★★★★1/2 (out of 5)
American Fiction and Barbie have one very key element in common; their abilities to tell a story with biting social commentary while packaged in such an entertaining package! Yes, American Fiction is quite a hilarious film! But, it is also a wicked satire about the commodification of marginalized voices and a portrait of an artist forced to re-examine his integrity. It boasts one of the sharpest, tightest, most clever screenplays of the year — the writing is what makes this movie a blast. It’s a film filled with many ironies, contradictions, and food for thought about how black stories are told and how black voices are exploited. I do wish it could have challenged the character even more but there are some narrative risks and layers that are pretty thought-provoking! Plus, Jeffrey Wright perfectly portrays this layered, withdrawn character — giving us one of his best and most beautifully nuanced performances blending comedy and drama in a clever film with tons of broad appeal. Cord Jefferson is a filmmaker to keep an eye on, his direction and writing here are incredible and I can’t wait to see what he does next! Trust me, this movie is GOOD! I loved it and couldn’t stop laughing while watching, and now I can’t stop thinking about it! It’s just such a perfect combo and such a great film! Highly recommend it, it's one of my favourites of 2023!
Film Info:
Comments