American Fiction

Having watched and enjoyed Tár, I wanted to continue my quest to see more "Oscary" films and then Cord Jefferson's Oscar winning comedy drama, American Fiction, landed onto Prime. The trailer looked fresh and exciting with some fun satirical gags but I hoped it didn't spoil everything the film had to offer. The Oscar win for its writing and featuring Jeffrey Wright in the leading role had me excited, and with the rare running time of under two hours, I pressed play eager to see what the hype was about. 

The story follows an upper-class writer and professor who, after a falling out with his classroom and colleagues, takes a break and returns home to Boston to visit his sister and ailing mother. His mother is in need of more care and the costs are mounting up, all coming at a difficult time when the writer's books aren't selling. His agent recommends using his race as a black man to try and boost sails but he sees this as beneath him until an event forces his hand causing him to put pen to paper while having a few too many drinks. He sees his work as a joke but submits it anyway and it starts to gain momentum in the public eye to his surprise, causing him to wonder what state the world is in today.

Cord Jefferson brings a great mix of comedy and drama to this satirical story in this adaptation of Percival Everett's novel, Erasure. And he has surrounded himself with a great cast including Wright and Sterling K. Brown who are all at the top of their game. I've enjoyed a lot Wright's work in supporting roles and here her deservedly found himself an Oscar nomination at long last in a film that doesn't shy away from its touchy subject matter. 

If I had to fault it, there is one shift early on in the story that just felt a little too contrived and unnecessary to feel natural. It is a small bump in the road to force the arrival of a character but the film manages to ease past the convenience of it all. Some audiences will also feel a little puzzled or cheated by some choices later on in the story but I was still able to enjoy the ride.

American Fiction is a very good drama first and foremost but it's comical touches and creative decisions boost the story nicely. Anyone interested in the subject matter would be remised not to give this a go and I look forward to seeing where Jefferson will go next after this directorial debut on the big screen.