This is a film where its contemporary in the extent of there can be success, but it is halted. American Fiction is the story of a man who is an intellectual and talented but keeps finding roadblocks in his path to remain successful. American Fiction is funny, serious, and thought-provoking. A film where the performance of Jeffrey Wright has meaning and authority, and empathy. American Fiction is a film portraying a life of trial and error but is clear in its direction that there is a time for success.

In American Fiction, the film focuses on Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison (Wright). Everyone calls him Monk. He is an author that finds himself in hysterics as he is struggling to get his new novel published. He is also frustrated by the lack of recognitiondeserving black entertainers receive. On top of that, he has issues with his mother and her health, and his brother Clifford (played by Sterling K. Brown). Clifford is one of those who keeps finding himself in financial troubles and is always in form of distress. He is also not very helpful to Monk and their mother. With all the drama and frustrations surrounding Monk’s life, American Fiction’s story begins to evolve.

Monk is a very creative sort. He gets additional information repeatedly from one of his assistants Arthur (played by John Ortiz). However, for Monk, many of the book offers or pitches that come his way are not what he has in mind. He is thinking of a different approach and a type of writing idea that is new. His inspiration comes from the consistent conflicts with Clifford, the health with his mother, and just the continuous dynamics of his life. American Fiction is articulate in its sense of realism.

There is a moment where Monk is meeting with a producer to make a movie, however, his frustrations remain the same. For Monk, he wants his voice to have its true meaning, not just one changed for entertainment purposes or profit. The message from the many rejections Monk makes in his career is a clear message that it is about his craft. His vision is the one that matters, not what others think he should be doing. Also, he is just an introverted man. A man of success but also an introvert dealing with the frustrations of family struggles and writer’s block.

The direction Monk finds is more from dealing with a lot of moving parts rather than finding a straight line to success in American Fiction. That approach is where the film delivers a message that life has its plateaus…even for someone as brilliant as Monk. His reputation is mixed, but are the dynamics of his life in arenas that he can handle? Can Monk find success as an author again? Can he find common ground with his brother? What is the underlying conflict in American Fiction that Monk is struggling to navigate the most? Monk’s life of dealing withannoyances makes it hard to keep his head high, but he still thrives as does Wright in his performance in this film.

American Fiction sends a strong message. It reminds us of how difficult it can be to find acceptance of our ideas and how many times one must face rejection as a writer or creator of any sort even with the talent that Monk possesses here. It also proves why being consistent in one arena over the other is important sometimes, especially when it comes to having to deal with family scenarios. American Fiction proves that a life of success is also a life of having to present a tolerance for trial and error.

American Fiction is a unique achievement. Also, for Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut, this was one where he takes the cake in delivering a story of strong encouragement and empathy. This is a film that reminds its audience of the importance offinding your own voice and allowing anything to compromise it.Three out of four stars for American Fiction.