a rich, warm, precise vocal style.

In a broad sense, this film is about playing against stereotypes and the ridiculous depth of white liberalism. Written and directed by Cord Jefferson, the film moves slowly at times, which was a criticism of some viewers, but there is a point to the pacing and film’s structure. I have to be honest, I wasn’t familiar with Jefferson’s work, but he’s an award-winning writer who took home even more honors with American Fiction. Jefferson based the film on a 2001 book, Erasure, by Percival Everett.

Jefferson comes from television where he was a writer and producer (The Good Place, Master of None). American Fiction is his first directorial effort, which is pretty amazing.

The film opens with an uncomfortable discussion of the n-word between Monk and one of his American literature students. The student who is white, is the offended party, while Monk, who is Black, is not (“I got over it”). In the next scene, Monk is being counseled by his department chair and colleagues over the incident and is told to take some time off, which he doesn’t want. We learn several things in this scene. First, Monk is a frustrated writer who hasn’t been published in a while. Second, Monk is quite prickly, he doesn’t seem to allow people to get close to him. Third, he has some weird and interesting issue with race. He says he doesn’t believe in it. And, he avoids his family. That’s Monk.

Life conspires to turn his world upside down, and inside out. The film is about confronting stereotypes and our own constructed walls. It does so with awkward situations, humor and hard truth.

Not all of the best situations pertain to race, sometimes it’s sexuality, other times age, and our own weaknesses of character.

Every family has secrets, but they might only be secrets because you keep yourself distant from them. Monk’s brother is plastic surgeon, who Monk suddenly learns is gay.

Obviously, Mink doesn’t know his family very well. His mother is dealing with dementia, his sister is divorced, and Monk learns that his father had affairs.

Besides Wright, this film has a terrific cast. Leslie Uggams plays Monk’s mother. Tracee Ellis Ross is Lisa, Monk’s sister. Sterling K. Brown is Cliff, Monk’s brother. John Ortiz is Arthur, Monk’s devoted agent and friend. Monk doesn’t have many friends. Erika Alexander is Coraline, a neighbor who Monk becomes romantically involved. Issa Rae is Sintara Golden, a fellow novelist.

One more thing. This film has an amazing soundtrack. The music is jazzy and soulful, but also has an old school vibe. The music was composed by Laura Karpman and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Produced on a $10 million budget, it grossed $23 million on a limited release. Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Lead Actor, the film took home an Oscar for best screenplay.

The film was distributed by Orion Pictures through MGM/Amazon Studios.

You’ll laugh, but you’ll also think.

4.4/5