Jeffrey Wright Is Pitch Perfect and Oscar-Worthy in Cord Jefferson’s ‘American Fiction’; Possible TIFF Audience Winner?
09.09.2023 - 03:37
/ variety.com
Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor With “American Fiction,” Cord Jefferson, best known for penning television episodes of “Succession” and “Watchmen,” helms one of the finest directorial debuts seen since Sam Mendes’ “American Beauty.” In the style that feels like an audacious blend of the screenplays of Alexander Payne’s “Sideways” and Nicole Holofcener’s “Can You Ever Forgive Me,” he shepherds an audacious dramedy anchored by a career-best and Oscar-worthy performance from star Jeffrey Wright. After debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival, it’s a movie that could be a contender for the coveted TIFF Audience Award, and it would be deserved.
Based on the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett, the film follows author Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Wright), a frustrated novelist who is fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk writes an outlandish “Black” book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and madness.
It is quite a timely topic as Black content continues to face challenges in the entertainment world. The film also stars Emmy nominee Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Adam Brody, Issa Rae, Sterling K.
Brown, Erika Alexander and Leslie Uggams. Wright, 57, has been among the most respected actors for decades.
He won a Tony Award for his role as Belize in Tony Kushner’s masterpiece “Angels in America.” He reprised the same role for the HBO miniseries adaptation, adding an Emmy Award to his mantle. He’s also picked up additional Emmy noms for HBO’s “Westworld” and Disney’s “What If…?” Like other journeyman actors who garnered recognition late in their careers, such as Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” or David Strathairn
.